In just two years, stunning progress has been made against severe poverty in one remote Cambodian village. Clean water and better hygiene lie at the heart of World Vision’s successful strategy – fully funded by supporters in New Zealand.

The Koh Andaet community has seen simple hygiene training and clean water take school attendance rates from 65 per cent to 80 per cent in a year.

Sarin Ngeth

“Without water basins, the students were not washing their hands and often got sick so couldn’t come to class,” recalls the school’s principal Sarin Ngeth. “The students also drank unclean water from ponds or other sources and often got diarrhea. But when children are healthy they are happy to come to school to learn.”

Funding from World Vision New Zealand supporters has provided the school with biosand drinking water filters, water and sanitation training for teachers, four double hand basins, and helped create a large water storage pond. In addition, the community received a further 14 biosand filters and a range of training designed to boost incomes. 

Sarin has 142 students, four teachers, and also takes his turn running a classroom each day. The school is just eight kilometres from the border with Vietnam and around three hours drive south-east of the capital Phnom Penh. Students attend school each morning (7am-11am) or afternoon (1pm-5pm). Many live close, but some cycle two kilometers to attend classes.

Their 36-year-old principal is hopeful for the future: “As a leader I am convinced that we will progress, not go backwards. We will keep going forward – especially in the health of our children. I especially want them having a better diet, with vitamins, and a good education.” 
 

Chan Nhen

Teacher Chan Nhen came to the school when it opened in 2002. 

“The water and sanitation improvements have been very helpful. Now when kids come they have clean water to wash their hands and purified water to drink.

They are well.  I have noticed that many children now practice better hygiene. They even clean their clothes and they don’t play about in the dirt. They are not sick like before,” he says.

Thida Duong, manager of the 15-year, New Zealand-funded Koh Andaet Area Development Programme (ADP), says it was easy to decide what to focus on when the programme began two years ago.

Thida Duong

“The village is surrounded by water in the rainy season. They had one pond only, but that flooded too, so all the people had to drink water that was also used for toilets and washing.

Predictably, they got sick regularly. So we talked with the community and jointly decided that water and sanitation and hygiene were priorities to address,” he explained.

“We are happy with the results so far but we still see many short comings. There is much to do and we will keep going.”