Location
Khla Kaun Thmei (Village 2), District of Sereisophon, Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia
Community Description
Foyer Lataste was founded in the village of Khla kaun Thmei in 1998 by the Khmer organization ADTJK (Khmer Youth Technical Development Association). Its first aim was to provide food, shelter, health care and education (primary, secondary and higher) to children whether orphaned or coming from an extremely poor background. Today Foyer Lataste is home to 48 children aged 5 to 20.
ADTJK subsequently helped build and fund the first primary school in the village, the Somra Komar Primary School, based on Foyer Lataste land and now open to all 6 grades of the primary level. ADTJK still helps fund the school and provides educational material and water to the students and staff.
The local community is very poor so ADTJK started another program in 2001, providing financial and material support (rice and hygiene products) to children living with their families, to enable them to attend the local school.
Furthermore, for the past two years, ADTJK has provided all the children of the community with free supplemental classes in a variety of subjects in accordance with the national curriculum. These classes take place on the premises of Foyer Lataste.
High Schools are in short supply in the province so ADTJK supports 12 girls and 2 boys coming from the countryside. They live in an independent house close by and ADTJK supports all their everyday needs such as food, electricity, water, and school. They use the showering facilities of Foyer Lataste.
ADTJK has had a well since 2005. It was built close to the main washing area and the kitchen. It is 30-meters deep and goes through a layer of soil and then another of hard rock before reaching the water which contains small rocks. The system is made of a pump engine linked to an automation system that pumps the water through pipes, under and above ground, into an above-ground water tank. Gravity then ensures that water goes through the whole pipe system and provides water on the premises of Foyer Lataste, including for showers, toilets, kitchen, staff houses, and other school needs.
Recently, one of those little rocks damaged the pipe, thus causing the pump engine to break down, and ruining the automation system.
For safety measures, another well was dug in 2005, much further from the main living area, reaching another underground water reserve. Since the school well has been out of operation, children have been pumping water manually and bringing it to the essential points, but it is a hard and slow process, and only a few older children can do it in the little free time they have. Three-quarters of the children are less than 11 years old and too small to complete the task.
Project Description
This project is to restore water to the school by replacing the entire pumping system.
A new pump that is smaller and less powerful will be installed. The water pumped to the surface will be under less pressure, thus diminishing the risk of damage to the system in the future.
In addition, the damaged automation system will be replaced.
ADTJK will bear the cost of labor. They have already identified experienced repairmen across the community to do the work. Foyer Lataste’s staff and older children will provide further help.
Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the material, including pipes, pump engine, and automation system.
Project Impact
This project will benefit 574 people, including 62 children and staff living in Foyer Lataste, 358 children and staff of Somra Komar Primary School, 140 children attending the supplemental classes at Foyer Lataste, and 14 High School children living outside Foyer Lataste but entirely supported by ADTJK.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Emily Garland
Comments
This is a necessary project that uses the appropriate technology. It will improve the health and wellbeing of all who are dependent on the well for their daily needs.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Emily Garland of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Emily and/or those other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.