Giving babies a healthy start with water
For Sophon, there was nothing beautiful about the water-related burdens she endured much of her life in rural Cambodia. She wanted to end those burdens for her son.
Read moreCambodia
Cambodia's water and sanitation crisis
Approximately 3 million people out of the total population in Cambodia lack access to safe water, and 6.5 million lack access to improved sanitation. With approximately 77 percent of Cambodians living in rural areas, poor access to safe water and sanitation disproportionately affects its rural communities. Although Cambodia has one the fastest growing economies in Asia, the GDP per capita still remains low compared to neighboring countries, and access to affordable financing for water and sanitation remains a barrier for families in need to secure water connections and toilets for their homes.
Access to affordable financing for water and sanitation remains a barrier for families in need of safe water and sanitation in Cambodia.
Our impact in Cambodia
Cambodia is an ideal environment for our WaterCredit solution. A well-developed microfinance sector in a country with high water and sanitation needs represents an excellent platform for expanding access to affordable financing for water supply and sanitation improvements. Water.org laid the groundwork in Cambodia in 2014 and launched the first WaterCredit program in 2015.
Water.org is now working with 10 local microfinance institutions and meeting the demand of low-income families. Our partners started lending activities in the fall of 2016, after finalizing market research and loan product development. The program had an ambitious goal of reaching more than 300,000 people in three years and we achieved that goal in less than two years. This demonstrates suitability of our WaterCredit solution in the Cambodian market as well as the strong commitment of our partner institutions. Water.org sees great potential to scale our impact in Cambodia by expanding WaterCredit as well as implementing other innovative interventions to reach even more people with access to safe water and sanitation.
Stories of people we empower in Cambodia
For Thy's girls
“No father wants his daughters unsafe just because they don’t have water at home.” Heartfelt words spoken from a father raising two girls in rural Cambodia.
Read moreFear to freedom
Concerned for their daughters’ safety, this couple found a solution that empowered them to stop fearing what could go wrong, and start dreaming about what could go right.
Read moreTo help us reach more people in need of safe water and sanitation in Cambodia, donate today.
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