Recently the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) announced a new program milestone of 21 billion liters while celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Singapore Pioneer Plant, where the P&G Purifier of Water packets have been exclusively produced since 2014.
To mark this occasion, several employees from the Singapore Pioneer plant traveled with CSDW Global Leader Claude Zukowski, along with our partner World Vision, to visit communities in Cambodia that are using the P&G Purifier of Water packets. CSDW has partnered with World Vision in Cambodia since 2010. We are now in Phase VII of the project, focused on providing clean water access to households and schools in target areas, and also in response to emergency flooding. This program has reached more than 11,000 people in the most vulnerable communities within the project areas.
Our first stop was to a floating village in Phat Sanday, visiting Prek Khsach school, where the students demonstrated how they use the packets to prepare clean water for their classrooms. Next we visited several households in the community that are using the P&G packets daily to clean their water.
“The experience was very real when I personally witnessed how these packets are being used in school and household,” commented Xue Shuang Chan, CSDW Operations Leader. “It is really heartwarming to see how the packets helped the children to go a bit further in their lives and this experience is something I didn’t expect prior the trip.”
Next, we visited several households and selected Sokhum and her daughter Channchu (age 11) and three other children (not pictured) to represent our 21 Billion Liter family. “It was touching to hear from the villagers that they are grateful to receive P&G Purifier of Water sachets as they allow them to have clean water and better health,” said Hazel Ng, CSDW QA. “In addition, they can save money for their children’s education.”
Our next stop was a visit to Kampong Thum province, where we visited Koh Krabay village and met families who are sourcing their water from a local river. Many within the community have an income around of $1 to $1.50 USD per day and previously needed to spend 20 percent of their daily income to purchase clean drinking water.
“I witnessed with my own eyes that children and families in the villages are healthy and grateful with the product that we produce daily, which have helped them to improve their quality of life and at the same time save their income for other necessities and children’s education,” said Syahir Chaqif Bin Abdul Rasid, CSDW Operations.
“The most meaningful part of the trip was being able to see how the P&G Purifier of Water packets we are producing every day are touching and improving lives in the community,” said Viggneysh J, CSDW Operations. “As someone at the beginning of the journey of the sachets, it is not often that one gets to see that journey come full circle. It really made me feel thankful that my daily work has made a difference in the lives of many others.”