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  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Impact
    • Our Highlights
  • Products
    • ROAMfilter™ Plus
    • ROAMfilter™ Ultra
    • ROAMfilter™ Mini
    • Water Test Kits
    • Homefilter Faucet
  • Solutions
    • Disaster Relief
    • Rural Development
  • Resources
    • Product FAQs
    • Product Video Tutorials
  • Get Involved
    • Support Myanmar
    • Play a Part
    • Support Us
    • Corporate Giving
  • Blog
    • The Global Water Situation
    • Facts about Water
    • Info on our Products
    • Impact Stories
    • Upcoming & Past Events
  • Contact
    • Wateroam HQ
    • Distributors
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Impact Stories

The Value of Clean Water in Vanuatu

11/3/2021

1 Comment

 
In April 2020, 160,000 households in northern Vanuatu were left without food, shelter or clean water after Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Harold devastated the landscape with sustained winds of 215 km/hr(130 mph).
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Wateroam’s partner, Sea Mercy, focused on providing safe drinking water to the affected communities through the provision of filtration, desalination, and water storage products. 260 of our mighty ROAMfilter Plus systems were deployed to communities across the islands of Ambrae, Ambrym, Malekula, Pentecost and Santo. 

Most of Vanuatu’s villages are miles apart, and only accessible by foot - in some cases this results in a three hour walk each way.  The average village has 150 people, spanning across roughly 30 households.   The response effort required a decentralized system that our ROAMfilter Plus was perfect for!

 "The community reception has been very moving – in some places people wept with relief because they've been suffering with poor water and waterborne disease for weeks and months….People were so relieved to get the products, and you realize you are really saving lives, especially of children and vulnerable people. These are the moments that make all the long hours of work and frustrations worthwhile.”

​Luke Johnson-Field Ready Innovation Lead 
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Improved Health Outcomes

What we want to bring most attention to today is the tremendous impact that clean water has for health outcomes.
On average, health improved by 33% in all age groups between the time the filters were distributed and followed up with. The figures for diarrhea, rash,sore throat and vomiting decreased tremendously, without a doubt saving lives during this time. Diarrhea and vomiting can be life-threatening and fatal illnesses that lead to severe dehydration when untreated; without access to clean water and the ability to rehydrate, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration can lead to death. 

This is a leading cause of mortality for children under 5 worldwide, and we’re thrilled to see these numbers cut by half or more within this vulnerable age group.

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Improved access to closer water sources

While a few filters were installed permanently in schools, the majority were given to a designated operator who manned the filter to provide clean water when it was needed. The ROAMfilter Plus Systems were not fixed to a location within the community and the operator used the simple manual hand pump for filtration. 
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Not only did Wateroam’s filtration systems alter the health outcomes of these communities, it changed how they source their water.  When the filters were distributed, rivers/creeks were the primary water sources used by these communities, but the ability to filter dirty water meant communities could use water sources located closer to their homes. 

Most communities that switched their water sources saved an average of 7 minutes’ walk each way, while one village event reported saving 14 minutes each way. This not only saves time, but it increases the amount of clean water that is available. There can be less frequent trips to the water source, and less rationing. Sea Mercy also distributed storage buckets to keep filtered water clean and free from additional contamination - this meant that if clean water was needed, it was available then and there!

 For most of us, that is a regular reality, but for numerous households, that has never been the case.  Kona Point community in Vanuatu used to have to pay to bring water from a river 15km away via truck, but now they can filter river water from a much closer source. 
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The Impact of Clean Water

Water.org states that over “$260 billion dollars is lost globally each year due to the lack of basic water and sanitation” - this is attributed not only to the premature loss of life and the potential economic contributions someone could have made, but also due to individuals spending hours each day collecting water, traveling long distances to access water, or recovering from waterborne illnesses. Instead of earning an income, time is spent simply trying to survive. 

The Sea Mercy team shared with us amazing feedback from the Vanuatu communities who were hugely grateful to have clean water in their villages - they “love the taste, recognize the health benefits and appreciate having safe water to drink.”  Wateroam is beyond thankful to see the positive impact Sea Mercy and our ROAMfilter Plus systems have helped to make in Vanuatu. 

