Providing Safe Drinking Water for Rural Communities
Location: Kampung Orang Asli Ulu Tibang
Soroptomist International Region Of Malaysia (SIROM) was the host for the 2019 International Soroptomist Convention which resulted in fund raising among the attendees and patrons of the oragnization. Saora was honoured to have been appointed to implement clean water projects funded by the collected donations. One of the villages that was selected to participate in this project is Kampung Tibang, Perak.
The village does not receive any electricity supply or treated water due to its location. This village has close to 60 families with homes lighted by solar lights, generators, kerosene lamps and candles. Water is obtained from collecting water from a fountain a few hundred meters from the village. When the water in the gravity pipes in the village is clean, villagers collect the water from it to be filtered, boiled and consumed by their families. Heavy rain will cause the water from these pipes to be filled with sediments and the pipes will eventually get blocked by floating debris. It takes time for the pipes to be cleaned and water to start flowing back through the pipes.
Upon consultation with members representing SIROM and the village womenfolk, Saora installed a solar powered purification system at the local kindergarten to ease access to safe drinking water for the teachers, students and mothers involved. A roof was built to protect the water filter, pre-filter water tanks and most importantly the villagers from the sun and rain. The area was also lighted at night with a solar lamp to make it easier and safer for everyone to collect water after sunset.
Communal toilets near the kindergarten were also refurbished so that children and teachers could have proper sanitation facilities that provides privacy and will not cause water pollution. After conducting workshops, Oral hygiene and Washing hands kits were also distributed to the children in the village. Each family was also given BPA free jugs to store drinking water collected from the solar powered water filter. The project was completed on 17 December 2020.
Brushing teeth, washing hands and the Global SDGs!!!
Location: Kampung Kapur
In December 2019, volunteers from SwissReMalaysia embraced the challenge that the village they were going to be helpingout was 3 hours from Kuala Lumpur, with the last 45 minutes being cramped togetherwith humanitarian aid, solar lighting systems and agricultural supplies in 4WDtrucks. Kampung Kapur was nestled at theend of gaharu tea plantations and natural attractions in Gopeng Town. Volunteers and locals joinedhands to install home solar lighting systems in 14 homes and installed a solar powered water filter system to providesafe drinking water to the villagers.
Not stopping at fulfilling what is deemed to be basic human needs, volunteersprepared packs of soap, tooths paste, toothbrush bundled up face towels andsmalls pails for the children in the village. Before distributing the personalhygiene kits, a workshop was held with interactive activities to introduce andencourage the adoption of washing hands and brushing teeth into their dailylives. Volunteers introduced the steps in brushing teeth through quizzes andcoloring sheets. Children were also accompanied to practice the steps ofbrushing their teeth and properly washing their hands. After the activities, thechildren proudly marched back to theirparents and older siblings while brandishing their own new set of toiletries.Saora Plus will continue visiting this village over a period of 2 years as partof our WaSH programme and in supporting the Global SDGs.
Lighting up communities: Near, far and very very far away
Location: Kampung Semol & Sagong
Located in the furthermost interior part of Kuala Lipis, Kampung Orang Asli Semul and Kampung Orang Asli Sagong were only accessible via forest tracks. Their location made it impossible to access conventional water and electric supply.
In 2018, 48 home solar lighting systems were delivered by Saora and a 4x4 club. The solar lights were sponsored and installed by volunteers from AEON Foundation. Due to the challenging terrain of the villages and the different types of installations, installations of the solar lights and solar powered water filters on the first day were only completed by nightfall. Volunteers were hosted for a night by the local villagers and meals were shared over the course of 2 days and 1 night. Early next morning, volunteers followed the villagers to tap rubber and and work in their farms. Before leaving a tele match was held, bringing the volunteers and villagers closer. Humanitarian aid consisting of dry food items were distributed to the families. A Gotong Royong was held before leaving the village.
At first there were lights…
Location: Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Rengat and Sungai Temin, Gerlik, Perak
JTI Malaysia was committed to run CSR programs despite the nationwide RMCO. Saora designed a CSR project where they would still be able to contribute to society while abiding to the RMCO rules. JTI decided to focus on uplifting rural communities that have little chances of being selected for CSR projects by other organizations. Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Rengat and Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temin was selected for JTI’s project as it did not need to involve volunteers from the organization at the beginning of the project.
The villages that needed 5 hours to access via land vehicles and boats were usually overlooked by CSR projects as it was logistically expensive to access. Saora carefully utilized funds to complete the installation of 25 solar powered home lighting system in 25 homes in the 1st phase of the project. JTI plans to bring about access to clean drinking water to a Surau in the village. Phase 2 which currently ongoing sees Saora communicating with JAKOA and the Forestry department to assist in planning out piping works in the village to be connected to the solar powered water filter.
In phase 3, JTI will fund 2 agricultural socio-economic projects and workshops on good personal hygiene habits. JTI will be involved in recording their own videos on personal hygiene habits (with the help from Saora) and these videos will be used to educate the children and women in the villages. Phase 2 of the project will commence in May 2021.
