PWW Team Member Highlight: April 2019
Each month we are featuring a member of PWW’s staff. This gives you the opportunity to get to know our team a little better and gain an understanding about what makes them such a special part of PWW’s safe water programs.
PWW Team Member: Ramy Pierrette, PWW Haiti Team
PWW Office: Delmas 65, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Position within PWW: Sand Factory Team Leader
Years with PWW: 12
How did you first learn about PWW?
I was building filters, with a man named Roman, for people in Gonaives. A man named Charles Adams came to Haiti, and, together, they helped bring Pure Water for the World to Haiti.
What inspires you the most about the work you do?
What inspires me the most is the fact that, while I am not wealthy, working with PWW allows me to provide people with clean water.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I spend most of my days preparing the different layers of sand and gravel for the biosand water filters.
What has been your favorite project…or your proudest moment?
It was our first project at Cité Soleil. It was very difficult for us, as this is a large urban slum that has many challenges due to its extreme level of poverty. I was proud because I was helping people in a community like this.
What has been your greatest challenge?
My biggest challenge is when I am carrying the buckets of residual sand to put in the back of the truck, after preparing the sand for the filters. It is the most exhausting part of my work.
What is your favorite thing about working for PWW?
Giving people access to safe water is one of my favorite things about working at PWW. I like the process of preparing the sand because I find something magical about the fact that pure, clean water will come out of the filter after I have carefully prepared the sand.
Tell us a little bit about your family.
My father passed away when I was 12. My mother took care of all of us…12 kids total. I am the third oldest; only two of us are working. With what I earn, I use it to take care of my siblings and my family. I also have two children of my own. My family is very proud of me, and I am doing the best that I can to take care of them.
What is your favorite activity to do when you are not working?
When I am not working at PWW, my favorite thing to do is carpentry. I do this work to earn additional money to support my family, but I also really like it. I also enjoy listening to music to reduce stress.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is corn with fish sauce.
Anything else you want people to know about you?
I am very proud of the life I am living, as modest as it may appear.