Chantha contributes in making other people’s live healthier through good WASH practice. Photo: CWS
CWS first met Chantha in January 2017 when he became a Community WASH Focal Persons for his village, Rung Chrey, in northwest Cambodia. Through CWS partner, Rural Development Association, Chantha joined with CWS Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Training Resource Center trainers to learn the basics about WASH promotion, including working to develop the skills he needed to lead community education activities.
Since January, Chantha has become a change agent in Rung Chrey, leading WASH awareness-raising sessions to teach his neighbors about disease transmission and prevention and household water treatment options. He has become part of the community’s Village Support Health Group, too, which is a great fit as increased water, sanitation and hygiene support not only improves the overall health of a community, but can also create dramatic improvements in areas like education and livelihoods.
Already Chantha has begun to see positive changes in his village: “People now have a good understanding of WASH practices, they have begun to treat their drinking water or use a filter and to wash their hand properly; also, many families have installed latrine in their homes.” About his role as a community change agent he continues, “I enjoy educating people and I can see the results [as people] are enjoying better health”.
(For more information please contact sophal@cwscambodia.org )