Blog Author: Michelle Falcone
Chief Editor: Michelle Falcone 
1 Comment

Souperstar helps build a world without thirst, one popiah at a time

21/12/2020

1 Comment

 
Souperstar is like a warm hug, not just through their wholesome and heartfelt meals that radiate familiarity with a twist of innovation, but because they are a genuine company that believes giving back is an essential part of their business.  
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Image from Souperstar.com.sg
Over the years, Souperstar (a well-known restaurant chain in Singapore) has sponsored multiple filtration systems in developing and disaster-hit communities that are in dire need of safe and clean water. Helping communities in need is so significant to them that they even built a system of giving within their customer rewards programme, to extend the opportunity for donation to their customers as well.​​

​Earlier this month, we had the honour of interviewing one of Souperstar’s founders, Hong Wei Ting, as she shares what it takes to be a modern brand that empowers its customers to do good in a simple and easy way.    

"Doing good can be simple and real."

Questions and Answers

Q: You have a long history of restauranteering in your family, but besides growing up in this industry and inheriting the same passions for food as your parents, what would you say drives you to continue expanding your business and opening new restaurants?
Answer:
​Our pioneers at Fortune Food have been serving Singaporeans their favourite local delights for over a decade. Fortune Food, a brand with more than 10 years of popular following, operates 10 hawker stalls serving well-loved Singapore delicacies such as popiahs, kueh pie ti, laksa and muah chee. We strive to uphold our pioneers’ ethos for fresh, quality and affordable food even as we take a spin on our expertise to bring you hearty meals to the neighbourhood. 

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​Both my sister (Wei Ling) and I grew up alongside our family business. We look to preserve Singapore’s food heritage while taking the family business to greater heights. Hence, we’ve decided to give an old family formula and traditional craft a new twist - pairing freshly made popiah skins with cosmopolitan flavours in a new fusion east-meet-west combination with the familiar taste of home. SOUPERSTAR is born to bring comfort food to the tables - hence, we’ve paired our familiar local favourites with hearty soups for a satisfying meal! 

The main purpose of our menu is to offer affordable and delicious local fusion cuisines. We specialise in made-from-scratch soups, sauces and handmade popiah skin. Being a quick-service concept, we focus greatly on the speed of serving but not compromising on our food quality. Whether diners are looking for a filling meal for lunch or just a light bite for breakfast or high tea, SOUPERSTAR aims to be their preferred choice anytime of the day! 
Our mission is to connect people with a dining experience beyond typical, invoking the senses through dynamic interpretations of familiar tastes!

​Q:
Many reward programs only benefit customers, but you decided to do something different in order to create a life-changing impact for the less fortunate. Why did you create a rewards program to encourage this idea of continuous giving instead?
Answer:
​Beyond delicious and hearty food, we envision ourselves as a nexus of passion and humanity, connecting people from all walks of life. We aim to make a real impact to the society around us - taking inspiration from the familiarity of home and comfort foods as a platform to inspire diners and to empower brands rooted in our core values. 


Often at times, rewards programs are created with CSR in mind. However, we’ve come to realise that there are some concerns and skepticism towards a corporate rewards program that involves contributing to good causes, as this issue often results in customers choosing instant gratification instead of contributing for a good cause. 

​Hence, we wish to eliminate this “struggle” of deciding about doing good and enable it to be as simple as 1 click through their daily dining. More importantly, it is not at their expense, but on us. Contributing in a monetary manner often creates a sense of loss instead of a sense of giving. We simply need them to contribute and take part in a collective manner. 
 
​Secondly, prior to the app launch, we’ve conducted surveys to ask a handful of samples on how they feel about their donations to companies whenever they see donation boxes displayed in-store. 
Often, they do desire to do good but are unsure whether the donation would create the impact it sets out to. On the other hand, companies also do donate in the form of declaring certain margins for charity causes, however, customers  are uncertain whether it is truly executed and it does not create any sense of involvement.  
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With the main driving factors above, we seek to create a rewards program to encourage this idea of continuous giving, without feeling as though they have loss monetarily or have to give a large output in order to do good and help someone in need. 

