WAH Strategy
WAH Foundation uses a bottom-up approach when planning community projects. We meet with community leaders, school headmasters, health center and hospital directors. Once projects are running we hold regular education and awareness programs. WAH Foundation has a strong local team of 11 people working on the ground with local communities.
Community contribution and empowerment are vital. We discuss best solutions for the needs of the stakeholders. The face to face, grass roots level meetings encourage equality, dignity, friendship, and long term relationships. The community is required to contribute to the partnership. They are also required to assist with education, maintenance, and report on the impact on the community’s health.
Our aim is to make communities self-sustaining over the long term.
INSTALL CLEAN WATER SYSTEMS
WAH has been installing water systems in schools since June 2010. Our systems have come a long way, and we now produce bicycle driven clean water systems in schools, where the children cycle to produce their own clean water, with no need for a generator or electricity. Water is pumped, through cycling, up from the well, and through a filtration system to take all bacteria and viruses out of the water, prior to drinking and hand washing. The diarrhoea rate has dropped significantly over the last nine years in schools, and the children are healthier and happier.
Children are given BPA free bottles and are expected to fill them with clean water before going home, so they have clean water at home as well as at school. Teachers manage the system and hygiene education.
HYGIENE AWARENESS
Along with the installation of water tanks in the schools of Kampong Chhnang, WAH also places an important of basic hygiene awareness. Children often contract simple viruses because of dirty hands. WAH created the “Happy Hands” Programme in order to ensure that children are washing their hands before eating and understand the basics of hygiene.
TRAIN-THE-TRAINER
WAH has been running Train-the-Trainer programs for four years and have 20 local trainers. This is a vital part of our medical training programs, run by KK women’s and children’s hospital and Mount Alvernia Hospital. During our midwife and paediatric training programs, we identify promising midwives, nurses and doctors who then become local trainers, creating a sustainable model to raise medical education over the long term. One outcome has been a 90% drop in mother mortality during childbirth, through emergency training methods in pre-eclampsia, PPH and hygiene.
TERTIARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
WAH believes in education and in the next general of leaders. WAH has partnered with the Bright Hope Institute with intention to send as many young women there for a brighter future.
To date, WAH is currently providing tertiary education for 34 young women.
THE FUTURE
WAH is committed over the long term to helping raise living standards in Kampong Chhnang through clean water and hygiene, medical training and care, and education. We have a long way to go. There are 549 schools in Kampong Chhnang, and we have covered around 200. We will continue training midwives and paediatric nurses and doctors in skills to save more lives. We also wish to help children with their education, to give them a good chance of living a better life, and caring for their families. We are constantly looking for strong partnerships and synergistic skillsets to improve the lives of the local communities.
WAH has established a strong foundation in Kampong Chhnang, and in years to come, we hope to expand to other provinces as well.