From the southern tip to the northern highlands of Vietnam, lives are being changed in many of the country’s most remote areas through Samaritan’s Purse water and hygiene projects.
In the lush southern farmlands of Vietnam, the morning humidity is already clinging to Kim Cuong as he goes about his daily labor of tilling the vast rice fields that stretch across the region.
This is how the father of three earns a steady income for his family. Each evening he then returns home to a shanty shelter with two beds to share between himself, his wife, their three children, and his elderly father.
Cuong’s family now have flowing water to use for drinking, cleaning, bathing, and cooking.
Because they live far off the main road, Cuong and his family don’t have access to the town’s water pipeline. At times, when they can afford it, Cuong buys water from a neighbor, spending a large portion of their meager income. Some parts of the year, however, the father has no work and no way to provide clean water for his family. Often, they resort to using contaminated water, leading to severe illness from waterborne diseases.
“We store water in a large concrete tank, despite the water’s lack of cleanliness and occasional discoloration,” Cuong’s father explained. “This situation leaves us with no alternative but to use the water regardless of its condition.”
Flowing Pipelines of Water
Samaritan’s Purse has been working in Cuong’s community, and surrounding districts, to provide clean water directly to households. Recently, we installed one of these water pipelines to provide Cuong’s family with access to water inside their home.
Samaritan’s Purse also built a hygienic latrine and shower on Cuong’s property where they could use that same clean piped-in water to shower without fear of irritated skin or other ailments caused by contaminated water.
Cuong, upper left, and his family can enjoy a sanitary bathroom and shower now that water reaches their property.
Cuong expressed his gratitude for a simple commodity many take for granted. “I am truly grateful to Samaritan’s Purse for bringing clean water to our home,” the father said. “I no longer need to borrow money to buy water, and I can now save for my children’s education.”
Cuong is just one of more than 1,000 households we’ve provided for through our water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects in Vietnam.
Providing Health and Safety
We also helped Thach Thi Thia, a 71-year-old widow who had to walk across town anytime she wanted to use the latrine. She lost her husband and daughter years ago to cancer and now struggles to provide for herself as she ages.
After sustaining an injury while on her journey to the latrine one day, walking to the bathroom became a painful endeavor. But then she heard that Samaritan’s Purse was beginning a new project in her town. When she discovered that they were going to construct a latrine and shower on her property, she was in disbelief. On the day the project was complete and she finally stepped inside, she gasped.
“This latrine is so nice and so clean,” she said. “It’s so close to my house and I can approach it easier with my pained legs.”
Thia will no longer need to limp to an unsanitary, distant latrine after Samaritan’s Purse built a bathroom and shower on her property.
The School Has Water
During the dry season in northern Vietnam’s highlands, it’s nearly impossible to find enough water to avoid dehydration, and the little that’s available is usually full of contaminants carried there during rainy season storms.
For the 200 students at a local primary school in the region, this became a health concern. Bathrooms were overrun, cisterns were contaminated, and there was rarely enough water to go around.
This is why Samaritan’s Purse provided a reverse osmosis water filtration system and five water tanks. The new system provides the school with clean and consistent drinking water during the dry and wet seasons. We also installed handwashing stations to prevent the spread of illnesses.
Water taps installed by Samaritan’s Purse give students a way to wash their hands and, in turn, prevent the spread of illnesses.
“Thank you, Samaritan’s Purse, for your provision,” said Mrs. Phung Thi Huong, a fifth-grade teacher at the school. “My students can now drink safe water and have enough for their daily use.”
We’re providing teachers like Mrs. Huong with Training of Trainers courses so they can help educate students on the importance of good hygiene and sanitation.
Mr. Vang A Long, vice principal of the school, expressed his gratitude. “[This project] has improved our students’ knowledge of hygiene,” he said. “It has created a healthy school environment where good hygiene behaviors are encouraged and integrated in their daily routines and activities.”
Clean hands mean healthy lives for young children in Vietnam.
