As we bounced along the dirt road on the way to Char village, I was surprised to see power poles paralleling the road. Just two years before I had been advised that electricity wasn’t expected for another decade.
What happened? Well a dose of capitalism was the big factor. The Cambodian government is selling wholesale power to private electric companies who are expanding the grid and selling market rate electricity to far flung villages.
How does this tie into wells, bio-sand filters, latrines and hygiene education?
Our Holistic approach to clean water has reduced waterborne illnesses thus reducing expensive trips to the distant hospital for adults and children. There is a big reduction in school absenteeism and parents are not missing work to take care of sick children or themselves. Families are not forced to buy expensive bottled water or wood to boil dirty river water.
Consequently families which make only $60.– a month now have a little discretionary income and can afford a basic electrical hook-up.
I believe Getting Water Right is a contributing factor and it makes us all very proud!
