Updates
| Date | Summary |
|---|---|
| 2011 October 09 | Lien AID shares its advocacy experience at the Global Forum on Sanitation and Hygiene, Mumbai India
From 9th October to 14th October 2011, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSC) held the Global Forum on Sanitation and Hygiene in Mumbai, India. An opportunity for water and sanitation development professionals to connect with those working in the sector, share experiences and engage in learning from WSSC members, sector practitioners and policy-makers, Lien AID's Country Manager Vietnam Ms Nguyen Thi Thu Ha participated in the forum and shared with its attendees on Lien AID's experience in behavioral change campaigns in Cambodia and Vietnam. In Cambodia, Lien AID in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development and UNC/USAID had engaged Chap Chien, a famous Cambodian comedian to front its "Stop the Diahorrea" nationwide campaign. In Vietnam, Lien AID in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and UNICEF had appointed Xuan Bac, a famous Vietnamese comedian as Vietnam's first Goodwill WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Ambassador to raise awareness among rural villages living in the Mekong Delta and Red River Delta on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation practices. |
| 2011 September 05 | Lien AID organises Membrane Technology Workshop in Singapore for its Vietnamese partnersFrom 5 September to 9 September 2011, Lien AID welcomed officials from the National Centre for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (NCERWASS), Institute of Applied Materials Science: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (IAMS), Health and Environment Management Agency: Ministry of Health Vietnam (HEMA), and University of Water Resources for a 5-day Membrane Technology Workshop run by the Singapore Polytechnic. As part of our ongoing efforts to build the capacity of the communities we work with, this workshop aims to equip our Vietnamese partners with pertinent knowledge relating to membrane technology in water treatment. The knowledge acquired from this workshop will be used to inform our Salinity Project, an initiative in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam that aims to decrease the salinity content of the water available for consumption by villagers of the Ben Tre Province, and improve their lives. |
| 2011 July 15 | Lien AID commemorates the completion of the pilot phase of its multi-year drought mitigation program in rural China
On 15 July 2011, Lien AID in partnership with the China Primary Health Care Foundation (CPHCF), a Chinese government-affiliated NGO, commemorated the completion of the pilot phase of its drought mitigation program, centered in Yuanyang County, Yunnan Province in China. The Lianyuangongcheng (LYGC) program is an ambitious program that is pioneering a new holistic and comprehensive approach to tackling the drought situation in China. The LYGC program adopts the 4-D Methodology, namely Discovery, Deployment, Defend, and Dissemination, which is easy to understand and apply. This pilot phase focuses largely on 3 villages within the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, a UNESCO world heritage site, and also 2 villages in Kaiyuan and Sancun. This pilot phase has benefitted an estimated 3,500 villagers. The program targets to reach 10,000 beneficiaries in 2011. |
| 2011 Jun 29 | Lien AID celebrates the opening of improved water and sanitation facilities at Kampong Speu Referral Hospital, Cambodia
On 29 June 2011, Lien AID together with Cambodian government officials and representatives from the NGO community celebrated the official opening of Kampong Speu Referral Hospital's new and improved water and sanitation facilities; a joint effort by Lien AID, Ministry of Health Cambodia, Kampong Speu Provincial Department of Health, hospital officials and the Bremen Overseas Research Development Organisation (BORDA). The largest of three referral hospitals in the province serving over 16,000 patients, family and staff annually, Kampong Speu Referral Hospital underwent considerable improvements to its facilities since the project started in 2009. It is now equipped with five new and six refurbished toilet blocks, a wastewater treatment system, new piping and trained personnel. Lien AID has provided support to several key watsan healthcare projects in Cambodia, and intends to continue working closely with the Ministry of Health to improve water and sanitation conditions in provincial healthcare facilities. More information: |
| 2011 Apr 25 | Vietnam celebrates the launch of its annual National Rural Water and Sanitation Week 2011
On April 25th 2011, Lien Aid was invited by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) for the annual launch of Vietnam’s National Rural Water and Sanitation Week 2011. Attended by members of the Vietnamese government, UNICEF and Lien Aid, the event saw the launch of a nation-wide creative contest aimed at involving Vietnamese youths in spreading positive water and sanitation messages in their community. Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Goodwill Ambassador, popular Vietnamese comedian Xuan Bac also participated in the event, interacting with the Thanh Chan Commune community through contests that promoted hygiene and good hand-washing habits. |
| 2011 Apr 07 | Lien Aid successfully organises “Stop the Diarrhoea” Social Marketing Workshop in Phnom Penh
On April 7th 2011, Lien Aid successfully brought together key decision-makers from the Cambodian public sector and delegates from various local and international organisations for a Social Marketing workshop, aimed at discussing the set of social marketing tools jointly developed by Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Department of Healthcare, Lien Aid, WaterSHED, and 17 Triggers to promote three key water, sanitation and hygiene messages as part of the “Stop the Diarrhoea Campaign”. Participants include Asian Developmental Bank (ADB), International Development Enterprises (IDE), PATH, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, UNICEF and World Toilet Organisation (WTO). Positive feedback was received, with many stakeholders keen on using these social marketing tools in their various water, sanitation and hygiene programmes as soon as possible. The development and no-cost dissemination of this set of tools for use by all interested organisations, is under review by the MRD for endorsement, expected in early June 2011. More information: |
| 2011 Mar 03 | The Blue Right Campaign by EE2/NTU: Clean Water, Everyone’s Entitled
