A floundering Cambodian job market forced Keo Sophean to spend many difficult years away from his family. He sought employment opportunities in Thailand and South Korea, and while he appreciated the chance to experience other cultures, Keo never earned enough to justify the sacrifice of living apart from his loved ones.
In 2018, Keo decided to return home and settle his family in the Tropiang Pliang community of Kampot province. He hoped for a simple life in the countryside. But Keo and his family soon discovered that accessing safe water was an ongoing challenge in their rural community. Local water sources were not suitable for household use and posed health risks for the family, including their seven-month-old baby.
In 2022, World Renew’s local partner, OREDA, launched a program focused on improving health and livelihoods in Keo’s community. Keo joined the program in January 2023 and received training in kitchen hygiene, household water purification, financial literacy, and food processing and packaging. He found the sessions on family-scale water purification and kitchen hygiene especially helpful.
“After attending the training, my family’s health has noticeably improved. Our household environment is cleaner, as we are now more aware of the importance of kitchen and household hygiene. Due to the water purification practices we adopted, we have been free from diseases,” shares Keo.
With these improvements, Keo is now looking to the future with renewed hope. Through the program, he has also joined an agricultural producer group, where he continues to build his skills while sharing what he has learned with others in his community.
Keo expresses his gratitude for the support that has helped bring positive change to his family and community.
As communities like Keo’s continue to strengthen their health and livelihoods, may they experience lasting well-being and resilience. May the staff and partners working alongside them be equipped and encouraged in their efforts to support sustainable, life-giving change.
