Hope for Hygiene: Water & Sanitation for Cambodia
What is the problem?
The United Nations, through the Sustainable Development Goals, has addressed that Clean Water Supply and Sanitation is a huge challenge for developing countries. In Cambodia, over 2 million people lack access to safe water. 3 million people lack access to improved sanitation and this is particularly prevalent in rural communities. 77% of Cambodians live in rural areas with poor access to water and sanitation having a huge effect on these communities.
Despite recent improvements in WASH facilities and practices, Cambodia has the highest rate of open defecation in the region, with 8 in 10 of the poorest rural Cambodians defecating out in the fields, in open bodies of water, or other open spaces rather than using a toilet. This continues to have detrimental effects on health, as human waste near waterways and houses rapidly spreads diseases and puts children and their families at risk.
According to UNICEF seven in ten pre-primary schools do not have access to clean water, toilets, and hand-washing facilities in their schools and communities.
What is Good Neighbours doing about it?
In 2018 Good Neighbours Cambodia conducted a survey on W.A.S.H practices (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in 85 schools and found that while 90% had toilet facilities;
69.5%
of schools don't have functioning toilets as they were either broken or didn't have running water
60%
of schools don't have group hand washing facilities
55%
of schools don't have access to sufficient water resources (wells, ponds, or rivers)
74%
of school children did not even know the six steps to washing their hands
All children have the right to clean water and basic sanitation, as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Children
Clean Water and Sanitation: UN Sustainable Development Goal #6
Worldwide, one in three people do not have access to safe drinking water, two out of five people do not have a basic hand-washing facility with soap and water, and more than 673 million people still practice open defecation
How can you help?
WASH KITS
Help the children put their new hygiene learning into practice with a personal wash kit. Each kit contains a Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Soap, and Hand Towel. Your generous donation of $20 will go a long way to providing a handful of these kits for the children of Cambodia.
WATER & SANITATION CLASSROOM MATERIALS AND EDUCATION
Good Neighbours Cambodia surveyed over 85 schools and found that 74% of children didn't even know the 6 steps to washing their hands. $100 of your generous donations will go towards providing a school with a personal hygiene education session, along with printed classroom materials and an easy to remember 6 step process for the children to remember how to wash their hands.
COMMUNAL HAND-WASHING FACILITIES
Approximately 60% of schools surveyed by Good Neighbours Cambodia didn't have communal hand washing facilities. When children are in close contact environments like attending school the potential for spread of germs and disease is extremely high. $200 from your generous donations will help build communal hand washing facilities for a school.
TOILET FACILITIES & CONSTRUCTION
Over 69.5% of schools surveyed by Good Neighbours Cambodia didn't have working toilet facilities. One of the largest problems for water and hygiene safety is having these facilities to avoid defecation in open areas. Human waste near waterways and schools risks the spread of disease and puts children and their families at risk. $2,500 from your generous donations will allow a school to be equiped with toilet facilities.
SOLAR-POWERED WATER PUMP & INSTALLATION
Good Neighbours Cambodia surveyed over 85 schools and found that 55% didn't have access to water such as wells, ponds or rivers. Installing water storage, pumps and solar panel power is a crucial step to overcoming this challenge. $3,500 from your generous donations will allow for the purchase and installation of this equipment for one school.
