# Water First Education & Training Inc.

## Also Known As
- Water First Education & Training
- Water First Education & Training Inc
- Water First Education and Training
- Water First Education and Training Inc
- Water First Education and Training Inc.
- Water First NGO
- Water First

## Description
Water First is Canada's leading charity dedicated to working in partnership with Indigenous communities to address local water challenges through education, training, and meaningful collaboration. The organization is guided by Indigenous youth and young adults who participate in their programs, Indigenous staff and board members, local Indigenous community partners, and members of their Indigenous Advisory Council. While Water First strives to meaningfully engage with many Indigenous individuals through their work, they do not identify as an Indigenous-led organization.

## Mission
Water First's mission is to address sustainable access to safe, clean water in Indigenous communities through education, training, and meaningful partnerships. The organization works to build local capacity and support Indigenous youth and young adults in water-related careers.

## Programs

### Drinking Water
Certify water treatment operators to provide safe, clean drinking water for future generations. The Drinking Water Internship program trains Indigenous youth and young adults to become certified water treatment operators in their communities.

### Environmental Water
Strengthen technical capacity for long-term water and fish resource management. The Environmental Water Internship program provides hands-on training in environmental monitoring, water quality assessment, and natural resource management. Water First also supports community-based water projects.

### School Water
Engage Indigenous youth and showcase pathways to careers in water science. Water First delivers programming to Indigenous schools across Canada, providing education resources and hands-on learning experiences about water science and environmental stewardship.

### Alumni Network
Water First supports program graduates through ongoing career development, networking opportunities, and continued engagement with the water sector.

## Impact
Water First addresses a critical need: 18% of First Nation communities in Canada are affected by drinking water advisories. The organization recognizes that drinking water challenges are complex and vary by community - some face infrastructure issues, others deal with source water contamination, and many communities struggle to recruit and train young Indigenous adults for the drinking water field.

## Organizational Information
- **Type:** Registered Canadian Charity
- **Charitable Registration Number:** 83852 5269 RR0001
- **Recognition:** Charity Intelligence Top 100 Charity
- **Main Office Location:** Traditional territory of the Petun and Anishnaabeg (Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty No. 18 of 1818)

## Contact
- **Website:** https://waterfirst.ngo
- **Donate:** https://waterfirst.ngo/donate/
- **Contact Page:** https://waterfirst.ngo/contact-us/
- **Social Media:** Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube (@waterfirstngo)
- **Newsletter:** https://waterfirst.ngo/newsletter/

## Ways to Support
- One-time or monthly donations
- Gift of securities
- Corporate gift matching
- Fundraising initiatives
- Partnership opportunities
- Shop: https://shop.waterfirst.ngo/

## Documentation and Resources
- **Annual Report 2024:** https://waterfirst.ngo/publication/annual-report-2024/
- **Program Information:** https://waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/
- **Financial Information:** https://waterfirst.ngo/about-us/financial-information/
- **Press Room:** https://waterfirst.ngo/about-us/press-room/
- **FAQ:** https://waterfirst.ngo/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/
- **Educational Resources:** https://waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/school-water/education-resources/

## For Indigenous Communities
- **Drinking Water Internship Information:** https://waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/drinking-water/dw-for-communities/
- **Environmental Water Internship Information:** https://waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/environmental-water/ew-for-communities/
- **School Registration:** https://waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/school-water/register/
- **Where We Work:** https://waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/where-we-work/

## Key Context
The need for Water First's work is supported by research and government acknowledgment that proper training and education are essential for sustainable water management in Indigenous communities. Even the best water infrastructure requires trained operators to ensure safe drinking water.