By Aviv Palti
Foundation Director,
Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne, Vic
The words of American author, advocate and activist Helen Keller – ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’ – perfectly capture the essence of District 9800’s recent involvement in a Rotary International global grant in Cambodia.
By installing WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) infrastructure and leading educational workshops in
11 rural schools in Siem Reap province, the project has made a lasting impact on more than 5,000 students and community members.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Phnom Penh Metro, Cambodia, in partnership with the Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne, Vic, and the Rotaract Club of Siem Reap, the project provided these schools with water filtration systems, offering access to clean drinking water for the first time. Latrines and professionally built incinerators were also installed, significantly improving sanitation and the overall school environment.
Teachers from all 11 schools participated in WASH educational workshops organised by the WASH Skills Development Organisation and are now sharing their newfound knowledge with thousands of students. To ensure long-term sustainability, WASH Committees at each school have been trained to manage and maintain the infrastructure.
Special thanks go to the members of the Rotaract Club of Siem Reap for their invaluable leadership and oversight on the ground, further empowering the next generation of Rotarians to become impactful social leaders.
Completed in just six months, and US$4,500 under budget, this Rotary International global grant project, supported by The Rotary Foundation, has made a profound and sustainable impact – improving the health, productivity and education of thousands of rural Cambodian students and community members.