AlerteUnité: Our Journey to the MVP Stage
Four months ago, The Journey of After Five Collective began with a simple idea: to support Haitians during the security crisis by providing real-time alerts and support to those in danger zones. Today, we are proud to share our progress and the exciting steps we’ve taken to reach the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage.
Identifying the Need
The inspiration for AlerteUnité came from a fellow Torontonian and Redditor, who presented a proactive solution to the crisis in Haiti after hearing a tragic story of a mother being shot, leaving her 8-year-old child alone. This moment made me realize I was paralyzed by focusing on the problem instead of solutions. It ignited a relentless drive in me to make a difference.
I quickly sprang into action, connecting with people on the ground to understand their operations and interactions. A recurring theme emerged: apprehension, deep mistrust, and a profound need for survival. My original idea of a neighborhood community network evolved into a system that links people to their loved ones and supports their communities anonymously. We realized the urgent need for a reliable platform to report and respond to incidents quickly. Unlike manual alert systems, our vision leverages technology for a more efficient and widespread solution.
Overcoming Challenges
Balancing this project while on maternity leave with a baby and a toddler at home has been incredibly demanding. Coordinating with teams 12 hours ahead often means holding meetings at midnight and 2 AM to keep things on track. The planning phase of the incident report is the most crucial and challenging part of this project, as it aims to foster community cohesion. We meticulously plan our incident reporting to ensure user safety, incorporating community verification and other validations to prevent misuse. Enhancing the map functionality is another challenge, especially when data is scarce. Despite these hurdles, our commitment to AlerteUnité’s mission drives us forward.
Legal and Compliance Considerations
We took significant steps to ensure the highest standards of legal and compliance practices. Drafting comprehensive terms and conditions ensures that users can report incidents with confidence, knowing their information is managed responsibly. To further protect user privacy and data, we engaged a lawyer specializing in data privacy laws within the Americas.
Beta Testing and Soft Launch
We are currently in the beta testing phase. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that the app is reliable and user-friendly. The soft launch will help us gather feedback from users on the ground, making necessary improvements . We plan to continue rolling out the app through invitation and pre-registration one community at a time. This approach allows us to closely monitor its use and ensure it meets the needs of our users. This method is particularly beneficial in a climate like Haiti, where careful planning and community input are essential for success.
Achieving the MVP Stage
We are thrilled to announce that AlerteUnité successfully completed the MVP stage in the first week of July. This milestone marks a significant achievement in our journey, demonstrating the successful development and testing of the app’s core functionalities. Our MVP includes:
- SOS Alerts for emergencies.
- Video Tutorials to guide users on app usage and safety measures.
Collaborating with a global team presented challenges like constant time zone differences, but the dedication of everyone involved kept us on track. Additionally, I am currently on maternity leave, and the clock is ticking. I was excited to release this project a month before my return to work, adding personal significance to this achievement.
New Initiative: Improving Maps for Haiti
From the MVP stage, we realized that Haiti also desperately needs an improved map with street names. Our new project, running parallel with Phase 2, is to start creating custom detailed maps, one department at a time. This effort will be in collaboration with our GIS specialist in Columbia, users in Haiti, and potentially the municipalities. By improving the mapping infrastructure, we aim to enhance the accuracy and usability of AlerteUnité for all users.
Looking Ahead
As we move beyond the MVP stage, we are excited about the potential impact of AlerteUnité. Our goal is to expand the app’s reach, ensuring that more people can benefit from real-time alerts and support. In Phase 2, we will focus on implementing the incident reporting feature to further enhance the app’s capabilities.
Conclusion
Creating AlerteUnité has been a journey of learning and growth. We are grateful for the support we’ve received and remain committed to our mission of building safer communities. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to develop and enhance AlerteUnité.
Thank you for being a part of our journey!