“Over 80% of clean water projects [in Haiti] fail within the first year; mostly due to a lack of follow up after the initial response." 

- Carlee Greene, Poured Out

Long after the news cameras turn off or large media outlets fly to another part of the world to cover a new disaster, families are still left in critical need of support and basic supplies. This is no more true than in Haiti. 

At Poured Out the objective is sustainability, and they’re still in the field providing material support. Following the 2010 earthquake, fresh water supplies were devastated and contaminated. The water is there, but it's undrinkable. 

One of Poured Out's biggest contributions is to supply Biosand filters in Haiti. A Biosand filter costs $100 and, with maintenance, can supply fresh water to ten people for ten years. 

So for $1, you can give someone water for a year. 

“We’re making trips back to Haiti every other month,” explains Carlee Greene, co-founder of Poured Out. “We’re out there monitoring the filters we’ve distributed, helping families and communities maintain the units.”

By remaining a constant presence and learning about the cultural nuances in some of the hardest hit communities in  Haiti, Poured Out is building the relationships with people that will help maintain longterm sustainability of their filters in the field. Whether it’s initial installation of Biosand filters for a family of ten or maintenance and monitoring of a much larger unit for a school, Poured Out is fully committed to ensuring that clean water is getting to where it’s needed most. It’s attention to the smallest of details that has helped Poured Out become a success out the gate. 

Poured Out’s staff of volunteers understand that a little goes a long way, or as Greene put it, “We believe in the power of small.” $1 provides clean water to someone and maintenance of a filter for one year. Small is very powerful.

- Alberto Lima