Singapore International Foundation volunteers installing a water filter in a villager's home in Kampong Speu. PHOTO COURTESY SIF
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Water for Life project helps install bio-sand water filters to improve lives of villagers
Aug 20, 2012
Today Online
PHNOM PENH - Exhausted after toiling on the farm, Madam Soth Sean, 54, still had to gather firewood to boil water collected from a nearby pond or well, to ensure it was safe for drinking. Even then, she often fell ill to water-borne diseases and suffered from diarrhoea and abdominal pains.
Other villagers in a similar situation have had to sell their farm or cattle, or take up loans, to pay for their medical expenses - which can cost up to US$50 (S$63) per treatment - after consuming unsafe water, said Mr Em Choeung, 54, the village head.
Since May, however, Mdm Soth Sean has not fallen ill from drinking unsafe water thanks to a bio-sand water filter installed in her home, under a joint Water For Life (Kampong Speu) project by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and the Sao Sary Foundation (SSF), a non-profit organisation based in the province.
The filters were installed in 114 homes at Kampong Speu some 50km away from Phnom Penh and one of the poorest regions in Cambodia.
Mr Em Choeung said the reduced expenditure on medical treatments allows villagers to spend more on food and cattle for farming.
Sponsored by Ngee Ann Development, the project also aims to build wells for accessible water sources, install latrines for safe disposal of human waste and establish Community Health and Nutrition Centres to help villagers improve their health and livelihoods, over the next three years.
A total of 8,400 Cambodians from 1,400 households are expected to benefit from the project, which was officially launched last Tuesday by Singapore's Ambassador to Cambodia, Mr S Premjith.
The Water For Life (Kampong Speu) project has a direct impact on the livelihoods of villagers, said SSF Founder and Managing Director Vichetr Uon.
SIF Chairman Euleen Go said: "We should be happy that we can reach out to our neighbour and we can share something that is important - water."
"This project helps us to make friends with our neighbours," she added, while Mr Premjith said the "close collaboration between SIF and Cambodian partners have strengthened people-to-people relations".
SIF volunteers said it was a rewarding experience for them. They had helped SSF staff build the bio-sand water filters - which the SSF designed - using raw materials and installed them in the homes. Two teams served in May and July, while a third group of volunteers visited Kampung Speu last week.
Volunteer Muhammed Yusof, 25, said improving locals' living conditions gave him a sense of accomplishment. The operations technician said he enjoys volunteering as it teaches him to be "grateful for what you have".
PHNOM PENH - Exhausted after toiling on the farm, Madam Soth Sean, 54, still had to gather firewood to boil water collected from a nearby pond or well, to ensure it was safe for drinking. Even then, she often fell ill to water-borne diseases and suffered from diarrhoea and abdominal pains.
Other villagers in a similar situation have had to sell their farm or cattle, or take up loans, to pay for their medical expenses - which can cost up to US$50 (S$63) per treatment - after consuming unsafe water, said Mr Em Choeung, 54, the village head.
Since May, however, Mdm Soth Sean has not fallen ill from drinking unsafe water thanks to a bio-sand water filter installed in her home, under a joint Water For Life (Kampong Speu) project by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and the Sao Sary Foundation (SSF), a non-profit organisation based in the province.
The filters were installed in 114 homes at Kampong Speu some 50km away from Phnom Penh and one of the poorest regions in Cambodia.
Mr Em Choeung said the reduced expenditure on medical treatments allows villagers to spend more on food and cattle for farming.
Sponsored by Ngee Ann Development, the project also aims to build wells for accessible water sources, install latrines for safe disposal of human waste and establish Community Health and Nutrition Centres to help villagers improve their health and livelihoods, over the next three years.
A total of 8,400 Cambodians from 1,400 households are expected to benefit from the project, which was officially launched last Tuesday by Singapore's Ambassador to Cambodia, Mr S Premjith.
The Water For Life (Kampong Speu) project has a direct impact on the livelihoods of villagers, said SSF Founder and Managing Director Vichetr Uon.
SIF Chairman Euleen Go said: "We should be happy that we can reach out to our neighbour and we can share something that is important - water."
"This project helps us to make friends with our neighbours," she added, while Mr Premjith said the "close collaboration between SIF and Cambodian partners have strengthened people-to-people relations".
SIF volunteers said it was a rewarding experience for them. They had helped SSF staff build the bio-sand water filters - which the SSF designed - using raw materials and installed them in the homes. Two teams served in May and July, while a third group of volunteers visited Kampung Speu last week.
Volunteer Muhammed Yusof, 25, said improving locals' living conditions gave him a sense of accomplishment. The operations technician said he enjoys volunteering as it teaches him to be "grateful for what you have".
1 comment:
Only older generation of Singapore citizen and Khmer people knew well about the relation between the 2 countries.
Thanks the Singapore people for their endeavos to help the Khmer people.
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