Weekday mornings in Siem Reap see an exodus of working adults and children set against the idyllic backdrop of rural Cambodia. Many people labor in the fields, as their families have for generations. Amid the peaceful clamor of this weekday morning hubbub, a number of children cycle or ride tuk-tuks to schools, which are part of an effort by the Cambodian government to expand infrastructure and education in rural regions. I was excited to open my eyes to the opportunity to see the state of water, the community and the lifestyle in this region.
I visited one of the villages in Cambodia, Khnar Krao, to learn more about water quality and accessibility. Here, the river is 5 kilometers away and the water is often yellow and brown, with visible sediment on the surface. The well-water system at the small schoolhouse requires a pump that drips out adequate water after minutes of turning the barrel. Sometimes during the dry season, only a few drops come out.
Modern solutions to the clean water shortage are both multifarious and quotidian. Much of the battle is informational. Children are not properly educated on washing hands, and how to tell clean, safe water sources from dangerous ones. But considerable social and infrastructure investments are also necessary to reduce water pollution. With construction of more dams and wells in places like Khnar Krao, rural communities will see a marked reduction in water pollution.
While in Cambodia, I volunteered at a nongovernmental organization called Water for Cambodia, and learned about their efforts to take action. They distribute “biosand” filters to various villages and schools across the rural regions of Siem Reap and educate locals about the importance of water sanitation and hygiene, as well as push local leaders to invest in water infrastructure. Cambodia as a whole is taking all the right steps to rectify the widespread problem of water pollution. In fact, the wonderful efforts of WFC have meaningfully impacted people I met during my time there.
One college student told me about how she told some of her friends about how effective the biosand filters were. Now, a lot of people in her community are using the filters and drinking clean water whenever they want. Through this, I learned the importance of spreading awareness, and that people do care about their health and hygiene.
These relative successes can be attributed to WFC’s tactics. WFC prioritized more than just distribution, forging relationships in communities that have led to a profound increase in water pollution awareness and education. I observed numerous instances of WFC staff following up on deliveries by driving two hours to their homes to check for proper usage. As it turns out, there were numerous cases of misuse. WFC’s community involvement, through simple policies like conducting follow-up visits, has no doubt shaped its positive results.
What’s more, WFC has also taken care to make local villagers stakeholders in the process. This has allowed them to sidestep the pitfalls of aid, which include fostering long-term dependence rather than promoting self-sustaining progress. Specifically, WFC requires that villagers be stakeholders in their own welfare: They pay $7 of the $60 cost of the filter. Because the villagers foot part of the bill, they are motivated to think like owners rather than recipients. This has incentivized better maintenance and improved education.
Ultimately, this kind of campaign relies on forging connections between aid organizations and local communities. Whether the goal is education, maintenance, or use, creating an environment in which organizations like WFC work with, rather than for, local communities is essential for sustained improvements in water quality. This is true not only for Cambodia but also for developing nations around the world.
Through this experience, I learned about the importance of clean, adequate drinking water, and the exigency in educating others about water pollution, hygiene and sanitation. In spreading awareness and allowing more people to participate in programs like Water for Cambodia, water quality as a whole will improve in communities like Siem Reap.
From Ashley Yoon Suh Chang
Senior at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts