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Q: Souperstar recently opened its 5th location! Can you tell us a bit about the Souperstar brand and how the Souperstar rewards program works?
Answer:
The Souperstar App was created as a way to build our relationship with all Souperstar customers. The primary function allows customers to earn “Stars” from their purchases and over time, they would be able to use these Stars to redeem rewards such as our menu items i.e. free Traditional Popiah, free Combo or even Grab vouchers. We have also implemented a secondary currency, “hearts” which could be donated in-app to support a greater cause as a Token of Love. “Hearts” can be earned from each Souper Combo purchase and the accumulation will not deplete unless customers decide to click and donate it for the SOUPEROAMERS community. 

With every 14 hearts, customers can help 1 person to have clean water access in the rural community by clicking on the “TOKENS OF LOVE” tab. This will not cost them any extra money for donation; it is purely an act of kindness of which Souperstar will fulfill the water filter deployment once we’ve hit our goal for each deployment. 

As of (date), every 100 donors would contribute to deploying one water filter to a developing and disaster-hit community.
Q: The Souperstar rewards program allows customers to collect Hearts and support social causes, but has it also benefited Souperstar in any way?
Answer:
Souperstar strongly believes in supporting locals and meaningful social causes and hence, as we work with Wateroam in deploying water filters around the regions and communities in need, we were able to play a part in a greater cause through the collective efforts of the local community through their daily dining at Souperstar. 
Furthermore, social responsibility has always been one of the driving forces in building up the brand. As our rewards program grows throughout these few years, we have also grown to be more socially responsible with the help of our customers. We hope to bridge the gap and misconception that doing good needs to cost a lot of money or efforts. 

​We are working towards a future where we can overcome these misconceptions about companies doing good, bridging the gap between ground community and social enterprise like Wateroam and creating the awareness that the impact is real with minimal effort (in a click) on their end through impact report to each donor. We hope to involve the SOUPEROAMERS community in social missions and having them to share the same goal of making the world a better place. 

Doing good can be simple and real. 
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Q: Over the years, have you witnessed a growth in the number of customers utilizing the Souperstar App to do good, instead choosing to receive personal rewards? 
Answer: 
​It has always been a challenge for us as we would never want to put any pressure on the customer for any form of donations, as traditionally, ‘donations’ have been viewed at a monetary expense. 

However, we did see an increase in purchases of combos as this is the only method of earning hearts to be part of the cause. After 3 years of running the Souperstar App, the numbers have increased significantly and we have noticed an increase in awareness as well as contribution towards our Tokens of Love. With the help of our valued customers, we were able to gather more than 400 donations, leading up to 4 water filters being deployed across the region.
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Q: You’ve been a sponsor of Wateroam for 5 years now, benefiting over 1000 lives; how do Souperstar’s company values align with Wateroam’s? 
Answer: 
Yes, prior to launching our App 3 years ago and creating the SOUPEROAMERS community, the company have donated on an annual basis for the first 2 years to contribute to this good cause. 

Given that humanity is one of our 8 core values, it has always been a goal of our founders to collaborate with a local enterprise that is aligned with us in our beliefs and strive to give back to society. 

Despite being in an entirely different industry, Souperstar and Wateroam aligns in terms of the value of creating their offerings along the pillar of affordability. Wateroam’s water filter are lightweight and designed to be affordable for rural development missions. Similarly, Souperstar strives to provide an affordable food menu to the local community to enjoy healthy comfort food daily. 

On top of this, with Wateroam’s main focus on being Water-oriented, the necessity of lives, we strongly believe that food also comes in as the key necessity of daily living. Water and food comes hand-in-hand for sustainability of livelihood. 

We are certainly glad to have cross-pathed with Wateroam, to create the SOUPEROAMERS community. Souperstar has always been looking out for ways to give back to society and to do good for a greater cause. And thankfully with Wateroam, we were able to extend the reach to many lives in the region or even globally.
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Q: Why did you choose Souperstar’s social initiative to focus on providing access to clean water in developing and disaster-hit communities?

Answer: 

Through Wateroam, we have learned that millions of people in the world lack access to safe water at home. We all know that water is essential and it may seem small but it is often a necessity that is often neglected and taken for granted in Singapore with clean water easily accessible simply with turning on our taps. 

Hence, we strongly believe that we should create greater awareness among the local community about the mission and game-changing technology of Wateroam, so that we can enable better quality of lives through simple actions. More individuals in the rural countries will then be able to lead a healthier lifestyle and work towards achieving their ambitions.
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"Beyond delicious and hearty food, we envision ourselves as a nexus of passion and humanity, connecting people from all walks of life."

Q: Did you have a social impact goal in mind for your collaboration with Wateroam, or are you just aiming to create as much of an impact as possible?
Answer:
As of now, we are simply aiming to create as much of an impact as possible.
Q: This year has been very turbulent and difficult for many businesses, but Souperstar continued to sponsor filters in 2020. Why was it important for you to continue giving during this challenging time? 
Answer:
We do understand that due to COVID 19, regional transportation and deployments are a huge challenge for Wateroam. However, we believe that we, all the more, have to continue supporting the cause because in times like this, rural communities are even more in need of clean drinkable water to sustain their livelihood. 

We hope to still sponsor the filters and have Wateroam to plan into their deployments missions regardless. 

"We all know that water is essential and it may seem small but it is often a necessity that is often neglected..."

Q: Is there anything you want to say to your customers who have helped make the sponsorship and deployment of Wateroam’s filters possible? 
Answer: 
​We are definitely very grateful to our customers who’ve supported the cause and their belief in the SOUPEROAMERS community. Without them, we will not be able to impact thousands of lives globally. We do hope to continue impacting more lives through the Token of Love and we hope that they can continue to spread the words and support the SOUPEROAMERS community whenever they dine at SOUPERSTAR! Thank you!

Souperstar has impacted so many lives over the years through the hearty meals that they serve and the filters they’ve sponsored. Read below to learn how you can join their rewards programme and make their impact even bigger!
​

Souperstar’s Rewards Program

Souperstar’s admirable and kind contribution towards the less fortunate encourages the idea of continuous giving to create and restore hope in communities facing challenges. 

Here’s a quick guide on how you can help provide clean and safe water through the ‘SOUPERSTAR’ app:
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For more information, click here.   
Next time you’re enjoying a delicious meal at Souperstar, make sure you become part of the SOUPEROAMERS community to help both Souperstar and Wateroam multiply our impact across the globe! With every ‘Heart’ you give, we’re one step to a  world without prolonged thirst. 
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Blog Author: Nur Khairiyah Binte Mohd Samion
Chief Editor: Michelle Falcone 

Sources:
https://souperstar.com.sg/blogs/news/about
 

https://souperoamers.com/#
 

https://souperstar.com.sg/pages/app
 

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Wateroam Diary - A reflection on how access to clean water makes a huge impact in everyday lives

3/12/2019

11 Comments

 
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Cambodia - home of the famous Angkor Wat and numerous other archaeological sites. Known for its rich history and culture, many visitors are not aware of the country’s urgent need for clean water. As a tourist, bottled water is stocked in hotel rooms and readily available in most shops, but for many locals clean water isn’t affordable or accessible. 

In October, our team saw the opportunity to head down for some work on the ground. The goal was to check on a few of the ROAMfilter™ Plus systems that we installed earlier this year, and to learn about its impacts from the beneficiaries themselves. With water filters and camera equipment in tow, four of us hopped onto a plane towards the Kingdom of Cambodia!
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Wateroam team heading towards Takeo Province
Day 1: Insight into micro-entrepreneurship 
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After arriving in Phnom Penh, we set south on our journey towards Takeo Province. The 2-hour car ride was filled with interesting sights as we watched the locals bustle off with their daily lives. Driving through the winding roads of Cambodia proved to be a challenge though; It was tough to navigate past the many vehicles and scooters around us. 
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Trapang Vihear Village
Nonetheless, the real work only started when we set foot in Trapang Vihear Village, one of the communities that we’ve impacted with the water filtration system. The villagers previously faced a  lack of clean water, and most had to travel to other villages to buy drinking water. That was not only time consuming, but it was also disruptive to their daily livelihood. 

Under the Wateroam Partnership Programme, we worked with New Life Foundation to come up with a solution for the people of the village anchored off the deployment of our ROAMfilter™ Plus. You can read more details about the micro-entrepreneurship project here. 
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We chat with Chhoun Chathy on her journey as a micro-entrepreneur 
First, we had a nice chat with Chhoun Chanthy, a local farmer who aspired to make a difference in her community through clean water. Trained by Wateroam and New Life Foundation to be one of our micro-entrepreneurs, she is glad to see progress in her village. 
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Now as a micro-entrepreneur, Chhoun Chanthy’s daily routine starts with the water business – washing, filling the containers with water and sealing them. She then continues with her day of weaving fabric and farming.​​
When we asked what inspired her to contribute to the water project, she told us: “the children who came here to study would drink the rainwater or bring water from home”. As a mother of five, she was always worried about her children’s health. She hopes for a better future for them and that was her motivation to bring about change. ​
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Helping Chhoun Chanthy distribute the water is Neang Sokun, a local friend that farms and fabric weaves as well. With the same heart to bring in clean water for her children, she volunteered as a distributor to sell the containers of water to the community.

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Fabric weaving in action
We bonded with her family over a hearty lunch that afternoon as we talked about her daily life in the village. It was hilarious as she told us how she met her husband and stories of her marriage. ​​

After lunch, we were even lucky enough to see her weave some fabric! 
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After a hearty lunch together
​Our trip down to Trapang Vihear Village was a heartwarming one indeed and it filled us with delight to see the villagers brimming with such joy. 
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Chase from Wateroam showing our ROAMfilter™ Plus to the students 
Day 2: ROAMfilter™ Plus for school projects
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After starting off on a good note, our team is back in Phnom Penh. That afternoon, I headed down with another team member to the outskirts of the city The plan was to pay a visit to Liger Leadership Academy, an institute that Wateroam is actively partnering with. 


We were pleasantly greeted by the teachers and students with a warm welcome. The students were really friendly and excited to find out more about us! 

Founded by couple Trevor and Agnieszka, the academy takes a different approach to education – one that aims to bring out the potential of entrepreneurship and leadership in promising youths. Their curriculum goes beyond the classroom and there were plans to bring in the ROAMfilter™ Plus for a student project. 

The goal was to use the filter as an educational tool to teach them about the existing water issues in rural areas of Cambodia. The students at Liger Leadership Academy have been using the filter to test different types of water sources during school excursions to villages in the vicinity.
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The visit was definitely memorable as the academy provided a unique learning experience that we’ve not seen elsewhere. It was also inspiring to see how passionate and outspoken the students are at school.
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Day 3: Visits to the health centres 

After another 2-hour ride from Phnom Penh the previous night, we started a fresh day in the province of Kampong Chhnang. 

Our first stop that morning was Kampong Chhnang Health Centre, where we met up with some of the members of the Water and Healthcare (WAH) Foundation. The WAH Foundation is a Cambodian non-government-organization, and like us, they aim to improve the water conditions of Cambodia’s rural communities. 
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Jaron from Wateroam with members of WAH Foundation
​We partnered with them to install the ROAMfiter™ Plus throughout health centres in that area, and we’re back on the ground for a review and to see the impact of our work!

At first glance, the health centre is a bustling place brimming with patients and visitors alike. Scooters were parked at its entrance, and there were pregnant mothers, children and families waiting for their appointments. It is one busy health centre, but efficient and well managed. It was a relief to see many locals using the filtered water, and to know that the health centre has water that is safe for consumption.
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Prey Mou Health Centre​
ROAMfilter™ Plus installed in the centre 
Our second stop was Prey Mou Health centre, a facility that is a little more remote but abundant with scenic views. Although It was definitely a little quieter compared to the first health centre, it was equally important to have the filter system installed in place.

For a healthcare facility, we understand how important it is for visitors to have easy access to clean drinking water. After all, it is the essence to good health and a good start to preventing diseases in the first place. Clean water is also crucial for sanitizing, and infections can be avoided by keeping wounds free from bacteria. 

For pregnant women and mothers, exposing them to contaminated water puts them at the risk of maternal complications that could cause severe impacts. This includes abnormalities in the growth of the baby, or even the death of both mother and child.

