Help Provide Clean Drinking Water for Underprivileged Orang Asli Villages

THE PROBLEM

Ayu is a 25-year old mother of two sons, Adanial (9) and Alfoyu (4). Her village is located deep in an oil palm plantation. They rely on a well for water but it is not enough especially during the drought season, so she fetches water from the swamp instead. The water there is a rusty, reddish brown; it has an earthy smell and taste.

Adanial was hospitalised twice for severe stomach pain. The doctors diagnosed it as parasitic worm infections, likely caused by drinking untreated water.

Knowing this, Ayu still has no choice but to continue using the well and swamp water. Every night, she is emotionally strained with worry over which of her children will fall sick next.

According to the Department of Statistics, 53% of Orang Asli do not have access to piped water. In reality, there are more undocumented cases out there. Global Peace has been working with underserved communities in Malaysia for the past three years, impacting 43 villages to date through community development projects.

For Ayu and many other Orang Asli, water is an issue trapping them in an endless cycle of hardship and poverty. We ask your help to break the cycle, giving them a chance to improve their quality of life by first addressing this most basic of needs, clean water.

THE SOLUTION

Technical: Provision of LifeStraw Family 2.0 water filters

We chose LifeStraw Family 2.0 as it’s a high-volume point-of-use water filter capable of converting “microbiologically contaminated water into clean, safe drinking water, filtering up to 30,000 litres of EPA-quality water, enough to supply a family of five with clean drinking water for three to five years (vestergaard.com)”.

It is easy to use and portable, which suits the orang asli’s semi-nomadic lifestyle. We have installed these filters in 21 communities and through our follow-up visits, we have received positive feedback about its viability.

• Filter removes virtually all bacteria (99.9999 percent), protozoan parasites (99.99 percent), and viruses (99.999 percent) that can contaminate water
• Reduces turbidity (muddiness) by filtering particulate matter larger than 0.02 microns
• Made of durable plastic
• Doesn’t require electrical power, batteries, or replacement parts
• Uses hollow fibre technology which meets the standard for the “highly protective” category of safe water interventions by the World Health Organisation
• Built-in safe storage container with tap
• Easy backwash cleaning system

Educational: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) training

WASH is the educational aspect of our clean water initiative that complements the technical solution provided, to form development that is holistic and sustainable. In villages that are facing water scarcity, the people are not able to practice proper hygiene habits leading to the rise of waterborne and water-washed diseases like diarrhoea and skin infections. 

We aim to raise awareness, especially to mothers who are the main water managers in their household and young children who are more susceptible to diseases and malnutrition brought on by poor hygiene. 

• Module 1: Water management for domestic use (drinking, cooking, cleaning, washing) is presented through infographics and posters. We have follow-up conversations after with each family to learn about how they manage water and to provide suggestions on what can be improved.
• Module 2: We emphasise the importance of washing hands with soap as a simple way to improve general health and reduce disease outbreaks. It’s a fun follow-along activity that both adults and kids can take part in.
• Module 3: We conduct a teeth-brushing demonstration and activity mainly for kids along with a presentation on basic dental hygiene.  

THE IMPACT

• Drinking and cooking with clean, filtered water will greatly reduce the occurrence of waterborne diseases.
• Improved health means improved productivity; adults can consistently go to work and earn an income.
• Children are able to grow up strong and healthy.
• Women, who are the main water managers, can save time gathering firewood and starting a fire to boil water, which has to be cooled and sieved repeatedly for drinking. With the filter, they will only need to fill it with water to have readily-available clean drinking water.

Goal Breakdown

Goal 1 - LifeStraw Family 2.0 water filters for 10 houses and water laboratory tests. Amount Needed: MYR6,300.00

Goal 2 - Community engagement and WASH training. Amount Needed: MYR2,000.00

Goal 3 - Logistics (shipping, taxes, and travelling). Amount Needed: MYR2,300.00

Give Clean Water, Give Hope