To reduce the impact of single use plastic, over 3500 students received rebillable aluminum drink bottles and organic cotton bags
‘ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE; TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH’
PP Aviv Palti, Rotary Passport Melbourne and current Rotary Foundation Chair — February 4, 2025
Six Districts across the Zone have come together with DDF on a WASH project in Cambodia that also received a Directed Gift as well as funding from the World Fund. The Global Grant was approved in May and by November, the grant was complete and the final report submitted.
Article by Aviv Palti, Current Rotary Foundation Chair, Rotary Club of Passport Melbourne, Club President, 2022-24
Helen Keller’s words “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”, perfectly capture the essence of a multi-District Rotary Foundation Global Grant in Cambodia. By installing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure and leading educational workshops in eleven rural schools in Siem Reap province, a lasting impact on over 5,000 students and community members has been achieved.
The project, hosted by the Rotary Club of Phnom Penh Metro and in partnership with Rotary Passport Melbourne as the international partner also involved the participation of Rotaract Club of Siem Reap. It provided the eleven schools with water filtration systems, offering access to clean drinking water for the first time. Additionally, the Grant supported the installation of latrines and professionally built incinerators, significantly improving sanitation and the overall school environment.
Teachers from all 11 schools participated in WASH educational workshops organized by the WASH Skills Development Organization and are now sharing their newfound knowledge with thousands of students. To ensure long-term sustainability, WASH Committees at each school have been trained to manage and maintain the infrastructure.
Members of the Rotaract Club of Siem Reap were able to provide invaluable leadership and oversight on the ground, further empowering the next generation of Rotarians to become impactful social leaders. This Global Grant was supported by Australian Districts 9780, 9790, 9800 and 9815, as well as New Zealand Districts 9910 and 9920. The project was also the beneficiary of a Directed Gift, matching the DDF of USD $34,494 contributed by six regional Districts. As DDF from contributing Districts is matched 80% by the World Fund, USD $27,594 of the projects budget was covered from The Rotary Foundations World Fund.
Completed in just six months and US$4,300 under budget, this Rotary Foundation Global Grant has made a profound and sustainable impact improving the health, productivity, and education of thousands of rural Cambodian students and community members. Rotarians in all contributing Districts can be incredibly proud to have contributed to this life-changing initiative.