ProjectPeriod – March 2021 – March 2022
Everything solar: Home lighting, street lights and drinking water
Location: Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Ganggai
Kampung Ganggai has 58 houses, a sizable village located at the far end of a Felda settlement area in Slim River, Perak. This unique village sits on a very unique hill site with scattered clusters of boulders with a rocky river cutting through the village. The location of the village is too far from the nearest electricity sub-station and the remote location makes it not feasible to supply treated water through the exiting conventional government grid. Undaunted by the estimated costs it would take to take on a village this size. CIMB Foundation commissioned Saora to install 58 solar home lighting systems, 1 solar powered water filter and 10 solar powered street lights.
The project budget was carefully thought through to use resources while ensuring that the highest quality and sustainable items were installed. Through strict costings and working alongside the beneficiaries , Saora successfully installed all items within 3 days. The installation was completed in December 2020. Villagers have reported reduced dependency on the shared diesel generators and stopped using candles as well as kerosene lamps. It is also safer for villagers to cross the village bridge and to notice children playing at the river banks at night.
Saora is currently supporting the local kindergarten which is being taught by local women volunteers. Items like stationary and food supplies are being sent to the village every quarter. This is paid for and delivered by Saora during their maintenance visits.
It only takes a spark…
How lights enrich community life
Location: Kampung Sg. Piong
Kampung Piong is situated in between the deeper parts of aprivately owned palm estate in Slim River Perak. The village has no access to treated piped water or electricity. The roads to the village are always damaged and made it hard for villagers and outsiders to travel.
As the village was considered small, it was not cost effective to bring unconventional electricity supply to the village and build infrastructure for treated piped water. CIMB Foundation commissioned Saora to install solar powered home lighting systems in the 10 homes, a solar powered water filter and a communal lighting system for the community hall. The villagers were involved throughout the installation of the lights and the water filter. As the village is quite isolated, refurbishing and lighting up the village community hall was a big milestone in their community life. Installations were completed on 24December 2020.
The community hall which was used for celebrations, study classes by NGOs and community meetings is brightly lit and more often used. The dynamics of having a lighted community hall has increased conversation among the locals to start money-generating activities at night, such as crafting, weaving and sewing.
In 2018, 48 home solar lighting systems were delivered by Saora and a 4x4 club. The solar lights were sponsored and installed by volunteers from AEON Foundation. Due to the challenging terrain of the villages and the different types of installations, installations of the solar lights and solar powered water filters on the first day were only completed by nightfall. Volunteers were hosted for a night by the local villagers and meals were shared over the course of 2 days and 1 night. Early next morning, volunteers followed the villagers to tap rubber and and work in their farms. Before leaving a tele match was held, bringing the volunteers and villagers closer. Humanitarian aid consisting of dry food items were distributed to the families. A Gotong Royong was held before leaving the village.
Second chances at Teduhan Kasih
Location: Teduhan Kasih, Melaka
Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.
Teduhan Kasih Melaka consisted of a close knit group of caregivers and residents that needed support to start initiatives to train the residents with skills that would be useful for their future and at the same time provide them with motivation. Even after recovering, residents still face an up uphill battle to earn a living and be accepted by general society. When Saora was introduced to them in 2016, we knew this was the start of a meaningful relationship.
Saora handled the end to end project management with the support of a handful of generous and big hearted supporters. Jabatan Pertanian Melaka was engaged to provide training modules and training sessions. Funds to secure and prepare a farming site was provided by Iltizam Ekuinas. 30 inmates from Pengasih and another 30 inmates of Cure & Care were joined by 40 volunteers from Iltizam for the inauguration of the farm in 2017. The farm was initially planted with more than 5000 chili plants, and was consistently yielding good harvests. Proceeds were used to
The pandemic that brought the whole world to a halt in 2020, posed a challenge to everyone. The thriving chili farm was abandoned and in due time closed. In 2021 Iltizam Ekuinas, having faith in this dedicated group of people, again assisted in providing funding to kick start another farm. . Up to date, the farm has started to generate income to support expenses of the rehabilitation center while providing a safe place to learn and practice agricultural skills.
The power of the ginger, anyone?
Kampung Sungai Kepong, Pahang
Apart from delivering solar lights to the homes and installing a solar powered water filter in Kampung Kepong, Saora observed that the village was beautified by plants cultivated by the womenfolk.
After conversations with the women and discussing land usage with the village committee, a 'practice' communal farm was set up for the women to learn and practice farming skills. Land was cleared and treated with the help of the village men, while the women assisted in raising the planting beds. Workshops were held on the different types of vegetables and crops that were easier tog row for consumption, which excess could be exchanged or sold. Training also included hands on practice in setting up simple drip irrigation systems ad maintenance of water pumps. Farming tools were distributed to the participants together with vegetable seeds.
After consultation the women decided to plant ginger in their ' practice' farm. The first batch of ginger will be harvested in February 2022.
