In the second half of 2023, we made a generous gift to our longstanding Do Some Good partner, charity: water to support them in providing clean water for thousands of people in Cambodia and India.
We are thrilled to tell you that they have just informed us that progress is underway with both projects and soon, clean, safe drinking water will bring transformative and lasting change into people’s lives.
Our generous gift, all thanks to the photographs of our garden furniture that our customers have sent us, was sent to their local partner in January 2024 and, right now, they’re about six months into their 21-month timeline (as shown in the timeline chart they sent us below).
This preparation period is crucial for each project’s success and sustainability.
charity: water’s partners have been hard at work obtaining construction permits, purchasing building supplies, and collaborating with community members.
Community engagement is especially important at this stage, as it creates a sense of ownership and pride in the completed water project.
charity: water has promised us more updates soon, and we will share them here when we receive them.
We are immensely proud of our Do Some Good initiative and believe in helping to give people the same future as charity: water do — one in which everyone has access to clean and safe water!
About the Clear Cambodia project
Clear Cambodia was founded in 1999 to provide families in rural communities access to safe water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education.
They operate the largest BioSand Filter (BSF) program in the world and implement roughly 22,000 BSFs per year in communities, schools, and clinics.
Their work is critical to improving water access throughout Cambodia, where the plentiful water sources are often contaminated by iron, arsenic, or even human waste.
BSFs use layers of gravel, sand, and biofilm to remove these dangerous toxins. The method is a valuable alternative to buying bottled water, which most rural families can’t afford, or boiling surface water to remove impurities, which can harm the environment.
Families also assemble their own BSFs and participate in maintenance training to promote ownership.
What’s next?
In the next few months, the construction of BSFs will accelerate. Once construction is complete, Clear Cambodia will test the water flow and quality. Every family will also learn how to manage and maintain their BSF.
Meanwhile, Clear Cambodia will encourage community members to build latrines and coordinate training covering topics such as sustainability, sanitation, and hygiene.
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Did you know…
Clear Cambodia’s BSF Construction Training program teaches community members how to construct and maintain their own BSFs using local materials such as sand, gravel, and cement. The training program includes both theoretical and hands-on components and aims to empower community members with the skills and knowledge to improve their access to clean water. So far, the program has trained over 2,000 people in BSF construction and maintenance.
About Gram Vikas in India
Gram Vikas was founded in 1979, evolving out of a small student group that provided relief efforts in the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the 1971 Odisha cyclone.
Today, Gram Vikas works across various development sectors, including water and sanitation in rural communities.
With charity: water’s support, they are currently building piped systems with household connections. Before construction, every household is required to build its own toilet and bathing room.
This model not only prioritises sanitation but also ensures that everyone receives access regardless of caste, class, or gender.
Every piped system then brings water directly into households and includes a tap in the kitchen, bathroom, and shower. Schools are connected to the piped system as well.
What’s next?
In the next few months, the construction of piped systems will accelerate. Once construction is complete, Gram Vikas will test the water quality and hand the projects over to the communities for ongoing maintenance and management.
Meanwhile, Gram Vikas will coordinate training covering topics such as sustainability, sanitation, and hygiene.
Did you know…
Gram Vikas is serious about sustainability. So much so, that they recently completed a Status Assessment Survey where they monitored 20 years’ worth of past Gram Vikas projects. They will use the survey data to identify any needed project rehabilitations and innovate upon their programming as needed.
About our Do Some Good charity campaign
We can’t wait until charity: water shares even more details in our next update report!
Our Do Some Good charity initiative has been up and running since 2015 and it is well on its way to raising over £500,000 by the end of 2024 for our charity partners.
In 2023 we launched our Million Pound Challenge, whereby the Lazy Susan team aims to raise £1,000,000 for our chosen charities by the end of 2027.
The campaign not only helps raise funds for causes close to our hearts but it also raises awareness for our charity partners and encourages consumers to consider the social impact of their garden furniture purchase.
By Doing Some Good we can come together to make a difference in our communities and beyond.
If you have our garden furniture then we would love to see a few photos of it in your outdoor space for our Do Some Good charity campaign.
You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or Upload Here.
