Minister Yaacob Ibrahim’s Visit to Water for Life Project in Siem Reap

Dr Yaacob visited a Cambodian household which has benefitted from clean drinking water thanks to a bio-sand filter installed by Singapore International Volunteers (SIV) under the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) Water for Life programme in Siem Reap.

Bio-sand water filters are a simple and effective method that greatly improves the hygiene and sanitation conditions of the people in the rural communities. The Water for Life programme has seen the installation of over 4,000 such water filters in Cambodia since 2010.

Dr Yaacob experienced first-hand a demonstration of proper handwashing as part of basic hygiene training for school children - one of the two components of the Water for Life programme. The other component is the installation of bio-sand water filters. These training sessions are conducted for school teachers and adults in the villages as well.

Dr Yaacob distributed hygiene pouches – comprising items such as a toothbrush, soap and mug – to school children to augment their basic hygiene training.

Dr Yaacob’s visit was made possible by the efforts of our dedicated SIVs – in orange, from left (Noni Binte Yusran, Allan Tee, and Anthony Mok). These SIVs are essential to the SIF’s efforts to help uplift the lives of our friends of Singapore and build a better world.