Empowering Communities Through the Clean Water Awareness Campaign

As part of International Children's Day celebration, Oxfam in partnership with our partner the Human Resource and Rural Economic Development Organization (HURREDO) and with funding support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), launched a five-day in June 2026, Clean Water Awareness Campaign under the Fostering Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (FOWASH) project. The campaign created a fun and interactive learning environment where children, parents, and teachers explored the importance of safe drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation practices together.

Across rural communities in Siem Reap and Battambang provinces, many families rely on standard 20 liter bottled water for their daily needs. However, a hidden challenge persists: while clear water is often assumed to be safe, many consumers remain unaware of its source, treatment, or actual quality. To bridge this critical awareness gap, the campaign was conducted across 10 rural primary and secondary schools, reaching 1,094 participants including 96 teachers, 685 students, and 313 parents. 

Each two-hour session was structured to be both educational and actionable. Children engaged in games, quizzes, poster-drawing competitions, and hands-on experiments that reveal how clear water can still contain harmful containments. Facilitators led hands-on, do-it-yourself (DIY) water filtration demonstrations showing how untreated surface or rainwater remains unsafe despite its appearance. Simultaneously, local community-operated water kiosk operators demonstrated the treatment steps involved in producing Kuchsar, the safe drinking water brand established through the support of FOWASH project. Parents and teachers interacted directly with kiosk operators to discuss water quality, hygiene management, and bottle cleanliness, while students competed in lively quizzes and creative poster contest. 

A core insight from the campaign was the habit-based resistance among villagers. Many families were unfamiliar with the differences between untreated and safely treated drinking water, highlighting the need for continued awareness raising. To address this the campaign reframed Kuchsa water not merely as a product but as a vital community asset. Operator explained that choosing Kuchsar water guarantees certified safe drinking water while sustaining the financial and operational viability of local kiosks 

The FOWASH project has supported 11 community-led Kuchsar water kiosks across Siem Reap and Battambang provinces. With HURREDO’s support, local operators are strengthening their business and management skills, changing kiosks into sustainable community enterprises that improve health and build resilience.  Community response was overwhelming. Of the 313 parents who participated, 276 registered as new customers, reflecting growing trust in safe, locally produced drinking water.