It was as we walked up a rough path to Mrs. Orn’s small, wooden stilted home that we first noticed the shy, timid shadows of children hiding behind their parents’ legs. The village children were surprised to see these strangers who were stepping onto their turf. But that’s okay, because not long after, it was their turn to surprise us.
The kids of Chrey Kong Lech live with no fuss and no frills. They are the children of subsistence rice farmers and live in wooden stilted homes most without even a basic toilet. They’re likely to only have a single change of clothes, a very staple diet of rice with vegetables and sometimes meat and, if lucky, a very basic education. To add to this, their village is in serious need of safe and reliable water.
On this particular (did I mention stifling hot?) day we were visiting Mrs. Orn, who had only three months beforehand received a well to meet this water need. Our plan was that Mrs. Orn, her children and the five neighbouring families could easily access safe water all year-round. What we didn’t realise was that Mrs. Orn would welcome up to twelve other families from surrounding areas who now also come to use the water from her tube well when their water jars, ponds or hand-dug wells have dried up.
What is an open and tube well you ask? Well… (pun most definitely intended) an open well is dug into the ground to collect rainwater and if deep enough underground water too. It has nothing protecting it from the dirt, bacteria and even animals getting into it though and often dries up during Cambodia’s dry season. The tube well, however, is dug deep and is completely sealed off protecting it from all the elements.
It was when Mrs. Orn was showing us the difference between these two wells that we got to witness something very unexpected, very special. Those once shy, little shadows started to become much more bold. With their parents cheering them on they began to show us, despite the language barrier, how they use their new water supply. The scene transformed into a loud game of charades and giggles as they demonstrated splashing water across their faces, scooping up a handful to their mouths and pretending to wash their hair. Mrs. Orns’ and her neighbours’ kids transformed before our eyes. It was beautiful and I am confident just the beginning. As they are burdened less by unsafe water, and equipped with education on health and hygiene we can hope that their lives will continue to transform and be lifted out of the cycle of poverty.
Now, sitting here at my laptop in Melbourne, trying to capture this moment in writing I have nothing else to say but…what fun!
What fun is it knowing that it is because a café, a retailer, a pharmacy, a franchise or an event (and trust me the list goes on) here in Australia made the bold decision to choose Thankyou Water that now children in Chrey Kong Lech have a bolder, brighter future.
What fun it is to be in a village that seems part of another world and to share a moment in time that captures how Thankyou Water drinkers are putting smiles on children’s faces.
What fun it is to know this is only the beginning?
Above: Mrs. Orn's kids.
Above: Mr and Mrs. Orn demonstrating the strain of pulling up buckets full of water from the old open well.
Above: The communities new tube well.
Above: While we’re talking about these kids, how gorgeous is this shot? This little girl’s imitation pearl necklace starkly stood out in her surroundings.