help-a-village-effort-g084

Minden Crazy Raft Race

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 20:32:25 GMT

We had a great time at Minden’s Canada Day…

The Raft Race was exciting; Bob and Johanna Penfold, Paul Heffer and Jenn Watt were instrumental in getting the raft river ready.Toos just mentioned we finish 3rd…..no prize for 3rd but we had a lot of fun…and we did not fall into the river…bonus. Canada day was a great day in Minden.

When we took the pics of the HAVE booth it was early in the day…but later it was busy…2-3,000 people. Diane and Tom Dawson did an awesome job at promoting HAVE at the booth meeting with many people.

Thank you Tom, Ryan and Diane.

What an wonderful week for HAVE
Ron and Toos

Vancouver Walk for Water 2009

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 03:05:57 GMT

Vancouver 2009

West Vancouver, British Columbia

Amount Raised – $3,160

Start / Finish / Lunch Venue – St. Monica’s Anglican Church, Horseshoe Bay
Left: Marjorie Phillips with niece Sonja Phillips, David Phillips
Center: Elizabeth Ferguson, Susan Krug and Kathleen Symons
Right: Judy Phillips and Maxine Wishart

Photos L-R:
Alex Sharpe (fastest runner – 7km)
Water supplied to all route checkpoints by the Island Oasis Water Company, Bowen Island
Caroline Helbig (2nd fastest runner – 7km)

Foreground: Judy talking with Dianna Deyholos & Susan Krug

(L-R) Maxine Wishart, Belinda Manze, Alf Hayley (donated delicious Blenz coffee to the walk), Doug Boyd (see cheque presentation below), Judy and Elizabeth

The 3 women organisers of the West Vancouver Walk for Water with Doug Boyd. (Left of sign) Elizabeth Ferguson and Kathleen Symons (Right of sign) Doug Boyd - president of the Horseshoe Bay Lions Club seen here presenting Judy (acting for HAVE) a cheque for $1,000

Minden Walk for Water 2009

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 02:55:06 GMT

Minden 2009

MINDEN, Haliburton Ontario

As part of the “ Choose Your Own Adventure ” fundraiser in Haliburton County, the HAVE board raised money to send a raft in the Minden Crazy Raft Race on Canada Day.

Part of the chaos at the Haliburton Crazy Raft Race

More than $400 was raised for this small team of four.
In front, Robbie Stephens and friend Willy,
in back David Zilstra and HAVE board member Jenn Watt.

THANKS to everyone for making the raft and the signs and trucking it there
and giving us hats to wear and a place to change afterwards.
I have to say those 20 minutes (seemed like 40) were pretty tough,
but it was totally worth it and fun!

Photos:
Chad Ingram , Minden Times reporter
Captions:
Jenn Watt , HAVE board member

Walks for Water 2008

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:49:10 GMT

Minden 2008

ASES (Archie Stouffer Elementary School) lends a helping hand
Minden Times Newspaper Article
Swimming for a Cause
Minden Times Newspaper Article
HAVE doubles effort to install new wells
Minden Times Newspaper Article

The Minden Times – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2008

1. ASES lends a helping hand

by SUNITA KARIR Times Staff

Being surrounded by lakes every day didn’t stop a group of Archie Stouffer students from realizing that others aren’t as fortunate.

The Minden Times – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2008

2. Swimming For A Cause

by SUNITA KARIR Times Staff

Theres no shortage of places to swim In the Highlands but one local resident wanted to set her sights on something a little bigger.

The Minden Times – SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

3. HAVE doubles effort to install new wells

by RON REID

Thanks to everyone’s awesome efforts, this has been one of the best years ever for Help A Village Effort. Various fundraising events put $56,100 in the bank, which allows HAVE to get funding from the Canadian International Development Agency to continue creating sources of clean, reliable drinking water in developing countries.

Thanks for the support.

Walks for Water 2006

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:18:01 GMT

In 2006, there was Awesome fund-raising in:

Newfoundland :
Glovertown,
Gander,
Lamaline,
Marystown,
St. John’s, and others

British Columbia :
Vancouver,
Shuswap,
Adam’s River,
Chase

Ontario :
Haliburton county,
Lindsay,
Bobcaygeon

Walks for Water 2012

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:12:19 GMT

Vancouver Walk For Water raises $4,000

On the nicest day of the season, 50 walkers (as well as two dogs and 10 kids under 10 years old) came out for West Vancouver’s Walk for Water on May 26. Raising $4,000 (with more to come), the group walked three kilometres starting at St. Monica Church, Horseshoe Bay. Thank you to everyone who participated or donated money!

Glovertown Walk for Water raises thousands

The Glovertown and Area’s 14th Walk For Water went successfully. The number of walkers were about the same as last year. Each year we hope for more. The walking condition were just right and the spirit of the walk remains optimistic. As for the fundraising, we have good reason to be very pleased. The actual amount received at the walk event was $6,346. However, we trust that when all the contributions come in, there will be sufficient money to meet our annual goal of supplying 10 new bore wells to as many needy villages, where currently there is neither safe drinking water nor sufficient fresh water to meet the villagers’ household needs.

On behalf of the many villagers whom you are helping though your contributions and ourselves, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Glovertown Walk for Water 2011

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:02:07 GMT

Glovertown 2011

Photos from this year’s Walk for Water in Gloverton. 13 years and still going!

Glovertown Walk for Water 2010

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:11:12 GMT

Glovertown 2010

Gloverton, Newfoundland – June 12th, 2010

Glovertown and Area’s 12th WALK FOR WATER (June 12/10) went quite well. It was a perfect day for walking.

The returns of the sponsorship funds were especially encouraging. Monies are still slowly coming in (July 2nd). We remain very hopeful that our annual goal of 10 more new wells for very needy villagers in India will be reached.

Since with started in 1999, our WALKs have now raised over $100 000. With equal matching monies from CIDA, this means, too, that about 125 bore wells will have been supplied to as many villages which are in desperate need of safe drinking water.

This is a remarkable accomplishment, thanks to hundreds of supporters in our sparcely populated area and to many other generous friends and relatives, far beyond. The challenge is now out for other Canadian villages and towns to do as well or better. How about it?!?

Glovertown Academy 2010

Glovertown Academy, Glovertown, Newfoundland

Just imagine…

…our Glovertown Academy’s grade 5 classes have in 2 years raised enough money for one sponsored village bore well.A fantastic achievement in a sparcely populated area of Newfoundland!Glen Winsor, the Grade 5 teacher, has also helped me with H.A.V.E. matters on numerous occasions. In my books, he’s really a terrific guy!

Gerard (Gerry) Feltham
HAVE founder

Vancouver Walk for Water 2010

Sat, 29 May 2010 21:13:21 GMT

West Vancouver 2010

West Vancouver, British Columbia

Amount Raised – $3,126.20 (and still counting)

Organising Committee Members :

David Phillips, Judy Phillips, Elizabeth Ferguson, Kathleen Symons, John Whalen

The Rector of St. Catherines Anglican Church, The Rev. Christine Rowe explains to the children that other children in the world don't have drinking water that comes from their taps at home and how we can help.

A pause for refreshments at the Horseshoe Bay Checkpoint (above)

This is part of the inter Christian group that also made 6 HAVE T shirts for us over the past winter

…and lunch for the intrepid walkers

HAVE at St. Catherine’s Anglican Church

North Vancouver

Walk for Water at Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver

May 29th, 2010

(R) David in front of the 2010 Walk for Water Start/Finish Location St. Monica’s Anglican Church – West Vancouver

Glovertown Walk for Water 2009

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:30:45 GMT

Glovertown 2009

Glovertown, Newfoundland

On June 13th ’09, we had our 11th Glovertown and Area’s WALK FOR WATER. In spite of the heavy rain in the early AM, the WALK went quite well. There were about the same number of participants as last year. However, 2 days before (June 11) Govertown Academy’s grade 5 class with their teacher (Mr. Glen Winsor) and another teacher walked the Park route, and thus increasing the number by an extra 27 walkers. On the actual WALK Day, following the rain, the sound of the singing birds and the babbling brooks made the experience even more delightful.

The actual return of funds at the time of registration was $3,445.00 but that amount should increase considerably as the funds keep coming in. We remain optimistic that we’ll reach our goal of 10 more new artesian wells, to a total of 110 wells (since 1999), just from our WALK in Glovertown,NL.

The golf cart
taking those who can’t manage the walk on the WALK route around Ken Diamond Park (except a couple of kids hitching a ride!)

2 volunteers signing the “Scroll Book”, listing most of the participants over the years since 1999, when the WALK started in Nfld (Glovertown, the 1st WALK)

(L-R) Stanley Sparkes, Branch chairman of H.A.V.E. and
H.A.V.E.’s founder Gerard (Gerry) Feltham in Glovertown, NL

Volunteers, mostly Branch Committee members, at the WALK
(in the “registration room”, at the Glovertown Academy)

(Above)
Gerard Feltham speaking to the Grade 5 class at Glovertown Academy, just before the students and 2 teachers head out for their WALK FOR WATER (June 11th) around the Ken Diamond Park. This class, under their teacher Mr. Glen Winsor, has been quite active with raising money for H.A.V.E. I believe we’ll hear much more about this group’s achievements in the future.

Vancouver Walk for Water 2008

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:23:53 GMT

West Vancouver Indian Dinner

August 8, 2008

Help A Village Effort

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:38:10 GMT

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.

Extract from the 39th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 112

Walks for Water 2007

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:21:54 GMT

On June 9th, Glovertown and area’s 8th WALK FOR WATER took place. It was encouraging to have already received generous contributions of support from some of you, to whom we are extremely grateful.

Chase and Haldane, British Columbia, 2007

Walks were held Saturday, June 2nd, 2007 in Chase and Haldane.

Early History of HAVE

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:41:38 GMT

HAVE and the WALK FOR WATER

During my summer holidays as a teacher (July and August) in 1981, I travelled (mostly via train) alone throughout much of India, where I was practically overwhelmed by the sight of poverty, the excessive heat, and the apparent lack of suitable drinking water for its population of about one billion people. Particularly in South India, it was a summer when the land was scorched, with little to no vegetation, and numerous farm animals were dying along with some people, due to severe heat and drought conditions. I’ll never forget the dryness, too, in my mouth and throat, with a thirst that the many bottles of soft drinks (kampa cola and limca) and my boiled water could not quince.

In Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, I met by chance a Baptist minister, a Rev. Victor (of Indian parentage) who invited me to see his mission work, primarily in the villages of Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh, with the Word Ministries of India (W.M.O.I.). A few weeks later I did make a quick visit to the W.M.O.I. Headquarters in Hyderabad but I had insufficient time to go into the villages. However, Rev. Victor did impress upon me at that time that the villagers, whom he and his pastors were serving, were in desperate need of chapels, and water for themselves, their farm animals, as well as their rice paddies and vegetable plots. I learned, too, that other than its effort to propagate the Christian Gospel, the W.M.O.I. was also trying to attend to urgent medical, social, and other humanitarian needs of numerous neglected villagers. (When I first met Rev.Victor in Madras, he was there to obtain a Visa, to go to the USA in 1982. Apparently certain Southern Baptist churches, which were supporting the W.M.O.I., had invited him to be a guest speaker; to raise money for his mission.)

Later, in that same initial trip to India, I spent 2-3 days with a friend (Keith Jamieson and his wife, Jo). I had known Keith several years before at Emanuel Theological College (University of Toronto). Keith was a “water engineer” and Jo an accountant. Both were serving as United Church of Canada missionaries; and resided in Pune, a city just beyond the Western Ghats, east of Bombay (now Mumbai), in Maharashtra state. Upon expressing to Keith my concern re: the urgent need of drinking water in India, he provided me with specific names and addresses of persons and agencies in India (both governmental and private) that were already somewhat involved (in a limited way) with drinking water problems. In particular, Keith informed me about an evangelical church group, known as EFICOR, based in Bangalore, Karnataka, which has high speed well drilling rigs, and an excellent well drilling record in South India. Also, he told me about another agency called WDS (Water Development Society), located in Secunderabad, near Hyderabad, which manufactured high quality well drilling rigs and equipment. WDS provided, too, reasonably priced well drilling services. Also, Keith directed me to a Girls’ Private School in Aurangabad, Maharastra state, which urgently needed a bore drinking well. Before leaving that area I managed to visit that school; and discussed with the principal the possibility of supplying the funds for the school’s well. Months later, after H.A.V.E. was formed, I continued correspondence with the principal until final arrangements were made for H.A.V.E. to fund its first well. Fortunately, before the money was sent, the principal notified me that the city council had managed to extend its water main (in the area of the school), making a bore well unnecessary, since a branch line would connect the school with the city water supply.

In 1982, during Rev Victor’s visit to the southern USA, he came to my home in Ingoldsby, near Minden, Ontario, Canada. Shortly after his arrival in Toronto, we had a meeting with my friends at Grace United Church in Brampton, Ontario, before proceeding to Ingoldsby. During his brief stay in the Haliburton/Minden area, the Rev. Victor spoke to small groups of interested persons in 2 United Churches (in Haliburton and Lochlin). At these meetings he emphasized the urgency to provide the massive poor (in the villages of India) with chapels, and safe drinking water. With respect to solving the water problem, Rev. Victor requested a well drilling rig for his W.M.O.I. mission; to drill village wells in his large rural area.

Later, weeks after Rev. Victor’s visits, and arising out of our initial Brampton meeting, a Brampton friend suggested that I should initiate a WALK in the beautiful Haliburton County, for the expressed purpose of raising money for a well drilling rig for India. However, considering that Haliburton County is rather sparsely populated, with quite limited financial resources, the WALK idea (for such an expensive item as a drilling rig) appeared ridiculous. At that same Brampton meeting was a close friend of mine who apparently was afflicted, at that time, with a form of emotional illness. She was touched by Rev. Victor’s remarks. Later, while in hospital, she appealed to the United Church Women (at Grace U. Church, Brampton) to give money for one bore well, in one village where Rev. Victor was ministering. To my astonishment, shortly afterwards my friend sent me a cheque for $650.00 in support of her idea. Apparently her thinking at that time was simply that even though we could not supply a rig to drill many village wells, we could provide one well to many families in one village.

Also, at the time when Rev. Victor’s was visiting our County, the final meeting of the Haliburton United Church’s Vietnamese Refugee Fund (of which I was a member) was held. Our “refugee family” had moved away, and was no longer in need of financial support. (The Vietnamese family had actually settled in Hamilton, Ont.) With a balance of $200.00 still in the Fund’s account, it was decided that $100.00 would go to assist the charitable work of the YMCA in Brazil, working with the street children; and the other $100.00 would be given to the Rev. Victor’s mission in India. Out of curiosity, I questioned Rev. Victor as to how he may use our gift to him. To my surprise (and, somewhat, disappointment) he suggested that he would apply it towards the construction of a new chapel in a village where W.M.O.I. was serving. (I was hoping to hear that it would go towards some specific humanitarian need.)

Consequently, now we were confronted with 2 challenges, both in India, namely (a) to fund the drilling of a well at a “school for girls” (as mentioned above); and (b) to contribute towards the completion of a Baptist chapel (as proposed by Rev. Victor). My Haliburton/Minden friends and I quickly realized that a committee needed to be formed, to attend to these challenges. Also, some of our thinking then (as now) was that villages here in Canada could make an effort to help with the desperate need of “drinking water” in the villages of a Developing Country, such as India; and that, wherever possible, communicate with those villages in a “twinning” relationship. (The idea and practice of towns and cities in Canada twinning, with similar communities in other countries, was not uncommon in the 70ies and 80ies.) The idea evolved, too, that we (the “haves”) could do something to assist particularly needed villagers (the “have-nots”), especially outside of Canada. We began to really appreciate that we were living in a county (Haliburton) and country (Canada) where there is an abundance of fresh water; and that the only way to share our “water” was to provide them (“the needy”) with the financial means to enable them to “tap into” (to develop) their underground water supplies and other suitable water resource in their rural areas. Therefore, the thought of providing “bore (drilled) or artesian wells” arose. As our thinking evolved, so did a name for our “committee”. It officially became the Help A Village Effort Committee or simply H.A.V.E.. In turn, our Executive officers (Keith Hill, vice-chairman; John Stouffer, treasurer; Wendy Gamble, secretary; and me as chairman) and a small membership soon drew up H.A.V.E.’s original “Statement of Purpose”, and its “Constitution”. In order to provide official receipts to donors (for income tax purposes) and to obtain matching grants (for its eligible projects) from CIDA, H.A.V.E. was registered (in 1982) with Revenue Canada as a Canadian Charitable Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), in international development efforts.

From its very beginning H.A.V.E. has remained strictly a voluntary NGO, with no paid personnel, and no budget for office space, equipment, etc. Its meetings have been held in private homes, church, or other community facilities. In more recent years H.A.V.E.’s main expenses have been a minimal cost for book-keeping service, auditing fee, brochures, and other coping materials. As a consequence, typically about 95% of H.A.V.E.’s funds go directly into the provision of safe drinking water to those in special need, particularly in India. It may be noteworthy that although H.A.V.E. had its start in a particular church setting, it immediately took on a characteristic of being an inter-church and inter-faith and/or simply a community based organization. Consequently, and quite incidentally, at one point in its history, H.A.V.E. had, serving on its committee, persons of the following major Faiths: Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Jewish, and persons of no known Faith. From the stand point of its committee volunteers and its projects in the field of operation, H.A.V.E. continues to recognize specifically only the basic humanitarian needs of people, immaterial of their beliefs and Faiths.

H.A.V.E.’s first fund-raising effort was a 32 mile WALK FOR WATER in Haliburton County. (I should add that the idea of a WALK came out of my familiarity with the OXFAM Walks which we held in the Brampton, Ont, area in the 1960ies and 70ies, when I was chairman of OXFAM’s first Branch Committee in Brampton as well as a board-member of the first OXFAM Committee in Canada, based in Toronto.) The goal of H.A.V.E.’s first annual WALK was to raise $300.00. With that amount and the $650.00 (mentioned much earlier), we planned to supply one well to a needy girls’ school (note its earlier mention) in India. To our absolute amazement, through that first annual WALK FOR WATER (with 50 walkers) about $10 000.00 was raised; and with our first matching grant ($10 000.00) from CIDA, H.A.V.E. was able to provide (via an EFICOR drilling team from Bangalore, India) its first batch of 20 bore wells, to as many needy villages in the state of Karnataka, south India. Now (Sept., 2006) 24 years later, through H.A.V.E.’s efforts (and, somewhat, CIDA’s matching grants) at least 600 safe drinking water systems (mostly artesian wells) have been supplied primarily to particularly needy villages in 6 Indian states (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal) as well a 4 ½ km pipeline spring water supply to 3 small villages, near Mussoorie, Uttar Pradesh (now Uttaranchal) in the Himalayan foothills.

In 1999 I moved with my family to Glovertown, NL, when and where H.A.V.E.’s first WALKs FOR WATER began outside of Ontario. To date (2006) our annual WALKs, thanks particularly to a U.C. minister, the Rev.Bob Crosbie, are now being held elsewhere in Newfoundland as well as in areas of British Columbia. In 2002 H.A.V.E.’s first Branch was formed in Glovertown with Stanley Sparkes as its chairman. Early in 2006, a group of 6 persons (1 man and 2 women in BC; and 2 men in Ontario) accompanied me on an “adventure tour” to many villages where H.A.V.E. has funded wells, via our Indian NGO partners, in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and West Bengal. The tour was a tremendous eye-opener into the needs of rural India; and largely as a result of our visit, and the tremendous dedication of concern expressed by all of us on that trip, H.A.V.E. has managed to raise within its 2005-06 fiscal year the minimum $50 000.00 requirement , to obtain matching grants for new H.A.V.E. projects in 2006-07. However, needless-to-say, such an accomplishment this year and all the previous years would be quite impossible without the very generous voluntary help and financial contributions of numerous helpers and donors (individuals and groups) now across Canada and, to a little extent, beyond.

Additional points of interest re: H.A.V.E.’s History:

Early in H.A.V.E.’s history, drinking water systems were successfully established in other Developing Countries, namely, The Gambia, West Africa; Nicaragua, Central America, Thailand, S.E. Asia, and, quite recently, Nigeria, S.W. Africa. In keeping with H.A.V.E.’s history, these projects arose mainly as a result of H.A.V.E.’s members doing voluntary services in these particular countries. For instance, re: The Gambia: my very close, retired teacher friend, Clarence McInerney and his wife, Jean, spent 3-4 years teaching teachers in The Gambia. During his years of service there, Clarence arranged, via H.A.V.E. and CIDA, for the provision of 10 drinking water wells as well as a special wind-mill (from Canada) to pump water to a school and to irrigate vegetable fields. Also, Clarence introduced a new English curriculum to the elementary school system along with the provision of the necessary student/teacher materials all of which were funded through the Ontario Retired Teachers’ Association and directed through H.A.V.E… Upon his return from The Gambia, Clarence was H.A.V.E.’s chairman for a number of years before his death.
Also, David Phillips, another H.A.V.E. chairman, was instrumental in organizing a group of men to assist Habitat For Humanity in the building of houses for the needy in Nicaragua. Into one of the villages, he arranged, through H.A.V.E., for the funding of a drinking water pipeline from a water spring. Recently, David initiated, too, the idea of the “Tour” (Feb. /06) of 6 volunteers to some of H.A.V.E.’s project sites in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and West Bengal.
No doubt, over the years H.A.V.E. has had many other capable, dedicated chairpersons and committee members each of whom has contributed enormously in keeping H.A.V.E. “alive and well”, enabling it to accomplish far beyond its original goals. Here are the names of the other chairmen: Neil Hutchinson, Eric Lilius, Fred Elson, Kathy Sweeney, and Lynn Duncombe. (H.A.V.E.’s current chairman is Ron Reid.)
Oh yes, “Rev. Victor’s chapel” (mentioned earlier) was finished within 2-3 years but not through funds raised for wells’ projects. Actually through a contribution from the Haliburton Anglican Church choir (under Bill Gliddon) and a substantial amount from the “will” of a deceased member of the Carnarvion United Church, a beautiful little chapel was built in the Village of Ibrampuram, in Warangal District. I was also able to take “exchange Greetings” from/to the respective reeve of Haliburton and the village chief of Ibrampuram. Around the same time, too, the Rotary Club of Haliburton provided a well to Ibrampuram which is, as far as I know, still working. Also, over the years, about 70 bore wells have been supplied to as many villages through H.A.V.E./CIDA funding, via W.M.O.I. and WDS, in northern Andhra Pradesh.

An Adventurous Discovery Tour into Rural India

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:25:57 GMT

A Report of Our Tour

(as seen from my perspective)

Introduction:

For 3 weeks in Dec./04- Jan./05 my wife and I had visited several villages in rural India. Therefore, I figured that it would be a few more years before I would consider a return trip there. However, my very good friend, David Phillips in West Vancouver E-mailed me in May/06, to express his interest to go with a group into some of the Indian villages where H.A.V.E. with CIDA has provided (since 1982) at least 600 bore (artesian) wells. David requested me to set up such a group Tour, and indicated that he would participate.

Consequently, through an E-mail announcement to my relatives and friends, I introduced the possibility of such a Tour and extended an invitation to become involved. However, it was not until this past November and December that a group of 6 persons (including myself) committed themselves; and the Tour became definite. In January, each person purchased his/her own return tickets to/from India. And between Jan.26-30, the following persons (in the order of their arrival ) assembled at the headquarters of the West Bengal Gandhian Peace Foundation (WBGPF) in South Kolkata (Calcutta), India: Gerard Feltham, founding H.A.V.E. member (Glovertown, NL); John Beachli, retired stonemason and Rotarian (Haliburton, ON);David Phillips, carpenter and past H.A.V.E. chairman (West Vancouver, BC); Ron Reid, scientist and current H.A.V.E. chairman (Minden,ON); Elizabeth Ferguson, retired travel agent and sales clerk (West Vancouver, BC); and Judy Phillips, nurse (West Vancouver, BC). The Tour officially started on Feb.1 and lasted until Feb 16, during which time several villages and projects were visited in the states of West Bengal, Orissa, and Andhra Pradesh.

The tremendous success of this Tour was largely due to: (a) computer technology through which numerous messages were transmitted between the participants, particularly the 6 Canadian volunteers who comprised the Tour group and H.A.V.E.’s

4 partners, which now includes WBGPF, in India: (b) the understanding, cooperative nature of those who were intrinsically a part of the Tour; and (c) the responsibility assumed and taken by each participant, thus averting blame on any one person and conferring credit on all persons. Fortunately, through SGUS’ secretary, Biswajit Ghorai, very suitable accommodation and meals, at the very beginning, were arranged for us at the WBGPF Headquarters during our stay in the Kolkata area.

The Tour’s Main Objective:

Four of the six persons were visiting India for the first time. Consequently, they, along with all of us, were anxious to gain general insights about India. However, from my stand point, the main objective of the Tour was for the participants to see the necessity and effectiveness of H.A.V.E.’s developmental efforts (projects) in rural India; and, hopefully, afterwards have the desire to become actively involved (in some voluntary way) with assisting the needy in India and elsewhere; as well as to encourage others in Canada (and elsewhere) to do likewise. Only, in time will it be determined if the Tour’s objective was achieved.

Accommodation, Transportation, Welcoming and Meals:

Each of our Indian Partners did a splendid job with providing our group with adequate accommodation either at an Administrative Centre (SGUS) or in a cheap (RUCHC) to a modestly priced (SUCHI) hotel. Transportation,(usually via a jeep or a van) from /to railway stations to our NGO Partners and while visiting the many village project sites, was quite satisfactory. The welcoming receptions at both the NGO headquarters and in each of the villages, especially where H.A.V.E. has already provided a well, were, at times, quite overwhelming. For instance, presentations of garlands, fresh coconut milk, tea and biscuits; local bands with dancing children and colourfully dressed dancing girls and women leading us to the well sites; and platform performances by well trained beautifully costumed children and young people were some of the exuberant expressions of (a) welcome into their areas; and (b) thankfulness for the benefits of their safe drinking water facilities. During our stay with them, each of our Indian Partners prepared and provided us with excellent meals. It was obvious that special care went into making them very safe, sufficient, and delicious, with ample seasonal fruits. For the first time ever, in my 10 or so visits to India, I gained weight.

The following are some specifics re: some of the project activities, as conducted by our NGO Partners (in the order of our visit):

1. West Bengal Gandhian Peace Foundation (WBGPF):
c/o Mr. Chandan Pal, secretary,
Sarvodaya Park, P.O. Duilya, Howrah, 711302, W.B., India.

In the morning, before the arrival of the 2 ladies, the 4 men of our group attended WBCPF’s special ceremony in memory of Mahatma Gandhi (Jan. 30/48, his assassination date); and then afterwards took part in the distribution of its monthly food and monetary aid to several destitute elderly persons of its neighbourhood. (This particular “aid” is being provided via funds from Help The Aged, UK.).

On Jan.31, Mr Pal hired a vehicle large enough to transport all 6 of us into a few of the villages (just east of Kolkata) where WBGPF has such active projects as (a) rain water harvesting (large, deep rectangular dug ponds, to collect and hold rain water); (b) organic farming (providing a variety of vegetables for household consumption and marketing); and (c) other income generating activities, such as nurseries for bethel leaves and herbal medicines.

It should be particularly noted that the ponds, mentioned above, provided especially such benefits as fish and fruit productions as well as contributing to the underground drinking water supply in the area. Also, WBGPF was assisting landless families to develop such ponds, organic farming plots, and other income –generating activities.

