Improve Health with Clean Water in Rural Cambodia

One of the most telling indicators for a lack of development is water access, food security, nutrition, and health status of the people which are challenges millions of Cambodians face every day.

Trailblazer works with the poorest of the poor communities that are isolated, are least likely to get assistance because they are largely overlooked by other development groups, and simply cannot develop beyond a level of subsistence without help. The result was residents suffered a high rate of disease, illiteracy and other devastating effects of lack of water, sanitation and food.

In an April 25, 2024 article in the Khmer Times it speaks to the issue of malnutrition in Cambodian children, which is a direct result of little to no access to water and sanitation. Addressing this issue is a large focus of Trailblazer’s work. Below are a few excerpts from that article.

Ouk Rabun, chairman of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, said yesterday that this year the rate of underweight and thin children under the age of five in Cambodia remains a challenge to resolve.

He said that according to the UNICEF report, wasting of children under five years old is still the main problem, affecting 10% of the populace in 2014, with the rate remaining high at 9.8% this year.

However, he added that the issue of adequate nutrition as well as for implementing the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in Cambodia – especially in the rural remote areas – remains a challenge which requires urgent intervention by the government.

“According to the Cambodia Demographic Health Survey 2021-2022, 22% of children under five are stunted, 10% are wasted, 16% are underweight, while 4% of children under five are overweight,” noted Kimthan.

Rotary International is dedicated to providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. Trailblazer has had a close relationship with the Rotary International community, receiving important initial and ongoing support from Clubs and Districts across the United States, and around the globe. 

It is not surprising that many in the Rotary community have chosen to support Trailblazer because we also focus on WASH projects. Since its inception in 2004,  Trailblazer has received 25 grants from Rotary clubs in the United States, 22 grants from clubs outside of the USA, and two international grants. Totaling $288,203 in grants.

Members of the Rotary Denver Southeast International Service Committee recently visited Siem Reap and the water projects their club supported. Here is what Rotarians Rob and Steve had to say about their visit.

“After attending the 2024 Rotary International Convention in Singapore May 25th - 29th on May 31st Rob [President of the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast] and Steve [known globally for his expertise in Water Sanitation and Hygiene [WASH] projects, as a former Peace Corp volunteer, and Executive Director for Water For People] embarked on a mission to Cambodia to observe the installation of Trailblazer’s bio-sand water filters near the village of Svay Chek. Thanks to Chris Coats, we were connected with Ratanak who provided transportation, arranged a meeting with the local village chief and a tour of homes actively sharing the bio-sand water filter, complete with the Rotary Wheel logo with Denver Southeast name stenciled on the water filters. Rotary is looking forward in a continued relationship with Trailblazer and the wonderful people of Cambodia.”

We want to thank all our supporters who have helped Trailblazer address this critical health issue by helping  provide access to water, clean water and sanitiation. The impact these donors have made is significant. Every year thousands of rural people have received a healthier, better life because of their kind and generous investments.

For more information about Trailblazer you can visit our website: www.thetrailblazerfoundation.org

We all know how important water is, and it is hard to imagine life without it. In fact, we wouldn't be alive without it. Oxygen is the only element ranked before water as essential for life.

Having access to water is important not only for consumption, but for cooking, washing your hands, cleaning, bathing, gardening, good sanitation, the list is long. In developing countries, about 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions.

The task of finding water usually falls on the children or women. They often travel for long distances to get a bucket or two of water every day, draining them of time and energy that could be better spent on education or work. This loss of time indirectly impacts their livelihood by perpetuating the level of poverty they suffer. With a well near their home, finding water is no longer an ordeal.

Most people are aware of the direct connection between good health and the ability for a person to prosper. This idea manifests itself as children being able go to school when they are healthy, and parents having enough time and energy to work in the store, the home, or the fields.

A well provides an abundance of water and a consistent year-round supply for personal and agricultural purposes. If there is a lack of water for gardening, that leads to a lack of food. Low agricultural productivity often means there is little, if any, surplus from the family garden to sell as income, and low income leads to continued poor nutrition and poor health. Water that is plentiful and available for irrigation results in people being healthier and having more crops to better feed their families and generate income.

Clean water is necessary for good health and a person's wellbeing. About 60% of our body weight is made up of water. Water is fundamental to sustaining life and promoting overall wellness and being healthy. The availability of clean water directly impacts a number of aspects of health, from hydration of the body's major functions needed to survive, to disease prevention.

For Trailblazer, access to water and clean water go hand-in-hand and are our highest priorities. One must have water to live and prosper. Water can be sourced from a pond, a traditional pit well, rain catch, or a drilled well. However, most source water is not safe to drink. Water straight from a well may not be potable. Therefore, to compliment our work in providing access to water through wells, we also provide bio-sand water filters to purify the source water and make it drinkable. Together, access to water and clean water is life giving and life saving.

Your contributions to our health program is saving lives and we sincerely thank you for helping make a true difference in the lives of poor rural Cambodian families.