We’re glad to know that the filters are serving the communities well, and we hope that the health conditions of the locals will see improvements in the near future.
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Day 4: Chat with a local doctor
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Despite our fully packed schedule over the past three days, our team is not ready to leave yet. We made our way to our final stop – Akphiwatt Health centre to meet Doctor Ung Vongdon.

Through him, we learnt that this health centre had been dependent on a well previously. It was not until four years ago that the centre gained a convenient source of drinking water, only after WAH Foundation installed a filter on the premises. 
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Chatting with Doctor Ung Vongdon
However, the health centre is a large compound with demands for another system to be installed. According to Doctor Ung Vongdon, their patients have to walk to the entrance just to get a cup of clean water. The pregnancy and delivery ward is at the back of the building, and that makes it extremely inconvenient for them. He stressed on the importance of having easy access to clean water, and looks forward to bringing in more filters for the benefit of their patients. ​
He also mentioned his hopes for the future, when the health centre will be revamped into a hospital with more doctors and better medical services. 

One good point that he highlighted in our conversation was the importance of imparting knowledge to the villagers. Many still use water from wells or even dig near the rice fields and drink the water directly from it without disinfection or boiling. 
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It reminded me once again that the road to ending thirst is more than just bringing clean water to people, but there is also the need for education to help people avoid such situations. ​​
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Grace from Wateroam, the author of this blog post 
Final thoughts

For my first trip with Wateroam, it was definitely an eye-opening journey that was not just exciting but also filled with personal takeaways. Working in the office, I was always aware of the ongoing water issues and how the filter works to generate clean water. However, being down on the ground was a whole new experience. I got the opportunity to talk to the locals; I got to see how Wateroam really plays a part to make a difference. It was rewarding to form a personal connection with the beneficiaries of our work, and I realized that our water filters bring more than clean water.

They not only bring extra income, but they also give the locals an enriched livelihood that includes creating new jobs, and even businesses. This trip also reminded me of how real the water issues are in the world, and the very reason I joined Wateroam. With that, I return home with a deeper connection to our mission and a stronger dedication to our cause. 

Blog Author: Grace Hong
Chief Editor: Michelle Falcone
Did you know, 525,000 children under 5 die from diarrhoeal diseases every year? Millions more fall ill  due to water-borne diseases caused by the lack of access to clean drinking water.
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Your contribution will support our efforts to provide a clean, safe and stable supply of drinking water for those who need it most in the world.
​
​Will you join us on our journey to end prolonged thirst?
Please select the drop-down for other amounts
I want to make a one-off contribution to support
I want to make a monthly contribution to support
​*Please refer below for terms and conditions
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Sustainable Water Project improves health and livelihood

15/11/2019

1 Comment

 
​“I am very happy with this project that brings Wateroam technology. It enables me to have some revenue for my family and I can have access to clean water without any concern. It also enables my community to access clean water at an affordable price so we all can save our money for better living standing without wasting our money to buy medicines when we got diarrhoea.” 
​– Sok Kun, Villager

​Wateroam and New Life Foundation (NLF) are bringing clean water and small business opportunities to communities in Cambodia through a program called the Sustainable Water Project (SWP).


The SWP is designed to provide accessible and affordable water to rural villagers, while also increasing the livelihoods of many involved. The result is not only improved health for the community, but also jobs where opportunities for income are limited.

The first pilot site, in Takeo Province of Cambodia, has been a resounding success. Most residents are elderly individuals and farmers who rely on rain water harvesting. Their drinking water is often contaminated during its collection from dirty rooftops and while in storage cisterns that are prone to mosquito breeding. Firewood is scarce and must be used for cooking, so few families boil their water before drinking it. As a result, villagers are at risk of water-borne diseases and poorer quality of life. This bold endeavor is not only an initiative to improve health, but it’s a widespread community development project with a sustainable future.
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A micro-entrepreneur with a huge supply of clean water in Trapang Vihear village in Cambodia
One of the micro-entrepreneurs benefiting from the Sustainable Water Project 
In March 2019, one of our incredible Champions, NLF, visited a church in Trapang Vihear to install a ROAMfilter™ Plus, a water tank and piping which instantly resulted in 40 children and their families having access to clean water. NLF then trained locals in the production, packaging, distribution and sales of this clean water to create a micro-entrepreneurship scheme for families to earn additional revenue.  ​

​During the first few months, those involved made an average of $70 per month. In a country where rural monthly salaries are roughly $400, this increased income can have a substantial impact on the well-being of a family.  And, through the affordable rates of this bottled water, 50 more households in the community can now purchase clean drinking water for their homes. In the coming months, the church in Trapang Vihear intends to increase its self-sustainability by selling water to two NGOs and doubling its number of sales agents, widening the positive impact created by just a single water filter.
The ROAMfilter Plus providing improved drinking water in a rural area in Cambodia called Trapang Vihear village
The ROAMfilter™ Plus in action in Trapang Vihear
“Seeing the community being able to access clean water, really makes my heart smile. I am happy to do more of this project because I want to see other communities also receive this clean water so they can live a better life as well.” – New Life Foundation Field Staff  

Wateroam and NLF want to replicate this exciting and rewarding program in other villages, but we can’t do it without you.  Contact us below to see how you can help give 650 families in Kratie Province a better quality of life!

Blog Author: Michelle Falcone

Filling up a glass with safe and clean drinking water using Wateroam's portable water filter, the ROAMfilter Plus
​​Did you know, 525,000 children under 5 die from diarrhoeal diseases every year? Millions more fall ill  due to water-borne diseases caused by the lack of access to clean drinking water.
A happy young girl enjoying clean drinking water from Wateroam's portable water filter, the ROAMfilter Plus
Your contribution will support our efforts to provide a clean, safe and stable supply of drinking water for those who need it most in the world.
​
​Will you join us on our journey to end prolonged thirst?

​
Please select the drop-down for other amounts
I want to make a one-off contribution to support
I want to make a monthly contribution to support
​*Please refer below for terms and conditions
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Wateroam Diary - Water Project in Floating Village

28/8/2019

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Chhnok Tru floating village in Cambodia surrounded by contaminated river water
The floating houses of Chhnok Tru village​
In 2018, Wateroam had the opportunity to head down to Chhnok Tru floating village in Cambodia. The village has a total of over 1,700 households and is divided into 3 ethnic groups – Khmer, Cham and Vietnamese. 
 
Primarily, the locals of Chhnok Tru Village obtain their water supply from the Tonle Sap lake, which their village floats upon. However, the water has been polluted from municipal waste and public defecation. 
Rubbish and pollutants found on Tonle Sap lake, contaminating the Chhnok Tru village water source
Heaps of rubbish on water
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/25/mountains-and-mountains-of-plastic-life-on-cambodias-polluted-coast

Due to lack of education and waste infrastructure, locals dump their rubbish into their water source without much thought. Human waste is also directly deposited into the lake without any treatment.
 
The quality of the lake is worsened during dry seasons. Without a choice, the locals still have to rely on the contaminated lake water for laundry, dishes, bathing and even cooking. 
Families utilising water from a contaminated river for cooking and washing
Cooking utensils being left by a contaminated river, using the unclean and unsafe water to cook and wash the dishes
Families using the river water for cooking and washing
There are several companies there that treat the lake water to produce and sell bottled potable water. However, the main issue we have identified is that not all locals can afford the potable water. As such, they have no choice but to resort to using the lake water for consumption.
 
