About H.A.V.E.

Who We Are

H.A.V.E. (Help A Village Effort) is a volunteer-driven organization founded in 1982 with a mission to provide safe drinking water to communities in need. Based in Haliburton County, Ontario, H.A.V.E. is a registered Canadian charity committed to improving lives by addressing the fundamental need for clean water.


Today, the organization has representation across Ontario, Newfoundland, and British Columbia, amplifying its impact through a network of dedicated supporters.

Dedicated Supporters

Help A Village Effort Board:

Michele Coneybeare - Chairperson

Paul Heffer - Treasurer

Debbie Wales - Secretary

Cathy Stephens

Lisa Gervais

Darren Mills

Nick Kulas -  Affiliate member (Ontario)

David Phillips, Affiliate member (British Columbia)

Gerard & Yuvadee Feltham, Affiliate Members (Newfoundland)

Our Mission

At its core, H.A.V.E. focuses on providing clean, potable water, a resource that significantly reduces waterborne diseases and serves as a foundation for broader community development. Access to safe drinking water means communities can achieve improved health, better educational outcomes, and enhanced economic opportunities.

How We Work

H.A.V.E. works predominantly in rural India, partnering with TRUSTED non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to identify and respond to the needs of some of the world’s most impoverished and neglected communities. By focusing on local collaboration, H.A.V.E. ensures its projects are sustainable, culturally relevant, and impactful.

H.A.V.E. has received support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), various support groups, and generous individual donors.

H.A.V.E.'s Broader Impact

While H.A.V.E.’s primary focus is on water systems, the organization has a rich history of funding additional initiatives to improve the quality of life in underserved communities. These include: