Water Voices
Water is the one natural resource that every living being needs for survival. While water and sanitation are becoming an increasing issue across Canada, there is a genuine water crisis that is facing First Nations communities. As of November 30th 2011 there were 131 First Nations communities under some type of drinking water advisory.
To address these advisories, Water Voices, an SMS based reporting tool and website, was developed. Water Voices believes this tool can be extremely useful in addressing water quantity and quality issues across First Nation communities.
Water Voices works by receiving text messages from First Nation community members that have drinking water advisories, inadequate sanitation, or other water quality issues. It then geo-codes their location, puts it on a map and tweets it out to Canadian politicians as well as the media. The website can be viewed at www.watervoices.ca. Water Voices’ goal is to create enough political motivation, forcing the government to act on its promises to provide EVERY Canadian citizen the basic necessities of potable water and sanitation facilities.
About You
About You
First Name
Stephen
Last Name
Sauder
Confirm a user name that will be displayed publicly to identify your entry
About You, Your Group, or Your Organization
Name
Water Voices
Website
Country
Canada
Please confirm that this project could benefit First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples
Yes
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
Youtube URL
What categories best describe who your group or organization serves (check all that apply)
First Nations people.
What best describes your group or organization
Non-profit organization.
How long have you, your group, or your organization been operating?
Less than a year
Innovation
Name Your Entry
Water Voices
Tell us the story of your idea or project
Water is the one natural resource that every living being needs for survival. While water and sanitation are becoming an increasing issue across Canada, there is a genuine water crisis that is facing First Nations communities. As of November 30th 2011 there were 131 First Nations communities under some type of drinking water advisory.
To address these advisories, Water Voices, an SMS based reporting tool and website, was developed. Water Voices believes this tool can be extremely useful in addressing water quantity and quality issues across First Nation communities.
Water Voices works by receiving text messages from First Nation community members that have drinking water advisories, inadequate sanitation, or other water quality issues. It then geo-codes their location, puts it on a map and tweets it out to Canadian politicians as well as the media. The website can be viewed at www.watervoices.ca. Water Voices’ goal is to create enough political motivation, forcing the government to act on its promises to provide EVERY Canadian citizen the basic necessities of potable water and sanitation facilities.
Define your idea / project in 1-2 short sentences
Water Voices is an SMS based reporting tool to monitor and raise awareness about poor and inadequate access to water and sanitation on First Nation Reserves.
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Start-Up (a project that is just getting started)
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Please tell us about the social impact of your idea or proect
Water Voices aims to give a voice to those without one. It will help channel energy to politicians, the media, and the public on critical issues surrounding water and sanitation for First Nation communities.
Your Future Goal(s): Tell us what you hope to achieve with your idea or project in the next year
PROVIDE EVERY CANADIAN WITH APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION
In 5 years, what will be different as a result of your idea/project?
Create and sustain political and public motivation to eradicate poor and inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure in First Nation communities.
Sustainability
Tell us about the people/ partnerships that are already involved and why they are important to your idea or project.
Water Voices was co-founded by Stephen Sauder and Melanie Gorka in October of 2011. Stephen holds a Master of Disaster from York University and is an M.Sc. Candidate in Integrated Water Resource Management at McGill University. Melanie is an ICT consultant using technology to further social change in gender, international development, and political activism.
If there are other people/partners that you will reach out to tell us who they are and why they will be important to your idea or project.
Water Voices’ next step is to develop a strategy to use this technology with First Nations Leaders. Water Voices’ would like to work together with the AFN to further develop and implement this tool. It is important that Water Voices partner with existing First Nation leadership and communities to tune and enhance this tool to have the greatest impact and the greatest chance for success.
Describe the kinds of support you receive (other than money) or will need to support your idea or project (e.g.: donated, space, equipment and volunteers)
Community engagement to implement the project across communities in Canada. Students and youth will need to understand the simple steps to report challenges and then watch as they get reported and acted on.
Do you currently have funding for your idea or project?
No (skip next two questions)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| screen_shot_2012-01-12_at_2.51.13_pm.png | 496.43 KB |
 | 18 weeks agoStephen Sauder said: Hi Carolyn, We are based out of Toronto and Montreal. We aim to cover all of Canada first. Our priorities now include validation with ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 18 weeks agoStephen Sauder said: Hi Shawna, THanks for your comments. We're making it happen through the generations contributions of our partners. We are right now ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 18 weeks agocarolyn doyle said: Hi, I really enjoyed reading about your idea. Could you tell me a bit more about where are you based, the areas you cover and some of ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 18 weeks agoShawna Snache said: Great idea! In your face accountability! We need that! Brilliant use of social media, which is becoming the mainstream media more and ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 19 weeks agoStephen Sauder updated this Competition Entry. |
| 19 weeks agoStephen Sauder submitted this idea. |
