Kampong Chhnang Province (Mar 22, 2014) – Life with Dignity (LWD) today inaugurated Water Supply System Project and Irrigation Project, worth $115,538 in total in Kiri Akphivath village, Chhean Laeung commune of Sameakki Meanchey district in Kampong Chhnang province, some 30 km from the district town.
The Water Supply System project cost $24,538. It was funded by Ms. Mirja Kovanen, Pieksamaki from Finland under the coordination of Finn Church Aid (FCA). The Irrigation Project was funded by FCA and it cost $91,000. The two projects, which were administered by Life With Dignity (LWD), aimed to address one of several top priorities of the rural community that are facing the lack of water for daily consumption and irrigation.
The newly constructed water supply system is composed of a water tower which can store 10 cubic meters of water and a set of solar power system including a pumping machine. The Irrigation Project is comprised of a dam of 485 meters long and a water gate.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, LWD Executive Director Dr. Sam Inn expressed his profound thanks to all donors for their generous support to empower the rural poor in Cambodia. He also deeply thanked the local authorities at all levels, the communities and the Provincial Departments of Water Resources and Rural development for their strong cooperation and technical support to make the projects possible.
Dr. Inn said that improving access to water and sanitation, and community-based disaster risk management were parts of the key components of LWD’s Integrated Rural Development through Empowerment Program.
The projects benefited at least 206 families (or equaled to 1,070 people, half of them female) living on the social concession land granted by the Cambodian government under the Social Land Concession Project funded by Japan Social Development Fund/World Bank. Of the total, 91 families are women-headed families.
In her remarks, Ms. Anu Riikonen, Regional Representative for Asia of FCA, sincerely thanked Ms. Mirja Kovanen who personally supported the building of water management system to complement the dam construction. She stressed that the achievements were brought by the power of partnership—working together, joining forces and sharing resources, expertise and experience among concerned stakeholders.
“I sincerely hope that the dam and water management system will bring many positive changes to the lives and livelihoods of the people in this community,” Anu said, adding that the projects would enable families, especially women, to access water for agricultural activities, household consumption and domestic animal husbandry.
H.E Chhuor Chandoeun, Kampong Chhnang Provincial Governor, who presided over the ceremony, tremendously applauded the great achievements and expressed his deep thanks to LWD and its donors for their active contributions to supporting the government’s policy to improve the livelihoods of rural Cambodians.
He requested the community to take part in the protection and maintenance of the achievements for a longer use.