The WISH Ice House in Anse-à-Galets, located on the island of La Gonâve, Haiti, is a cornerstone of community health and economic stability. Constructed and managed by West Indies Self Help (WISH) the Ice plant serves as an enterprise ministry which helps to support the other ministries of WISH. The facility serves as a literal and figurative “well” in a region often referred to as “the forgotten Haiti.”
Overview and Purpose
La Gonâve is one of the most impoverished areas in the Western Hemisphere, plagued by severe water scarcity and a lack of infrastructure. The Ice House was established decades ago to address a fundamental survival need: preservation. In a tropical climate where daytime temperatures regularly exceed 90°F (32°C), ice is not a luxury; it is a critical tool for:
- Food Security: Allowing local fishermen to preserve their catch and transport it to markets on the mainland.
- Public Health: Maintaining the “cold chain” for food safety and other items needing refrigeration.
- Sanitation: Providing a clean source of hydration in a region where waterborne illnesses like cholera remain a constant threat.
Key Statistics and Impact
The Ice House operates as a “market-driven” social enterprise, where the revenue from sales sustains the operations and provides local employment.
- Location: Anse-à-Galets, La Gonâve Island (Pop. ~120,000)
- Sustainability: Recently transitioned to 100% Solar Power to bypass expensive, unreliable diesel generators
- Production: Integrated with Give Power’s desalination plant capable of producing up to 20,000 gallons of potable water daily
- Economic Reach: Supports the livelihoods of local fishermen and small-scale vendors
A Faith-Based Perspective: “Ice as Living Water”
From a missiological standpoint, the WISH Ice House is a living example of Holistic Ministry (the “cup of cold water” mentioned in Matthew 10:42). It operates on several spiritual pillars:
- Stewardship of Creation: By integrating solar-powered desalination (in partnership with GivePower), the mission honors the environment while providing for the “least of these,” turning the sun—once a source of oppressive heat—into a source of life-giving ice and water.
- Dignity through Industry: Rather than a handout, the Ice House empowers the community. By selling ice at fair market rates, WISH fosters a sense of local ownership and dignity, mirroring the biblical principle of “teaching a man to fish” (and then providing him the ice to keep that fish fresh).
- A Beacon of Hope: In a land often defined by “manman dlo” (water scarcity), the Ice House serves as a tangible reminder of God’s provision. It is a place where the physical thirst of the body and the spiritual need for stability meet.
“To provide a cup of cold water in His name is the goal, but in Anse-à-Galets, sometimes that water needs to be frozen to truly save a life.”
Our Partners
- Give Power: Give Power provides purified water for making ice