Basic Sanitation - Before and After

Yesterday we toured Reul Village to see the installation of several toilets that were part of last year's program. Here's the exact location on Google Maps.

This recipient was a multi-generational family living in a single structure. That's common in Cambodia. And it makes for challenging coordination when trying to get to the bathroom. Especially when this is your only real option.

The large ceramic container is a water catch for rainwater runoff. This serves as the water source for both showering and flushing waste down the toilet. In this very unstable structure the outlet simply goes into the ditch behind it. You may notice there is a stone slab peeking out from behind the water container. That's where family members stand to shower using water from the rain catch. There's a tiny red basket on the side of the structure that holds toothpaste and a toothbrush.

This is dangerous, unsanitary, and completely lacking in privacy. But it's all the family could do. And they did their best to keep it up.

Here's their new toilet recently installed via the Teuk Sa'at organization that we have partnered with for decades.

The raised platform offers protection from flooding, the metal door is rust-proof aluminum, tiling is easy to clean, and behind the door is a water cistern for flushing and cleaning. Waste is sent to a septic tank behind the building so it's no longer in the open air. The family can now use the washroom and shower with privacy in a clean and safe environment.

Part of the success of Building Cambodia is our commitment to stay involved with our projects over the long term. We inspect and verify the workmanship. Our partners maintain the facilities and ensure they stay operating. We even go back to installation set up many years ago to make sure they stand the test of time.