HAVE or Help A Village Effort, is a volunteer organization that began in 1982 to assist people who do not have fresh, safe drinking water.
It is registered charity based in Haliburton County, Ontario. Since 2002 HAVE’s first official branch was founded in Glovertown, Newfoundland. It now has official representations in cities and towns throughout Ontario, Newfoundland and British Columbia.
Clean potable water greatly reduces the water-borne diseases from which many people suffer and die. Safe water also provides a basic foundation from which other aspects of development can occur.
HAVE is a rural based non-government organization (NGO) responding practically to initiatives taken by indigenous NGOs working with very needy neglected villagers in some of the world’s poorest areas. Typically 95% of the donated funds goes directly to the provision of safe drinking water mostly via bore (artesian) wells. We have been supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), other interested support groups, and, especially, individual donations.
As well as putting in over 700 (to date) safe drinking water systems, we have funded (in earlier years) a mobile health care program in India, support for needy children, a primary reading program in the Gambia, West Africa, and many other cooperative projects with dedicated partners – all of which were designed to help the poor and needy to experience an improved quality of life.
Mission Statement
Help A Village Effort’s mission is to provide better living conditions for people around the world through the provision of some of life’s essentials: safe drinking water, sanitation and good hygiene education.
It is HAVE’s belief that when people have the basic necessities of life, self-determination and empowerment will follow.
Read the formal definition of HAVE: Articles of Constitution
Non-Denominational
HAVE has had, serving on its committee, persons of the following major Faiths:
- Baha’i
- Buddhist
- Christian
- Hindu
- Jewish
- Persons of no known Faith
From the stand point of its committee volunteers and its projects in the field of operation, HAVE continues to recognize specifically only the basic humanitarian needs of people, immaterial of their beliefs and Faiths.
Statement from Hon. Scott Simms MP
“I commend the many dedicated volunteers of Help A Village Effort (HAVE) committee in their ongoing efforts to provide accessible and safe drinking water to villages in India and other third world nations. Their success to date has contributed immensely to the well being of those in desperate need. In 2005, I had the pleasure of participating in HAVE’s Walk for Water in Glovertown in my riding. It was truly an enlightening experience. The driving force behind HAVE, Mr. Gerard Feltham, and other local committee members have contributed in a very large way to HAVE’s success worldwide, and I encourage you to keep up the excellent work.”
Scott Simms MP, Government of Canada
Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor
Newfoundland and Labrador
Extract from the 39th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 112
Friday, June 13, 2008
Help A Village Effort
Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, since 1999 the community of Glovertown in my riding, with matching funds from CIDA, has managed to raise enough money from its annual Walk for Water to provide 85 artesian wells for needy villages in India. As their member of Parliament, I am extremely proud of this remarkable achievement, a feat that is unlikely to be matched by any other community of its size.
As members may know, Help A Village Effort, or HAVE, is a voluntary non-governmental organization which a constituent of mine, Mr. Gerard Feltham, and his friends started in 1982 when he was living in Haliburton-Minden, Ontario.
Since 1982 nearly 700 safe drinking water systems and many essential education and health services have been provided to thousands of needy families in hundreds of villages, particularly in India. The bulk of its support comes through the efforts and donations of friends and relatives.
Walk for Water events are now taking place in communities in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario.
This small group of people are to be commended for their outstanding efforts to improve the lives of those less fortunate and for making this world a better place.
Statement from Sandy Collins, MHA
Sandy Collins along with his wife Samantha, standing with Gerard Feltham, a HAVE branch member, and the founding member of HAVE Canada
My wife Samantha and I had the privilege of taking part in the 12th Annual Walk for Water in Glovertown this year and anticipate continuing to do so on an annual basis.
Mr. Gerard Feltham and his group of volunteers are to be commended for their ongoing efforts to improve the lives of those less fortunate and simply put, for making the world a better place to live. The need for safe drinking water remains urgent in certain parts of the world. I am proud to say that Glovertown and area’s Walks have supplied about 115 wells to many villages in India, consequently, about 70,000 villagers are now receiving clean safe drinking water for the first time.
Statement from Hon. Paul Oram, former MHA
“As MHA for the Terra Nova District, and Parlimentary Assistant to the Premier, I am so proud to be a part of HAVE’s Walk for Water. Under the very capable leadership of Mr. Gerard Feltham, this organization has now provided clean drinking water to thousands of Men, Women and Children in the country of India.
HAVE is all about providing life to those who without water, will not have life.”
Paul Oram, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
MHA Terra Nova District
Parlimentary Assistant to the Premier
Statement from Her Worship, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones
“It is a pleasure to have participated in a community dinner in West Vancouver, in support of HAVE. Drinking water is a precious resource that no one would wish to take for granted.
Helping to ensure that people in India have access to clean drinking water is an important humanitarian responsibility that we are able to share by taking action locally, thanks to HAVE.”
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Mayor of The District of West Vancouver
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Hon. Mary Collins, MP for Capilano—Howe Sound, BC
“Congratulations to HAVE for the crucial work you are doing.
Providing communities in India with wells and access to clean drinking water will make an enormous difference in the health and opportunities for the people in these communities. It is exciting and encouraging to see how local action on the part of Canadians can bring such important benefits to individuals and communities half way around the globe.
Keep up the good work!”
Hon. Mary Collins, MP for Capilano—Howe Sound, BC 1984-1993
and Cabinet Minister 1989-93 including Associate Minister of National Defense,
Minister responsible for the Status of Women, and Minister of Health.
Currently, Director of the British Columbia Healthy Living Alliance
