Water in Southeast Asia

In Vietnam, water is mainly drawn from underground wells or rivers, which are often contaminated by sewage and inadequate waste disposal from the agriculture and industry sectors. It is particularly difficult for poorer households in rural regions to obtain clean drinking water. This increases the incidence of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea. This problem affects especially women, who in many regions of Southeast Asia are responsible for household chores and supplying water to their households. They spend several hours a day fetching drinking water from distant wells. Access to safe water is therefore an issue that affects hygiene and health as well as the safety and quality of life of women.

Constructing and maintaining water purification plants

In this project, water treatment plants will be installed in 8 communities, which will be managed and maintained by a trained water committee from the community. Each plant will have three 2,000 litre tanks to store clean water and a room for storing water canisters. This will provide poverty-stricken households in four provinces in South Vietnam with access to safe drinking water all year round, benefiting a total of 64,000 people. The beneficiaries will contribute to the sustainability of the project with small donations according to their financial means (between 0.03 USD and 0.10 USD) which will enable the maintenance of the facilities. In addition, a web portal that allows a detailed monitoring of the water treatment plants (amount of filtered water, income, number of people who collect water, etc.) will be updated and enhanced with more information.

WASH culture

In order to raise awareness about safe water and health among the local population, two communication events will be organised focusing on the topic of “water, health and hygiene”, one for adults and one for children. Each community will train 100 children and 100 adults, who will pass on this knowledge to other people in their neighbourhood and introduce the hygiene measures into their everyday family life. In addition, further teaching materials on the topic of “safe water” will be made available on a new online platform and info boards with additional information and pictures will be set up beside the water treatment plants.

 Our local partner

Founded in 1965, Caritas Vietnam coordinates the work of its 27 diocesan offices from its headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City. Its social activities in the various dioceses include campaigns to promote education and the development of young people’s skills, water projects to improve the health situation of people suffering from HIV/AIDS and leprosy as well as projects that support people with disabilities.