Wheels for Water.

Bringing Reliable Transportation to Rural Haiti Water Systems

The Challenge

For the past two years, our team in Haiti has been navigating some of the most difficult terrain in the Western Hemisphere on motorcycles—or paying $200 a day to rent cars or trucks when the work demands it. Neither solution is sustainable.

Rural Haiti's roads aren't just bad—they're barely roads at all. Rutted mountain passes, seasonal flooding, and stretches that disappear entirely during rainy season. Yet these are exactly the communities we serve: remote villages where families have waited years for clean water and the training to maintain it.

Right now, we have no truck. Not one.

When our team needs to transport leaders, equipment, water testing supplies, or training materials to a distant community, they face an impossible choice: risk damaging essential equipment on a motorcycle, drain our program budget on daily rentals, or simply not go.

What We Need

We're seeking two reliable used trucks or SUVs—either donated directly or funded through contributions—along with the resources to get them to Haiti.

  • 2 quality used trucks or SUVs suitable for rugged terrain (4WD small pickup trucks, Jeep, SUV or similar with approx. value of $15-20K each)

  • Shipping costs: Ocean freight from the US to Pignon, Haiti ($2,500 each, $2,000 each to get to Florida if needed)

  • Customs and import fees: Approximately 30% of vehicle value ($5-6k each)

Purchasing vehicles inside Haiti isn't a viable option. The local market offers only heavily worn vehicles at inflated prices—trucks that would break down within months on the roads our team travels daily.

Why This Matters

A single vehicle changes everything. It means our coaching and technical teams can reach communities in a day instead of three. Equipment arrives intact, ready to install. Staff travel safely through areas where motorcycle travel carries real risk. Emergency responses become possible in the current climate of unrest.

How You Can Help

  • Donate a vehicle. If you have access to a reliable used truck (ideally something we can get parts for in-country such a jeep), we can handle the logistics of getting it to Haiti.

  • Fund the purchase. A contribution of any size moves us closer to acquiring the vehicles our team needs.

  • Cover shipping and customs. These often-overlooked costs represent roughly 30% of the total investment and are essential to getting wheels on the ground in Haiti.

For over two decades, Haiti Outreach has brought clean water to more than 275,000 people across 520+ communities—with a 90% success rate that stands unmatched in the sector. We've done this through partnership, persistence, and resourcefulness.

But resourcefulness has its limits. Our team in Haiti has stretched motorcycles and rental trucks as far as they can go. Now we need your help to give them the tools to reach even further.

For questions about vehicle donations or to discuss how you can help, please contact Ceallaigh Smart, Executive Director at csmart@haitioutreach.org.

Thank you!

The last time Haiti Outreach purchased a used 2005 truck was 7 years ago.