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Project: Providing wells (Cambodia)
HOPE has worked in Pursat, North West Cambodia since the late 1990s and has helped to install 623 wells in the area  Cambodia was part of French Indo-China from the late 19th century until the Second World War. In 1975, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge took power, during which time at least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, hardship or starvation. Between 1978 and 1991 the country was in civil war and occupied by Vietnam. Since the mid-1990s, political stability has gradually returned to the country, but as a result of the mass killings carried out under Pol Pot, more than 50% of Cambodia's 14 million population is now under 21 years old. Cambodia's major export industry is textiles and garment manufacture, although tourism is increasing year by year as a result of the more settled political situation. GDP per capita is around £1,800 (2007), but around 35% of the population still live on less than 1US$ per day. Life expectancy is 62 years; infant mortality is at 57 per 1,000 live births. The country has a 74% literacy rate. HOPE International Development Agency has been at work in Pursat, north-western Cambodia, since the late 1990s, and our major focus has been the provision of wells. Each well is installed for the use of five or six families, who agree to join together in a ‘self-help' well user group. Families not only share the water for domestic and agricultural use, but also work together to generate income, study bookkeeping and other relevant topics, and access loans from HOPE's micro-credit funds. HOPE will complete a further 100 wells this year; once these are done a total of 623 wells will have been installed in Pursat. HOPE has also built several schools (including a further two during 2008), and is involved in the promotion and dissemination of sustainable energy systems, dry season rice production, animal banks, composting latrines and bio-sand water filters. |
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