A company called ITT donated a UF filter to Caring for Cambodia (CFC) earlier this year. It was part of ITT's corporate responsibility, but unfortunately they only provided the filter—not the money to actually install the system. CFC has stored the filter in its storage unit since it was delivered because they didn't have the money to install it. But CFC wants to install the system in one of its schools (Aranh) because of this years increased student population. The Aranh school will open a 7th grade for the first time this October, adding 180 students to the school, and stress to the one Asia Water Foundation water system currently in place.
The Tagore-SenGupta Foundation has provided the needed funding to CFC to install this system. More importantly, at the request of the TS Foundation, CFC will use a community water model similar to the arsenic water removal system in India. With this approach, the water system will be installed, giving 180 more students access to clean water and will connect the community with the school through the water system. Currently CFC's water systems are open to the public without organizing the community around the systems. It is good that more people have access to clean water, but the community is completely dependent on CFC to maintain and upkeep the well. As the TS Foundation knows, dependency is not development. The country director of CFC loved the idea of a community system. He has already spoken with the commune chief. The chief will soon call a meeting of the village to persuade families to participate in the community water system later this month. The idea is simple: a small tariff will be collected from each family in return to unlimited access to clean water; the village will hire a villager to run and maintain the system on the school's ground; and the money will be controlled by an elected water council. Hopefully some entrepreneurial villagers will figure out more ways to make money using this system. This model connects school and community through a water filter. Wealth is generated by hiring a local employee and giving financial independence to the water council. The tariff collected will not be used by CFC in any way. Additionally, since the system is on school grounds, the filter itself will be a direct link to both primary and secondary education. On the primary level, this system will provide information about clean water habits and hygiene to the young students. For students in the 7th grade, experiments connected to the water filter—and potentially water wells around the community—will contribute to both "life skills" and the science curriculum. This system will connect many dots, and will meet the mission of CFC and the TS foundation.
The Caring for Cambodia sponsored Aranh School is expanding to lower secondary school. With more students comes an increase demand for clean water. The TS Foundation is using this opportunity to introduce a community water model at the school.
The Tagore-SenGupta Foundation has provided the needed funding to CFC to install this system. More importantly, at the request of the TS Foundation, CFC will use a community water model similar to the arsenic water removal system in India. With this approach, the water system will be installed, giving 180 more students access to clean water and will connect the community with the school through the water system. Currently CFC's water systems are open to the public without organizing the community around the systems. It is good that more people have access to clean water, but the community is completely dependent on CFC to maintain and upkeep the well. As the TS Foundation knows, dependency is not development. The country director of CFC loved the idea of a community system. He has already spoken with the commune chief. The chief will soon call a meeting of the village to persuade families to participate in the community water system later this month. The idea is simple: a small tariff will be collected from each family in return to unlimited access to clean water; the village will hire a villager to run and maintain the system on the school's ground; and the money will be controlled by an elected water council. Hopefully some entrepreneurial villagers will figure out more ways to make money using this system. This model connects school and community through a water filter. Wealth is generated by hiring a local employee and giving financial independence to the water council. The tariff collected will not be used by CFC in any way. Additionally, since the system is on school grounds, the filter itself will be a direct link to both primary and secondary education. On the primary level, this system will provide information about clean water habits and hygiene to the young students. For students in the 7th grade, experiments connected to the water filter—and potentially water wells around the community—will contribute to both "life skills" and the science curriculum. This system will connect many dots, and will meet the mission of CFC and the TS foundation.
The Caring for Cambodia sponsored Aranh School is expanding to lower secondary school. With more students comes an increase demand for clean water. The TS Foundation is using this opportunity to introduce a community water model at the school.