Guest Blogger: Meghan Kelly (Collette Foundation Team Member)

The Foundation’s recent donation to Cambodia’s Antangkum village is supporting work that will substantially improve water sources throughout the community. As this village is smaller than most others, the people of Antangkum have requested to share the Foundation’s donation with a neighboring village to help improve its water sources as well. Wells are being built so the community can have safe, sanitary water for everyday use.

Having traveled to this village myself (among others that do not have clean water sources), the impact fresh water has on community members, specifically children, is overwhelming. When speaking to some natives via a translator, they said the water before the wells were placed was no good; I recall them calling it dirty. They did not like to drink it, and would only if they had to, leaving many people dehydrated and suffering from heat exhaustion.

It’s great to hear from this community now that they have easy access to clean water! The report was so promising. They have energy and love being able to put a cup to the faucet, drink the water and know that it is safe. Many of the children emphasized how much they loved the fresh taste and that they were never thirsty anymore. Antangkum seems to be thriving. For me, having visited this project site, that makes me so happy and eager to see other communities around the world that benefit from the foundation’s good works.