Focus Area
Humanitarian Relief
Location
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Beneficiaries
Residents of Cité Soleil, one of Haiti’s most underserved communities
Safavi's Role
Partner-funded initiative
Key Impact
Enabled daily delivery of clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable residents through the ongoing operation and maintenance of two water distribution trucks
Project Overview
St. Luc Foundation – Water Distribution Program
The Safavi Philanthropic Initiative contributed to a long-running emergency water relief effort in Cité Soleil, a densely populated and impoverished area of Port-au-Prince. Originally launched in 2013 by the St. Luc Foundation and expanded with the support of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, the project operates two large tanker trucks that deliver clean, potable water directly into neighborhoods lacking reliable infrastructure.
In a country where millions lack access to safe drinking water and critical systems were decimated by the 2010 earthquake, the project has become an essential lifeline—particularly for infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised residents at risk of dehydration and waterborne illness.
Beneficiary Profile
This initiative directly benefits approximately 300,000 residents of Cité Soleil. These communities live without consistent access to clean water due to the destruction of municipal water infrastructure and prolonged drought. Daily water distribution plays a central role in preventing disease outbreaks, improving hygiene, and preserving life.
Safavi's Role
The Safavi Philanthropic Initiative helped fund the continued operation of the St. Luc Foundation’s two water trucks. Through its contribution, Safavi supported:
Daily distribution of drinking water in Cité Soleil using a 6-wheel and a 10-wheel tanker truck
Coverage of annual maintenance and operating costs for both trucks
Purchase of fuel and clean water supply
Salaries for the Haitian staff managing the delivery operations
The contribution was made in partnership with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, which has supported this program since its early stages.
Project Gallery
Photo Credit: ABF Foundation
Impact Achieved
Thanks to combined partner support, including Safavi:
More than 300,000 residents continue to receive clean water 3 times per day, 6 days a week
Health conditions in target neighborhoods improved through reduced transmission of waterborne disease
Dehydration-related deaths among infants and elderly were mitigated
A Haitian-led operational team remained fully employed, reinforcing local economic stability
Purpose & Signifigance
This initiative aligns with Safavi’s belief in dignified humanitarian response—where local communities are empowered with resources that meet their most essential needs. The Cité Soleil water program represents a long-term commitment to health, resilience, and equity in one of the world’s most vulnerable urban zones.
Future Outlook
With continued support from its partners, including Safavi, the St. Luc Foundation aims to expand access to water in additional neighborhoods. This model of sustained, high-impact, locally operated relief continues to serve as a blueprint for future emergency infrastructure interventions.
