Location
Thmar Puok District town in the northwest Province of Banteay Meanchey in Cambodia. The town is 50 kilometers north of the Provincial Capital of Serei Sophon.
Community Description
The town center of Thmar Puok District is a large collection of villages ranging from a few meters to several kilometers apart. These villages are very rural, with the majority of the population working in some area of rice or other crop production.
The high school of the district serves all of these villages and more, as many students come from another district or other far-off villages to study at the well-run school. It is the biggest school north of the district town and one of the better schools in the rural area of the province. It is also in the process of building new buildings that will invite more students and more teachers of other subjects.
Project Description
This project will create a new free-standing bathroom from concrete, complete with a toilet and a water storage tank to be used for personal hygiene as well as for cleaning the facility.
The students and faculty have identified the need for a bathroom facility as of primary importance. Currently, there is no facility for the use of students or teachers. This means that the men relieve themselves wherever they can, and the women must return to their homes to use the facilities.
The school and community will contribute the labor for this project, as well as assume responsibility for its maintenance.
Project Impact
The school currently serves around 1,400 students from grades 7-12 and will continue to serve more as students rotate through the grades and as enrollment increases. A majority of these students are men, especially in the higher grade levels, but the number of women is increasing.
In addition, there are about 50 staff members at the school, including teachers and administration. Others who work at the school will have access to the new facility as well.
Some women do not come to school because of the absence of a bathroom. In addition to improving sanitation, the bathroom will help alleviate some gender issues at the school, as well as lead to future related projects in education.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Kelsey Hedrick
Comments
This project will directly impact on the health and well-being of a large number of people through improved sanitation. In addition, it will contribute to the continuing and increased attendance at the school by women.
The water supply incorporated into the project will ensure that the facility can be adequately maintained in a sanitary condition.
Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00
Donations Collected to Date
$500.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Phil Hedrick, San Francisco, California, USA. The bathroom is being designated “Hedrick Bathroom”, in honor of Kelsey’s dedicated teaching. 🙂
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Kelsey Hedrick of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Kelsey and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Cambodia.
This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of this project, CLICK HERE.