Did you know that some 748 million(1) people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water—of which, almost half live in Asia?
Water for Life is our direct-service clean water programme which addresses gaps in rural communities’ water ecosystem. We employ different types of clean water technology, such as bio-sand water filters, tube wells and membrane water filters, to best suit the needs of each community. Our goal? To reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases, improve hygiene and sanitation conditions, enhance livelihood opportunities and improve overall well-being.
Our very first installation of Water for Life was launched in 2010 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. With the help of 430 SIVs, over 17,000 Cambodian villagers have benefited from having over 2,600 bio-sand filters installed in their homes. The project was supported by Deutsche Bank and Ngee Ann Development, and implemented in partnership with Water for Cambodia and Angkor Hospital for Children.
Three other Water for Life projects, in Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar, continue to bring access to clean water to thousands of friends overseas. We have also worked with scores of volunteers to share skills on literacy training and education on basic hygiene with hundreds of our friends in the villages.
In Cambodia, we work in partnership with Ngee Ann Development Pte Ltd and the Sao Sary Foundation to provide more than 20,000 friends in Kampong Speu, Cambodia, with easy access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation facilities through the installation of bio-sand water filters, borehole wells and latrines.
In Indonesia, we work with the Metro for Children charity to bring clean water to 50,000 school-going children and adults through the installation of more than 200 membrane water filters in over 100 participating schools and communities in Lamongan.
In Myanmar, we collaborate with Mingalar Myanmar, Keppel Land and Red Cross to improve access to clean water for over 7000 people in rural communities along the Ayeyarwady Delta (also called the Irrawaddy Delta). The region was severely affected by Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and we have been working to restore access to clean drinking water and improve healthcare by installing tube wells, refurbishing community health centres and training medical staff at these centres.
We would like to collaborate with more partners and volunteers to share our Water for Life programme with more communities in Asia. Find out how you can get involved today.
“I think overseas volunteering is not just important for Singaporeans, but for anyone in general, because to make change, and to desire change, it needs to start with awareness, and the external or overseas exposure provides that awareness for someone to move to that tipping point. The tipping point from awareness to a desire for change.”
Anthony Mok
Direct Service Team Leader, Water for Life, Cambodia
“Having access to clean water is a basic human right, and I want to be a catalyst for everyone to have access to clean water.”
Selua Sundram
Direct Service Team Leader, Water for Life, Cambodia
“Sundram is a very committed volunteer for Water for Life. He knows the local people so he understands what we are doing here. He feels like a close friend to us.”
Vichetr Uon
Founder, Sao Sary Foundation, Cambodia
Watch our Water for Life Citizen Ambassadors in action
In June this year, a group of young healthcare and business students immersed themselves in a volunteering stint at the SIF’s Water for Life project in Kampong Speu. Through their experience, they made friends and gained new perspectives....
Some 200 Indonesian healthcare workers in Surabaya, Indonesia have been equipped with enhanced knowledge and skills to assess, treat and manage child and adolescent patients with emotional and behavioural issues. This follows a two-year...
