In July 2008 I went to Cambodia with my brother and his family. We arrived at the Thailand/Cambodia border to drive to Siem Reap. This of course is a tourist destination with Angkor Wat, and temples dating back to 600 A.D. The trip to Siem Reap from the border is a seven hour drive by car. This gave me a lot of time to see some of the countryside. We arrived in Siem Reap and met our guide and translator, Ly Heang. The next three days we explored temples such as Angkor Wat, the Jungle Temple, Bayon and many more. During that time Ly and I talked about his life growing up in the countryside of Cambodia. During Ly’s and my trip to the countryside, children were waving, smiling and shouting hello even though the entire time they were working in the fields, fishing for food or just walking along the roadside. Still being a bit of a tourist, of course I’m taking pictures of all of this. Then it happened!!!!! An older woman walked over to me and apologized for intruding, but wondered if I wouldn’t mind taking a picture of her. I said I’d love to and asked her why? She responded she had never seen anyone with a camera before and would like a picture of herself to give to her children before she died. I took the picture and when we got back into the city I had it developed and framed. The next day I brought the picture back and gave it to her. Tears came to her eyes. I never realized that such a small thing could bring such happiness. To make a long story short I found out that her husband was the village chief and was later introduced to him. We had many conversations over the next few days. I went back to Cambodia, four months later and couldn’t wait to get out to the village. This trip was not just for pictures. Ly Heang and I put in seven clean water hand pumping wells. One pump can provide clean water for 25 to 500 people. As of the end of August 2009, we now have 80 pumping wells installed and in operation. We have done new construction and improvements on schools in the villages with clean water drinking pumps and other projects for the children’s schools. We are always stumbling on other projects as well and the cost is always minimal. My story along with these pictures can only show you part of the feeling and difference people can make when they work together. If this is something you would like to help with $1.00 goes along way in Cambodia and I assure you 100% of your dollar goes directly to helping the poor in the countryside of Cambodia, as I have no overhead or administrative fees. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. The story of my translator and guide Ly Heang shows a more in-depth look at the history and current struggles of Cambodia. We hope after reading our stories and information that you will realize what one pumping well can do for the lively hood of hundreds. Thank you, Scott Dukes.

In 1976 my family was departed by the Khmer Rouge Government from southern part of the countryside to the Northern side of Siem Reap to be rice farmers. This is the place where I grew up. In 1979 my family was moved one more time, closer to the countryside of Siem Reap. This place was called Kchas village. Kchas village has remained one unforgettable bitter souvenir of my life. My family has got one soil well (hand dug well) in front of the house approximately 4.50 meters deep and this well supplied 10 people in my family. I have heard many times about not having enough water. In some years my soil well had dried up due to summer. So my brother had to go to a well nearby. It’s very hard to do alone and I was too small to carry water then. One day all my brothers and sisters went to play with some friends and others went to the market. With the exception of my eldest sister. She stayed and did the rubbish cleaning under the house. I am lonely and there’s nothing to do. Just then I get a silly idea to check the water level in the soil well. So I walk over to coconut tree and take a dead branch off to make a water level stick. Wow! I look at the branch and its too short to get into the water. So I move my body further into the well but still to short so I just keep moving more and more like a snake moves, into the well until the branch has reached into the water. I am so happy. My body has become lighter and lighter till I fall into the well and inhale a lot of water. Lucky my mom has just bought one pig not so big but it’s as heavy as I am. My sister has heard a sound of falling but she didn’t pay any attention and maybe someone’s pig fell in the well, because in the countryside animals are free range. She stops cleaning and thinks of her pig and runs fast to see if that’s it. To her surprise after seeing my hair floating, she screams “brother, brother is that you?” I cannot answer and she jumps into the well and grabs me. She called all the men nearby my house to help. After some of the men take my legs and shake my body to get the water out from my lungs. They put me on the bed in front of my house beside the fire and smack me on the bottom approximately 10 or 20 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, that is my story. Because this happened that is why my heart everyday tells me to help and throughout my experience I have learned that I can help the poor people in my country and have the knowledge to deal with local issues and local partners to accomplish the first steps into overcoming poverty. It has become my hobby and passion, which means no donor will ever pay my salary. Throughout my job and guidance helping and applying my efforts to help the poor people of Cambodia to have safe clean water to use and have a better day to day life.
Thank you, Ly Heang.