Year 5 Charity - Cambodia Clean Water Project
By Julie Kelly
In Term 1, Year 5 embark upon the learning theme of ‘Water, Water, Everywhere..?’ Through a range of learning experiences, students discover that although 70% of the world is covered in water, only 3% is freshwater - fit for human consumption.
By keeping a water diary, the children gain an understanding of how much water they use on a daily basis, leading to the question: Do we take our unlimited water supply for granted?
Many rural communities in our neighbouring country of Cambodia, do not always have access to clean, safe water. As a result, families have little choice but to drink from whatever source is available such as rivers, lakes or a canal. Sadly, these unsanitary conditions often cause typhoid, cholera, dysentry and other preventable diseases.
The Cambodia Clean Water Project is a charity project that has been building wells for families in Siem Reap, Cambodia for over ten years. To date, more than 1,600 wells have been installed, bringing fresh, bacteria-free water to more than 24,000 people. Not only does the clean water improve sanitation and health, it is also used to irrigate farm plots and provide drinking water for domestic animals. Healthy animals and good crops result in increased opportunities for families – helping to lift them out of poverty.
Every year, the Year 5 students take part in special events such as ‘The Great Water Walk’ which raises awareness of water scarcity and ‘The Bring Buy and Bake Sale’ where the proceeds go towards the installation of wells in the villages in Cambodia. Each water well, including installation, costs approximately 15,000THB. Last year’s Bring Buy and Bake Sale event raised a grand total of 70,130 baht allowing us to purchase 4 wells.
This year, due to covid restrictions, our hope is to turn ‘The Great Water Walk’ into a sponsored event, making the event even more meaningful. Furthermore, the extra layer of competition will certainly motivate the students to give their all!
Contact Details for this charity: https://akphilanthropy.org/cambodia-clean-water-project/