This makes them prone to waterborne diseases and other health issues such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery, with many families tackling these issues throughout the year.
A group photo, picturing the members from Wateroam, OceaNUS, Souperstar and Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia in Cambodia
Wateroam working together with OceaNUS, Souperstar and PUC!
To tackle these challenges, Wateroam partnered with NUS Project OceaNUS and students from the Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC) and Souperstar to provide the villagers with access to clean drinking water.
A team huddle, comprising of members from Wateroam, OceaNUS, Souperstar and Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, in Cambodia
Unite!
Through their combined efforts, NUS Project OceaNUS’18 was able to raise funds for 4 ROAMfilter™ Plus systems while SOUPERSTAR sponsored 2 more systems through their SOUPEROAMERS Programme, providing more than 600 people in the village with safe drinking water! 
Young children in Cambodia learning about good hygiene in their classroom
Picking up good hygiene habits starts from me
Apart from providing safe drinking water, the focus on hygiene education is also a big part of Project OceaNUS. With the help of the student volunteers from PUC, Project OceaNUS’18 introduced the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASH) programme in 3 different schools to educate students on environmental awareness, the importance of clean water and proper sanitation.
A large group of young children in Cambodia that took part in the WASH programme
Wateroam and OceaNUS representatives presenting a certificate to a school principal in Cambodia
 Wei Ling (Project Director for OceaNUS’18), School Principal and Chong Tee (Wateroam)
The 3 ROAMfilter™ Plus systems were allocated in different schools so that the students can get clean drinking water easily and reduce the cases of waterborne diseases. With clean water and better health, students are able to focus better in school
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A man presented with a portable water filter that is effective for rural development, the ROAMfilter Plus
A group of children having access to clean drinking water by using Wateroam's ROAMfilter Plus
Children utilizing the ROAMfilter Plus!
A young girl obtaining safe drinking water using Wateroam's portable water filter called the ROAMfilter Plus
Fresh drinking water straight from the tap
The 2 ROAMfilter™ Plus systems were deployed in the floating village to provide clean drinking water to the community. Life, living and livelihood of every individual in the village will be improved through clean water access.
Setting up the ROAMfilter Plus on a floating house in the Chhnok Tru floating village
Healthcare services in rural health centres are often limited by their lack of clean water. Without clean water, the recovery process of patients is hindered by poor sanitation and treatment options. Therefore, 1 ROAMfilter™ Plus was allocated at the healthcare center. By supplying clean water to rural health centres, healthcare workers now are able to provide safe, quality treatment and ensure the smooth recovery of their patients.

Demonstrations, education workshops, and maintenance training were carried out with the local community to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project. Thus, with proper operation and maintenance of ROAMfilter™ Plus, they can produce clean drinking water to the community for more than 2 years.
A sketch by a villager in the Chhnok Tru village, on how to operate the ROAMfilter Plus by gravity-fed
A sketch by a local villager
The sketch shows the future plan of using the water collected in the water storage tank and connect it to ROAMfilter™ Plus to filter the contaminated water to potable water for drinking.
Members from Wateroam, OceaNUS, Souperstar and Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia smiling for a picture in Cambodia
Safe drinking water for all!
Through the collaboration between Wateroam, Project OceaNUS, PUC and Souperstar, we have successfully impacted approximately 600 people across the village.

While we were able to provide these communities with safe drinking water, there are still many difficulties that we are working to overcome. For one, maintaining long term contact with the villagers can be challenging as some of these communities are nomadic in nature.

This learning journey has taught us the importance of partnership and collaboration. It was truly a unique and humbling experience for us as it allow us to reflect on why our crusade to end prolonged thirst started.

Do you have a community that is currently facing a similar problem? Contact us to get your very own 
ROAMfilter™ Plus for your water project today! 
​​Did you know, 525,000 children under 5 die from diarrhoeal diseases every year? Millions more fall ill  due to water-borne diseases caused by the lack of access to clean drinking water.
A young girl smiling while enjoying clean drinking water from Wateroam's portable water filter
​Your contribution will support our efforts to provide a clean, safe and stable supply of drinking water for those who need it most in the world.
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Wateroam works with Sponsors and partners on the ground to provide clean drinking water access. Through complementing one another's strengths, we are able to maximise our resources and increase social impact.

Sponsors provide resource support to empower while local partners help deploy clean drinking water, actively working with communities to ensure water sustainability for the long term.

By working together, we can reach out rapidly to the 633 million people globally without safe water access. Visit our Get Involved section to learn more about the role you can play!

Let's build a world without prolonged thirst together!
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Blog Author: Ze Yong Yeoh
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*Wateroam is a social enterprise that works with both international and local partners to provide better access to safe drinking water around the world. Givers’ contributions directly support Wateroam in growing our efforts in providing rural and disaster-afflicted communities with clean drinking water. Please do note that Wateroam is not a Singapore registered Institute of Public Character and your support of Wateroam’s relief efforts does not constitute as a charitable donation and does not qualify for tax-deduction in Singapore or elsewhere. If you have any questions about contributing to Wateroam, please contact us here.