By Chris Coats | Executive Director
Trailblazer Foundation projects are designed to alleviate poverty and improve health conditions for rural villagers. Trailblazer prides itself on helping Cambodian villagers, and more broadly entire villages, move from survival to sustainability. Trailblazer knows that providing a latrine to each family that wants one is one of the first steps toward the sustainability of that family and its members.
According to the annual Cambodia Socioeconomic Survey conducted in 2014 by Asia Development Bank, the survey showed vulnerability to poverty had increased, and that urban povery may be rising. Many families moved only slightly above the poverty line, despite a dramatic decrease in income poverty since the mid-2000s.
In order to move out of poverty a family needs to be healthy enough to pursue their other basic needs: food, education, and economic opportunities. One of the best ways to combat poverty and disease is to provide access to better sanitation conditions. Without a latrine, villagers are forced to defecate on the ground not far from their home.
Many villages that Trailblazer works with have made strides towards meeting their basic needs and are now seeking sanitation solutions to prevent the spread of illnesses. In 2019, we were fortunate to receive donations to be able to construct latrines for 43 families.
Trailblazer recently learned of the tremendous need for 3,848 latrines for villages in four of the twelve districts of Siem Reap province. The needs lists are as follows:
This request for latrines represent 19,240 rural villagers who currently do not have an adequate sanitary place to toilet. This is a staggering number of villagers in jeopardy of contracting disease from exposure to unsanitary conditions. [This beneficiary total is calculated based on the fact that typically, one family uses each latrine and the average family size is five individuals].
Trailblazer Foundation’s program plan for 2020, is to work with and provide as many latrines as possible to families in these four identified districts of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, dependent on the funding aquired. Latrines cost $175, but all levels of contribution add up to provide better health for those living in a less socioeconomic situation.
Latrines are one of our “tools” for advancing our Health program, which focuses on securing clean and abundant water, and improved sanitation and hygiene for our partner villagers. Trailblazer provides the cement rings, PVC piping, toilet tank and procelain bowl. Villagers contribute by building the walls and roof.
You can help address this huge need through your generous support. We are very thankful to our donors for their contributions, especially because we understand a latrine is not a “glamorous” gift to give. But, can you imagine for yourself what life would be like without one?
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