2. Sarbik Gram Unnayan Sangha (SGUS):
c/o Mr. Biswajit Ghorai, secretary,
Boalia Village, P.O. Baraibarh,
Midnapore District, W.B., 721626, India.

To get to Boalia Village from Kolkata, our group took a local train to Mascada, and from there Biswajit hired a big jeep to take us to SGUS’ base centre.

During our visit (Feb.1-3) with SGUS, we were quite occupied through the following programmes:

a) WELCOMES at both SGUS’ new Eye Hospital, and its Nursery School (located in a little building behind the Hospital). Just prior to the School’s WELCOME, Ron gave Biswajit the $700 (from H.A.V.E. to the School) for such basic items as benches and other furniture, a musical instrument, and one 3 bicycle wheeled school van. (This amount of money was raised through the efforts of Toos and Ron Reid; and Yuvadee and Gerard Feltham.). A little later we were involved with the Inauguration of the Eye Operation Camp, followed with the first operation taking place at the Hospital. Also, near the end of our visit with SGUS, the Nursery School students, their teachers and assistants (all colourfully dressed) put on an excellent cultural performance of local dances. At that time, too, we met the M.L.A.of Midnapore District who was present for the performance.

b) VISITS to several villages (and with many villagers), including 2 girls’ schools where, in most of them, H.A.V.E. has provided safe drinking water via bore wells.. At each well site much concern was expressed and discussed re: the importance for the villagers themselves to care for and to maintain their well (particularly the pump, platform, and drainage); to prevent contamination of the well water; and to utilize properly the spillage at the well site; and

c) OSERVATIONS by seeing in action some of the “Women’s Development Programmes” under SGUS’ guidance. In particular, it was quite encouraging to observe a number of women (and actually one man) weaving (at their looms in their village homes) colourful, durable cloth and one woman doing very intricate needle-point work. Apparently, their products are being especially sold at the market place in Kolkata. This cottage (home) industry and others (such as tailoring, rice-processing, poultry, and basket-making) have enabled poor illiterate to semi-illiterate women to provide substantially for themselves and their families. (A long-standing H.A.V.E. member has, through his personal contributions through H.A.V.E., assisted a number of such women, in their micro credit, self-employment schemes.

A Note re: transportation between NGOs:
To get from SGUS to RUCHC, it was necessary for us to take (on Feb. 4th) an all day East Coast train from Mascada to Bhubaneswar, Orissa, and from their via taxi to Puri, (arriving 10 pm) where we stayed for 2 days and 3 nights at a medium priced hotel, near the beach. The group deemed it necessary to have a recreational break before reaching RUCHC (and visiting more villages), which is far off the beaten track—the main railway system. Our visit to Puri, and the temple site in nearby Konarak, is a story in itself which, possibly, could be best told by others in the group.

To reach RUCHC, we had to get off the train (which started from Puri) at Vizianagaram, and from there take an early morning bus for 7-8 hours into the Eastern Ghats, to the town of Nabarangpur.

3. Rural Community Health Centre (RUCHC)
c/o Ms. Nishita Dandsena, Director,
Nabarangpur, Orissa, 764059, Orissa, India

Due to the somewhat arduous route to and from RUCHC, our group could spare only one and a half days and 2 nights in Nabarangpur District. However, a tremendous amount was achieved within this short stay. Over the 20 plus years of RUCHC’s existence, it has provided many services to numerous villages. With the recent sudden passing of its founder, Dr. Dandsena, RUCHC is now under the presidency of his daughter, Nishita, who is being assisted by her sister, their mother, and a small dedicated staff of multi- purpose workers. Within RUCHC there is a very strong determination to re-establish its roots of service, primarily to the poor, relatively neglected, tribal peoples of the District and for the NGO to grow, particularly in accordance to the needs of the 15 villages which are presently targeted.

Scattered throughout Nabarangpur District, H.A.V.E. has supplied, over many years, nearly 100 bore wells to numerous needy villages. During this brief visit, we managed to go into 6 villages (most of which have wells provided via H.A.V.E.), namely: Dalaiguda, Semla, Kelia, Kusumbandh, Nuaguda, and Kamta. At each of the well sites, much discussion with the villagers took place re: the importance of maintaining the well properly, especially repairing the hand pump before it malfunctions and breaks down. It was recognized that certain pumps were already nearing that stage. Also, it was emphasized that it is essential to keep the spillage water off the platform and away from the well-head, in order to prevent any possibility of contaminating the well’s subterranean water supply as well as to properly utilize the excess water, wherever possible, for kitchen garden production and other useful purposes.

In 3 out of the 6 villages visited, RUCHC’s staff dramatized rather effectively through “Awareness Programmes” re: the necessity of obtaining and maintaining safe drinking water (such as their bore well); and re: the causes and preventions of HIV/AIDS and the required care of its victims. (Apparently HIV/AIDS is fairly ramped in this part of India.) Also, during our visits to the villages, RUCHC conducted one short programme re: Mother and Child Care and emphasized the importance of Immunization for their children. (At a Welcoming Ceremony for us at the Base Centre, Nishita gave a detailed report of RUCHC’s project activities in Nabarangpur District. I have her Report; and it is available for you to read.)

Another Note re: transportation between NGOs
In order to have a safer, quicker, and more comfortable journey than via the local bus, our group hired a big jeep to take us from Nabarangpur to the railway station in Visakhapatnam, from where we proceeded overnight to Chennai (Madras). Although our train was considerably delayed, still we were very fortunate to be met on the train platform by 2 SUCHI staff members. In SUCHI’s big van, we were driven to Vellore, where we settled in a modestly priced hotel, not too far from SUCHI’s Headquarters.

