Project Description

Upon learning of the Do Something Grant, I knew instantly I wanted to apply and take advantage of this opportunity. I am very passionate about international development issues and challenges (especially those regarding the broad fields of health, education/awareness, and basic needs such as food safety and sanitation).

I feel that I would be a valuable applicant for a grant due to my diverse skills, experiences, and achievements. I am involved with numerous leadership activities, such as being an Executive Member of the Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) at the University of Ottawa. I am also the outgoing Financial Director and former Chair of Leadership and Personal Development of the Council of Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP). The beneficial impacts of my efforts have been commended, and I am the recipient of awards such as the University of Ottawa Chancellor’s Scholarship, Governor General’s Medal, and an unprecedented two Outstanding Youth Awards.

Also, I feel it is important to speak both official languages (English and French) since I live in Canada, and also because the project in Bénin will be conducted in the French language.

This volunteer experience will impact my personal life greatly. I would like to participate in this internship because I think it will stimulate and open my mind, be a great experience, and make me a better leader. I am also graduating, so I believe I have both the educational and experiential background that makes me suitable to participate in this project.

I am currently part of a group of 5 students from the University of Ottawa who will be participating in a volunteer project in Bénin. Although each of our group members has different motivations and reasons for taking on this project, we have come together and compiled our thoughts regarding the core objectives of this project. We all thrive to make a difference in our community through our leadership, community involvement, academic achievement, and innovation.

Bénin is a country ravaged by socio-economic and health complications, which justifies our motivation for this project. Firstly, half of Bénin’s population consists of children, most of which are orphaned. For example, a typical family consists of orphaned children with the eldest child of as young as twelve years old as the provider of the family. Secondly, Bénin’s isolated rural communities such as Anoum and Aklampa lack access to primary healthcare. The nearest clinic is over a two-hour cab ride out of the city, which most citizens of Bénin cannot afford and are too sick to walk the long distance.

In response to these complications, Canada-Africa Community Health Alliance (CACHA) launched exploratory projects in Anoum and Aklampa in 2002, where numerous doctors and students contributed to the provision of health services for community members and educational awareness about safe sex. The opening of the only dispensary in the village of Anoum was organized in 2006 by CACHA, for the provision of basic needs to patients with chronic health problems. Only one local nurse is working at the dispensary, and CACHA hopes to expand the current health services. Despite this progress, there is still need for significant improvement. Our group has chosen to work with CACHA due to the fact that this NGO is a student-friendly NGO run by the University of Ottawa that focuses on developing isolated regions in under developed countries.

The Ottawa-Carleton region in Canada has been fundraising the past year to help improve sanitation of the country Bénin. Our interest then grew as we attempted to find a Canadian NGO to partner with us on our volunteer abroad. After many emails and phone calls we then met with the organization CACHA. After our group had met with the CACHA representatives a few times, we recognized the gravity of the situation. They saw our passion and concern and agreed to be our partner. We have chosen this project because we honestly believe it to be a realistic goal. Our intention is not alter the pre-existing systems, but rather, to provide the tools necessary to help them develop as a unique society by providing essential everyday needs. We understand that as Westerners it is not our place to judge or impose our preconceived notions of development or success. If anything, we are likely to learn more from them than they will learn from us.

Approaching the project in this manner makes our goals more feasible and realistic. We realize that this is not a revolutionary project on a global scale; however, by targeting a small local community and providing valuable tools such as education, we truly believe that the difference we make in an individual’s life can profoundly impact the choices they make tomorrow, in turn, improving their society.

The towns are both deprived of primary health care, proper tools for education, agriculture, and housing needs. Both Anoum and Aklampa are very isolated and underdeveloped towns in Bénin. In Anoum, there is a small dispensary, however, there is only one nurse, as such, are sorely in need of bigger and better facility. This is one of the locations we will be working in, to provide them with volunteers in delivering services to the local peoples. In Aklampa, the focus will be placed on working with children through the orphanage/drop-in centre. Working with children is another critical issue, because children in these towns are often deprived of a proper childhood as many of them are orphans which must support their families. We will also be travelling to local schools and giving presentations on HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention. This will provide children with education on how to decrease their risk of contraction. Through these measures, we are attempting not only to provide them with a better life now, but a better life in the future so the people we help can take these messages and propagate them throughout the local and wider communities.

Project Description

The goal of project H2O is to (a) increase awareness within the Eastern High School student body and faculty and the general public regarding the lack of adequate clean water supplies within both local and global communities, (b) use this increased awareness to inspire students, faculty and the community to support our fundraising efforts, with the goal of providing walter filtration assistance to a needy family or community, and (c) inspire others to volunteer in water sanitation projects by documenting our own volunteer initiatives. Our Senior Gifted and Talented class intends to document our own experiences when volunteering in clean water activities locally, demonstrating how others can similarly advance this cause.