About the Partner
Resource Development International Cambodia
Aim:
“Resource Development International - Cambodia (RDIC) is a team driven by compassion to help reduce poverty, by developing and implementing unique resources and appropriate technologies to empower communities towards sustainable change.”
Background:
RDI-Cambodia is a US Registered, Private, Non-profit Organisation working internationally. They are dedicated to serving the people of Cambodia in dynamic ways. RDI has combined technology, education, and heart in order to help the people of Cambodia. Each project stands independent in its own right, but the entire range of projects form a unique and strong outreach program that works best as a sum of all its parts.
RDIC is managed by the staff of two American families, and employs around 80 Khmer staff from the local community and Phnom Penh in a wide range of roles and positions.
Areas Addressed under Holistic Approach:
- Manufacture and distribution of water technologies
- Comprehensive multimedia recording
- Education programs
- Water testing laboratory
- Building and construction
- Health
- Innovative farming
- Trade skills
Find out more here.
Achievements and Focus
Water Filtration Manufacturing Support
Why is this necessary?
An estimated 69% of the population in Cambodia does not have access to safe drinking water, and 72% does not have access to adequate sanitation (WHO, 2004). To address the need for clean drinking water, RDIC has been producing ceramic water filters, which are an appropriate technology for developing countries such as Cambodia. EWB is assisting RDIC maintain, improve, and expand its operations, as well as providing support to the growth and development of the technology around the world.
What are the goals of the project?
The ultimate goal is to facilitate the supply of appropriate and affordable water filters for household treatment and safe storage that will improve the health and save lives of many in the developing world. This goal will be achieved by:
- Training and technical consulting for filter production and distribution
- Further improving the filter production and distribution process
- Reviewing and expanding documentation of filter production and distribution
- Expanding networks and information sharing possibilities
- Developing and implementing a strategy for capacity building within RDIC to enable local staff to fill the role in future
What has been accomplished thus far?
- Documented the water filter manufacturing process, which has resulted in a comprehensive guide to producing quality ceramic water filters. The guide can be found here: http://www.rdic.org/waterceramicfiltration.htm
- Monitored the impact that changing the raw material mixtures for ceramic filters had on water quality
- Advised on installation of rainwater collection and storage at RDIC
- Ran training courses with many international organisations, equipping with the essential background knowledge and understanding to allow them to establish a filter production process in their own countries
- Continue to network with other organisations and individuals in the sector, assisting with sales, marketing, education, and information about ceramic water filters as well as tours of the filter factory and other RDIC projects
- Provided technical advice and troubleshooting for a number of filter production facilities
- Corresponded and networked with experts and researchers in the field and established closer cooperative ties with a Dutch research group
- Encouraged and facilitated the establishment and funding of an additional volunteer position to greatly increase our research capacity and improve scientific understanding and quality of the filters
Where to next?
- Monitoring RDIC’s production and quality
- Reviewing operation of RDIC’s kilns, which may result in changing operational processes and/or building new kilns to increase production capacity
- Addressing dust emissions on site, reducing impacts on workers and neighbors
- Updating filter factory manual and producing further supporting documentation to reflect recent knowledge advances and feedback on previous versions
- Continuing support to other ceramic water filter factories
- Establishing a research facility to allow dedicated, controlled, research to contribute to scientific understanding of filter operations
- Train and build capacity of a new local staff member to take on a ‘water filter coordinator’ role
EWB Field Volunteers
Current Water Filter Researcher and Technical Advisor – Isabelle Gensburger
“My work here at RDIC will be mainly in the field of research on optimising ceramic water filter products and production techniques. The Dutch research group supporting my work (Aqua For All foundation, Practica foundation and the Delft Technical University) is very keen and dynamic, and I look forward to working closely with them throughout the year. The research findings will hopefully be implemented at RDIC and have a much wider application at the different ceramic water filter production facilities worldwide. It is important to spend some time in the first few weeks to observe how things operate in the factory.
RDIC is much more than just a clay pot factory. It is currently working on a variety of projects to improve the quality of life for the residents of Cambodia and other developing countries (such as Myanmar), including: rainwater harvesting and storage systems, organic latrine systems, improved farming techniques, health and hygiene education and more.”
-Isabelle Gensburger
Former EWB Field Volunteer – Rob Hughes
“A few years ago there were a handful of filter production facilities, now there are more than 30 across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with the number continuing to grow. As one of the early adapters and most effective of these organisations, RDIC plays a pivotal role as a hub for information and technical knowledge that can mean the difference - between success and failure where the need is critical. EWB is central to RDIC’s capacity to support, through our continued work developing the filter factory manual, responding to requests for technical assistance, and teaching and training partners about producing water filters.
One of the highlights of my time here so far was helping load the machinery and equipment for a new filter factory onto a shipping container bound for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then I’ve been advising them on the construction of their kilns, and am expecting plenty more questions once their equipment arrives! It’s so rewarding to think this could be the start of something that will make clean drinking water a possibility and save innumerable lives.”
-Rob Hughes
Former EWB Field Volunteer – Kathryn Smith
“Everything was pretty overwhelming when I first arrived – all the noise, smells, people, dust, disorientation, interesting definitions of food and death defying drivers. After a few days I was into the swing of it though and I discovered the life of an EWB volunteer is extremely varied; not only did I come to learn so much about water quality and factory processes, I was also able to lecture Cambodian science graduates, perform a carbon credit feasibility study, serve as a dental nurse, assist a New York film crew, become an expert frog catcher, attend a wedding as a maid of honour, assist with an orphanage art exhibition, live with a Cambodian family for a week and even be visited by a cloudy leopard while camping in the middle of the Cardamom Mountains jungle!”
-Kathryn Smith
Funders
Planet Wheeler Foundation
The Planet Wheeler Foundation’s purpose is to support practical and effective projects that make a difference in the alleviation of poverty. They have generously supported this project in 2009 and 2010.
Testimonial from Tony Wheeler, Founder of the Planet Wheeler Foundation:
“I’ve always admired Medecins Sans Frontieres – aka Doctors without Borders – that fine organisation that sends volunteer doctors out to the world’s most troubled spots and isn’t afraid of dishing out some sharp tongued criticism when hapless governments deserve it.
So I was immediately taken by the idea of Engineers without Borders. After all, the world needs engineering solutions just as much as medical ones, engineers have valuable skills which are just as portable as medical expertise and no, my admiration for engineers has absolutely no connection with the fact that I still, sometimes, put ‘engineer’ down in the occupation line. It’s often a much more politically acceptable profession than guidebook publisher and it’s quite true, I was an engineer.
Seriously, it’s a wonderful organisation and I’m confident in the years to come they’ll find lots more demand for those important engineering abilities.”
Tony Wheeler
Founder, The Planet Wheeler Foundation and Lonely Planet Publications
EWB and Live and Learn thank the Planet Wheeler for their ongoing support of this important initiative.
www.planetwheeler.org
Aqua for All
Aqua for All matches expertise from the Dutch water sector to water supply and sanitation projects in developing countries and fosters partnerships in which the expertise of one party complements the requirements of another. It does not execute its own projects, however, but supports projects by providing technical recommendations and monitoring. Moreover, Aqua for All invests in business development and innovative developments which promote the target of providing access to safe drinking water and good sanitation to more people.
http://www.aquaforall.nl/#