4. Social Unit for Community Health and Improvement (SUCHI)
c/o Paul and Glory Vijayakumar, Directors,
26 Balaji Nagar,
Katpadi, Vellore, 632007, Tamil Nadu, India.

Although SUCHI’s functional office is in Tamil Nadu, most of its social service activities (Projects), including its well established “Rural Resource” and “Vocational Training” Centres, are situated in Chittoor District in Andhra Pradesh (bordering T.N.). Consequently, the last 3 days (Feb. 12-15) of our Tour were spent almost entirely in the rural area of Chittoor, particularly in villages where H.A.V.E. has supplied bore wells.
Our programmes with SUCHI went as follows:

a) A warm , formal WELCOME with an “overview” presentation of SUCHI and its ongoing activities;

b) Eight (8) visits to villages where H.A.V.E. has provided bore wells, including an Early Learning Centre (for pre-school children), and the Sherman Girl’s High School (in Chittoor city). The villages visited were : Perakoor, Gollapalli, Vardarajulapalli, Perumalapalli, Sapthagiri, Potukanuma, and Ammeyapalli. As indicated earlier in this report, much discussion with the villagers occurred: re the importance of carefully maintaining their new bore well facilities. Some of the village wells had already electric pumps which are daily storing their drinking water supply in appropriate reservoirs from where it gravity flowed to a number of tap stands on the road in front of their homes (huts). The respective village Well Committees were able, wherever possible, to persuade their local municipal (Panchayath) governments to assist them with getting electric pumps and other requirements for this enclosed, drinking water system. (In my opinion, where the electricity and the water source are available and adequate, this “enclosed system” is perhaps far superior to the hand pumps, since it most likely reduces the possibility of water contamination, water spillage, and frequency of pump damage.);

c) A visit to a newly constructed Watershed Project and a proposed well site in the nearby village of Venkatesh Nagar.(To understand the benefits of such a Watershed Programme, note my comments re: “Rainwater Harvesting” under WBGPF.); and

d) Apart from the Early Learning Centre (mentioned previously), other special events attended were:

SUCHIs’ Rural Training Centre, to meet several young men (in a 2 year Carpentry programme) and to see their fine products which were produced with quite simple, basic tools, and very limited materials;
The magnificent and very colourful performance put on for us by the students at Sherman Girls High School (in Chittoor). Afterwards a choral group and their little band paraded us through a corridor of beautifully dressed ( in handsome sarees) teenage girls, who were throwing petals of flowers in the path that lead us to the bore well, provided by H.A.V.E.. Their show of sincere appreciation for their well and for our visit to their school (as also we experienced in all the villages) was practically overwhelming;
An “awareness programme” on safe drinking water was quite effectively dramatized by some of SUCHI’s staff in the village of Ammeyapalli. The villagers listened and looked intensely as the performers made them aware of the necessity of getting safe drinking water; and how they must guard against its contamination and wastage; and
Our participation at the Vocational Training Centre in one of SUCHI’s Orientation Programmes, on bore well maintenance and repairs of the Indian Mark 2 hand pump (the one that H.A.V.E. uses at all its well sites). On the spot, this pump was taken apart and re-assembled by 2 pump experts from the local government office and SUCHI’s staff. The function of each pump part was explained as well as the importance of having these parts kept in good repair and replaced when broken. (The simplicity, effectiveness, and durability of this particular pump were quite apparent.) The necessity of keeping the pump properly maintained and the pump, platform, and well site generally protected (from misuse and abuse) was emphasized. Fortunately, most of SUCHI’s staff and representatives from many of the villages (where bore wells existed) were present at this special Orientation session (for 2-3 hours); and much questioning and discussing took place.

A General Comment and a Special Appreciation:

There was practically 100% attendance and participation, by all members of our Tour group, at all the events prepared by our Indian NGO Partners, except, regrettably, when, near the end, 2 persons in our group (for special medical reasons) were unable to attend some of SUCHI’s functions. On the whole, it seemed that each and every one of us are particularly pleased and appreciative for having had the opportunity to have seen, experienced and learned so very much in such a short about urban and rural India. For this opportunity we are especially thankful for all the efforts, the care, and the assistance of many friends and partners in WBGPF, SGUS, RUCHC, and SUCHI.

Concluding Remarks

Since 1981 I have visited India, mostly the rural areas, at least 10 times, still I freely acknowledge that the India society remains for me a challenge to understand and a mystery to fathom. However, what continues to be certain is that India is a “survival society” that compels every one (no matter where one is in its land) to be on the alert, in order to survive. Consequently, one of the main features of its character is “aggressiveness”, as is obviously expressed through its millions of beggars (from the children to the elderly) and its teeming business persons of all kinds. Although such a feature can be rather demanding and stressful, even overwhelming for many visitors, still it is a powerful, dynamic which contributes, not just to India’s survival, but also towards making her a vibrant, developing country—a nation state to be reckoned with in this new millennium. Therefore, in each of my visits I have been usually amazed to note the contrast between (a) the rapidity of technical progress as may be seen in communication, transportation, and electrification and (b) the slowness in handling the vast persistent social needs (problems) as revealed through education, health, and general human welfare.

