Profile of Master Mason Fritznel Noëlsin

“Dlo se lavi!” Haitian Creole for “Water is Life!” With this thought in mind each day, Fritznel Noëlsin goes about the work of building cisterns that provide clean water for drinking, home gardens and agriculture. Without cisterns to capture rainwater, people in the Gros Morne region, usually women, must travel—on foot—for several hours each day to get their water from the river. “In the three years since I started with MFOH, witnessing the transformation that the cistern program offers to so many families in Gros Morne has been amazing,” Fritznel said.

Fritznel, 44, was born and raised in Gros Morne; today, he lives there with his wife, Ismonde François, and their five children: Thamara, Jhon, Fred, Batiender and Davens. With a background in construction, Fritznel joined Mercy Focus on Haiti in 2020 as an apprentice in the rainwater harvesting program, learning the necessary masonry skills to build the 500- to 1,500-gallon ferrocement cisterns that now dot the area. He manages a staff of 24, who construct at least ten cisterns each month for schools and residences through Gros Morne. “The demand is so great that we can hardly keep up,” he said.

Fritznel explained that there are sometimes challenges regarding the cost of cistern materials. Wire mesh can be difficult to procure, and the price is extremely unpredictable. He recently purchased a roll of mesh for 15,000 gourde (the Haitian currency, equivalent to about $115). Fritznel feels a great responsibility to help his community “because the cisterns are benefiting the most fragile.” He also noted that communities in the mountains have great difficulty accessing water: “Cisterns are making a huge difference, including in decreasing the amount of run-off water.”

Seeing the difference that harvesting rainwater makes in the lives of his neighbors is especially gratifying for Fritznel: “Not only are cistern participants now able to feed their own families, but they are now selling products from the gardens at the market. “I have personally witnessed the change in the lives of so many,” he said.

In addition to the many benefits for his community, Fritznel’s work with MFOH’s rainwater harvesting program has also had positive impacts on his own life and the lives of his family. The masonry training he received helped him master new skills and consistent work has “helped me send my kids to school and manage my family better.”

His work with MFOH allows Fritznel the chance to meet so many others in his community. “There is also a social aspect,” he said. “It allows for great conversations with neighbors in similar situations.”

Fritznel sees himself continuing to help build a better future for himself, his family and his community. “We stay focused on a Haiti where good people thrive and where Haitians are given the opportunity to be trained and showcase their work,” he said. “I aim to continue building more cisterns for all the people of Gros Morne.”

When asked what he hopes his work with MFOH will lead to, Fritznel quickly answered: “I hope for a beautiful Haiti.”