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CAMBODIA CLEAN WATER AND TOILET PROJECT (CWWT)

As you know, Rotary Club of Chadstone-East Malvern and Port Phillip Rotary together were successful in a grant application through District 9800, which altogether allowed $18,000 for the improvement of squat toilets to incorporate a washroom as well for safety and privacy by extending the footprint of the existing toilet.  The combined contribution from the clubs was $12,000 and the grant added another $6,000.

Darrel Steer is the hero on the ground in Cambodia, who has extensive plumbing knowledge and is training villagers to complete works so that the program becomes sustainable.  The upgrades and restoration of the toilet / washrooms in Kok Tnoth Village in the Siem Reap District of Cambodia.

Also, a thank you to World of Difference (WOD) for their vision and generosity in contributing to this restoration project.

As discussed, we will upgrade and restore six toilet/wash rooms at a time.  The cost of each upgrade and restoration is US$285 which equates to AU$420 as the current exchange rate is US$1.00 = AU$0.68.  The cost in AUDollars of the initial six upgrades and restorations (A1 - A6) would be AU$2,520.

Before Restoration

Sanitation issues in Cambodia affect women more than they affect men.  The toilets are designed to also be a washroom for women as often they have no privacy when washing themselves or their children. 

Before, during and after stages

Sanitation, more than many other human rights issues, evokes the concept of human dignity; consider the vulnerability and shame that so many people experience every day when, again, they are forced to defecate in the open.

Washrooms are a place of safety when women are most vulnerable.

The earlier design of sanitary toilets had not taken this into account.  The brickwork was at floor level and the walls became continually wet, which damaged the timber structure.

Also, the earlier toilets had thatch walls to comply with requirements of the Archaeological Park Authority.  Kok Tnoth Village is in the Angkor archaeological park area.  This requirement has been relaxed and for the last 4 years we have used colorbond steel for the walls and roof.  We had also added the steel framed door.

The actual underground septic tank system did not need any changes.  Hence renovations only involved removing the original above-ground structure and rebuilding the toilet to incorporate a washroom.

 
Rows of extra bricks are laid to provide a ‘wet area’ base
 
for the structure so that it can also be used as a washroom.  
Doubling as a washroom is very important for the women as often they have no privacy when washing themselves or their children.  It is also a place of safety. 
The discolouration of the toilet is not a cleanliness issue but simply the result of the iron content in the bore water.The walls and roof are made of ‘colorbond’ style steel sheets.  The toilet door is a pre-made steel framed structure to ensure longevity.  
The bricks are then rendered.
Hygiene Reinforcement We have taken the opportunity again to reinforce the importance of hand washing as part of personal hygiene.  Laminated posters on the wall illustrate ‘Hand Washing and Personal Hygiene’ as well as the ‘Dangers of Burning Plastics’. 
During the handover of a toilet to a family, we again reinforce the importance of hand washing by providing a supply of soap.
 
As previously discussed, the actual underground septic tank system did not need any changes.  Hence restorations only involve removing the original above-ground structure and rebuilding the toilet to incorporate a washroom.
A sustainable Septic Tank Toilet and washroom.
So far Darrel Steer and his team have completed over 30 toilets.  What an achievement and how wonderful to be involved, even remotely, in such a project as this.  Darrel Steer is truly to be admired for his vision and fortitude as well as his passion to be a change maker.
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Tuesdays at 6:00 PM
The Emerald Hotel
415 Clarendon Street
South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Australia
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0409 788 331
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the Month (No meeting Melb Cup Day - moved to Nov 8th)
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