Although national and international NGOs along with numerous governmental (at all levels) agencies are making valiant efforts to attend to India’s intrinsic problems, the following difficulties (to mention just a few) constantly confront its citizenry, particularly India’s massive poor:

a) The millions of landless people who are without regular employment except,sometimes, brief periods of seasonal work (especially in villages) at practically slave-like conditions for possible $200 per year;

b) The millions of slum dwellers (particularly in urban areas) who are literary working themselves to the bones and to death, pulling humans (in rickshaws) and carrying (on their backs, bicycles, and carts) all sorts of very heavy loads of goods to and from markets and businesses, with very little compensation for their labour;

c) The millions of persons (from the very young to the elderly, in all sorts of physical and emotional conditions) who are forced or who choose to beg or to steal, in order to survive;

d) The approximate one million children who die each year from diarrhoeal diseases, directly as a result of unsafe drinking water and unhygienic living conditions; as well as the approximate 45 million people affected by the water quality caused by pollution (such as, excess fluoride, arsenic, iron, and the ingress of salt water) and by not having adequate quantities of safe drinking water, particularly during the very hot dry season;

e) The millions of women and girls who are walking, often long distances, to wells in other villages (of other castes and/or tribes) or to a landowner’s agriculture well (sometimes with water polluted with pesticides). Such daily, exhausting treks result frequently in conflicts with the neighbouring villagers and /or with the landowners who demand sometimes a day of free labour or sexual favours for a householder’s pot of water. Similarly, the females have to frequently search for combustible materials, to keep the home fires burning (or cooking). Because of the mothers’ absence from the homes, the other needs of the children, other family members, and other household chores have to be neglected; and the opportunity to earn a little income via a little cottage (home) industry or outside the home is considerably reduced or denied.

f) Particularly in certain parts of rural India, millions of the males and especially the females are illiterate to semi-illiterate; and the growth of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases are rapidly increasing;

g) In metropolitan cities, particularly, the traffic congestion (of human, animal, and vehicles); and the resulting atmospheric pollution are becoming almost unimaginable;

h) It seems that somewhere in the Indian subcontinent natural disasters occur fairly frequently, some of which may not even get into the world news. Here are some tragic yearly consequences:

Floods from the ocean’s raging storms (particularly in the Bay of Bengal), as well as the ravishing torrential rains from the no longer predictable monsoons;
Severe crop failures and the resulting deaths of humans and farm animals, due to intense drought conditions, before the monsoons arrive and especially when they do not come. With either floods or drought, surface water sources become even more contaminated and, in some areas, water is relatively non-existent.Therefore, flooding, drought, earthquakes (less so) seem to be almost normal yearly calamities somewhere in India, afflicting the lives of numerous families and destroying their possessions, and seriously disrupting the budgetary plans of all levels of governments; and finally,
What can be said about India’s vast population (presently 1.3 or .4 billion) which is seemingly fast growing? In spite of the efforts being made by both governmental and non-governmental organizations to keep the population to a minimum, still millions of new births (over deaths) continue to increase India’s population.

Although India’s difficulty may appear staggering, it needs to be recognized and not underestimated that one safe drinking water well (as provided through H.A.V.E./CIDA) is vitally essential to the survival and protection (against devastating diseases) of many families in one needy village. As a consequence the members of these families (or the inhabitants of their village) have now the opportunity (beyond mere survival) through various ways and means to develop (through improved education, better health and hygiene, and overall productivity) themselves, and to influence constructively others, with whom they may associate, to do likewise. In other words, such water wells are, in a real sense, seeds of hope, love, and peace (principles handed down to us all from the teachings and influences of our forefathers/mothers to the depths of such powerful spiritual forces as Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Prophet Mohammad, Jesus Christ, and Gautama Buddha) are being continually planted upon our earth. Through the provision of wells to the needy of our world community (in India and elsewhere) we are enhancing the welfare of our fellow humans and diminishing the necessity of warfare.

Prologue

As our Tour started with the assembling of 6 persons (now friends) in Kolkata, it terminated on Feb.16, when each of us decided amicably to go his/her own way from Vellore to other parts of South India, S.W. Asia, and Canada.

Since Ron’s return to his home in Minden, Ont., he (as H.A.V.E. chairman) has already received from our respective Indian Partners, the following project proposals (with more to be expected):

SGUS—72 new bore wells (already before CIDA for matching funds);
RUCHC—Programmes re: General Awareness about Bore Wells’ Maintenance, Sanitation, HIV/AIDA, and Community Health Care, especially that of Mothers and their Children; and
SUCHI—(a) 35 new bore wells;
(b) Women’s Skills Development;
(c) Young Men in their Carpentry Training.

It is hoped that all 6 members of our group will, in due time, take a special interest in these (listed above)and other such project proposals by helping others to understand the importance of these proposals and to find financial support, to make them actual project realities.

Amid India’s massive poor, there shines a “Beautiful Smile”! Through our efforts, let us enable the villagers of India to have good reason to keep smiling; and to radiate such a lovely feature throughout our world.

help-a-village-effort-g084

Minden Crazy Raft Race

We had a great time at Minden’s Canada Day…

Vancouver Walk for Water 2009

Vancouver 2009

Minden Walk for Water 2009

Minden 2009

Walks for Water 2008

Minden 2008

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1. ASES lends a helping hand

2. Swimming For A Cause

3. HAVE doubles effort to install new wells

Walks for Water 2006

Walks for Water 2012

Vancouver Walk For Water raises $4,000

Glovertown Walk for Water raises thousands

Glovertown Walk for Water 2011

Glovertown 2011

Glovertown Walk for Water 2010

Glovertown 2010

Glovertown Academy 2010

Vancouver Walk for Water 2010

West Vancouver 2010

HAVE at St. Catherine’s Anglican Church

Walk for Water at Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver

Glovertown Walk for Water 2009

Glovertown 2009

Vancouver Walk for Water 2008

West Vancouver Indian Dinner

Help A Village Effort

Help A Village Effort

Walks for Water 2007

Early History of HAVE

HAVE and the WALK FOR WATER ﻿

An Adventurous Discovery Tour into Rural India

A Report of Our Tour

HAVE and the WALK FOR WATER