How do you get clean drinking water?

In the past, a person living in the mountainous village of Huay-hia relied on the river for water.

Every morning, after-noon and evening, people had to walk 1km to get water. The rainy season made the journey even harder and made for unclean water. With no other choice, villagers used the water to drink and cook with. 

“I used to have to help my mother and older sister carry water from the river. Once we had the water, we had to walk up the steep mountain to reach our house- it was so difficult,” shares Nonh, a 10-year-old boy from XiengNgeun District.

He lives with his parents and five siblings in this district that suffers with health and sanitation. Nonh’s parents work as farmers and focus on rice growing and crops.  

“Our journey to get water was dangerous when the conditions were bad and when we would return home in the dark. After giving birth, I would rely on my children to fetch water,” Mrs. Chin, Nonh’s 40-year-old mother, shares.

“Our family was facing health problems; my children always contracted diarrhea. At the time, the health care center closest to our village was still too far. With no other choice, we tried using traditional remedies like boiling tree-root and herbs for them,” she added.

In 2013, World Vision visited Nonh’s village on numerous occasions to conduct health awareness campaigns on hygiene and sanitation while also providing vaccinations to many villagers. The health awareness campaign taught people how to keep their water supply separate from everything else, keep their animals in enclosed areas, keep a clean environment in and around their house and how to reach a hospital when they are sick.

With the help of communities, 14 water supply systems were built to respond to the issue of unclean drinking water. Villagers were taught how to operate and maintain these water systems in order for these to be sustainable. 

“I am very happy to have clean water taps near our house,” Nonh says with a smile.

Since the training and implementation, 80% of households in 18 target villages reported year-round access to sufficient clean and safe water.

World Vision created awareness around the available fund set-up in villages for families facing health emergencies.  A village medicine fund (medicine store) was also built to help families access basic medication in times of need.

“I don’t worry about water as much because it is easy to get,” says Nonh.

“I also don’t worry as much because now my children are healthy. The new health center is only about a kilometer and a half away from our home, which is very reassuring,” says Chinh.

“Our children have more time to go to school and focus on their studies rather than have to help us get water from the river,” she added.

To continue supporting her family and children, Chinh plans on raising and selling animals in the future.

Her dedication will help her reach her goals!