2013

Participatory Photo Mapping: Application of a Novel Assessment Tool to Identify the Need  to Improve Water Safety in Mountain Communities in the Dominican Republic

WHO: Adam Weier

PROJECT: It was hypothesized that the mountain communities in the Dominican Republic do not have access to a clean water source and have limited knowledge on proper storage and treatment of water. The researcher visited nine of the twenty-three communities that FUMSIL provides medical services to and three individuals from each community were asked to participate in the project. The participants were asked to show the researcher the water sources they used to get cooking and drinking water for the day. Participants were also asked questions about their perception of clean and unclean water. The answers were recorded and photographed. Community discussion groups were later held to determine their priorities in accessing a clean and reliable water source.

Dr. Valdez was the liaison to the community members and coordinated community visits with the use of FUMSIL vehicles and drivers.  The use of FUMSIL’s resources enabled the researcher to efficiently gather information about the communities access to and understanding of clean water.  This information will allow FUMSIL to create a dynamic partnership with the communities that will hopefully result in more sustainable change.  FUMSIL serves communities in great need.  Therefore, there is potential for future multi-disciplinary projects between FUMSIL and the University of Wisconsin-Madison that will aid the people in the region while providing students with a life-changing experience.

The project was originally designed around the Participatory Photo Mapping Method, but due to the unreliability and inaccuracy of the GPS unit the mapping aspect of the project was removed.  The  researcher  then switched to the Photo-Voice  technique, which also uses photographs to answer questions.  The researcher walked with each participant to the water sources, the water sources were photographed and then the participants were asked why they thought the water sources were safe or unsafe, if and/or how they treated their water, and how the water was stored.

The answers given by each individual along with the photos were used in the first part of community discussions that involved three neighboring communities.  The communities were asked the same questions again to start a discussion about how they knew when water was clean.  During the second part of the discussion groups members were asked questions about what they needed to have a clean, reliable, and convenient water supply and how it could be maintained by the community.

At the end of each community discussion group the three neighboring communities pledged to form a water committee that would be responsible for the care and preservation of the water sources and would meet regularly to discuss the needs for the communities’ water supply.  This was a significant shift in the communities’ approach to problem solving.  Historically, these communities have waited for outside assistance and they are now taking more responsibility for the  health of their community and their water supply.