The Blue Right (www.theblueright.com), Singapore’s first water rights campaign by four NTU Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information final-year students was launched in March 2011. Aimed at educating tertiary students on the poor water and sanitation conditions faced by our Asian neighbours through a roving photography exhibition, The Blue Right Campaign featured Lien Aid projects in China and Vietnam and reached out to students in three universities across the country: NUS: 3-4 Mar 2011, SMU: 14-15 Mar 2011, NTU: 31 Mar – 1 Apr 2011 Related media: |
| 2011 Feb 14 | Successful partnership between Lien Aid and Cambodian MRD on Sanitation MarketingLien Aid is pleased to share another Success story under its aim to improve the sanitation conditions of the rural population in Cambodia. Working closely with the local Government and the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Lien Aid together with other NGOs has made sanitation programming easier through sanitation marketing which is cost-effective and rapidly scalable. Sanitation marketing is gaining momentum across provinces in a country where only 23 per cent of the rural population has access to improved sanitation. With this approach, there is no giveaways of toilets but rather the building of a strong marketing approach which empowers the local villagers to make a difference in their own community. Lien Aid targets 15,000 latrines sold by end of 2011 in 3 provinces: Kg Speu, Takeo and Kg Cham. These activities are supported jointly by USAID Regional Development Mission – Asia's WaterSHED project. Related Articles: |
| 2011 Jan 15 | Lien AID wins Chinese Philanthropy Award, BeijingLien AID received the Global Charity Award for NGOs during a ceremony which took place at the Great Hall of People in Beijing. The Award was given by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and China's Ministry of Civil Affairs and is the symbol of Lien AID's efforts in bringing water and sanitation to China's drought-hit regions of Yunnan, Sichuan and Shanxi. In the past 3 years, Lien AID has worked on 14 projects in China which have benefitted more than 30,000 people. Global Charity, a Chinese philanthropic publication and the magazine arm of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, organised the awards. The nominees can be individuals, enterprises and organisations, and these are selected based on their philanthropic efforts and contributions to the Chinese society. Lien AID was the only Singapore organisation to be awarded. Press Clippings |
| 2010 Dec 17 | The Children of Mekong: A Multimedia Installation Project commissioned by Lien AidThis project explores water and sanitation issues in rural Asia, particularly in China, Vietnam and Cambodia where Lien Aid has a presence. Commissioned by Lien Aid, this collaborative effort by documentary photographer Jean Qingwen Loo captures the diverse experiences of our beneficiaries in the different countries through a collection of photographs and a series of short films. On 19 Nov – 3 Dec 2010, a multimedia exhibition showcasing selected photographs and short films from the Children of Mekong project was held at Objectifs Centre for Photography & Filmmaking in Singapore. To learn more about the Children of Mekong and view these multimedia pieces, please visit www.childrenofmekong.org. Related Media: |
| 2010 Nov 30 | Vietnamese actor/comedian Xuan Bac appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation by MARD, Lien Aid and UNICEFPopular Vietnamese comedian/actor Xuan Bac was officially appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation for 2010-2011 by the Vietnam Ministry of Rural Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD) in cooperation with Lien Aid and UNICEF, at a launching ceremony held in Hanoi on 30th November 2010. In his capacity as Goodwill Ambassador, Xuan Bac will be involved in various mass media activities to raise awareness, among rural communities living in the Mekong and Red River Delta, on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation practices, including using clean water and hygienic latrines and responsible waste management. At the launch ceremony, Xuan Bac expressed his sentiments on his new role as the country’s first water and sanitation Goodwill Ambassador, "I feel I have a great responsibility as a Goodwill Ambassador. I will try my best to make people understand about the importance of water and sanitation, carry out hygienic practices and more importantly, maintain the healthy behavior". More information: |
| 2010 Aug 25 | Lien Aid becomes a member of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Partnership (RWSSP) in VietnamWe are pleased to announce that Lien Aid officially became a member of the RWSSP on 23 August 2010. Through the RWSSP, Lien Aid together with 20 other international agencies will work actively together to achieve rural water supply and sanitation targets set out in the National Target programme and Vietnam Development Goals. The objective of the RWSSP is to enhance the effectiveness of resource use in the rural water and sanitation sector. We look forward to participating in this partnership. |
| 2010 Jul 02 | Lien Aid participates in the Singapore International Water Week 2010 - from 28 June to 2 July 2010
Lien Aid, with NTU’s Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) is proud to have participated in the 2nd edition of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) at Suntec - Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre. The SIWW is the global platform that brings together policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world. Lien Aid had the opportunity to share with leading members of the water industry about our work in Vietnam, particularly the use of membrane systems in our WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Hospitals projects. With our unique role in the world of water, our inclusion in this year’s SIWW as an exhibitor offered a different perspective for visitors, amidst a sea of corporate exhibitors. |
| 2010 May 31 | Lien Aid Live Earth Run for WaterOn April 18th, Lien Aid participated in the biggest world water global event which took part in 92 countries and for the 1st time in Singapore. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water was a real success and saw the participation of 4,000 runners and a public very interested in the issue. It featured 6 KM run/walks, water education villages and concerts around the world to raise money and awareness to help solve the water crisis. Lien Aid had been chosen by Live Earth as the beneficiary NGO in Singapore to receive part of the proceeds raised at the event for its Rainwater Harvesting project in 10 health Centres in Cambodia. Lien Aid was present together with NEWRI with an informative booth designed by the creative Film & media team of Ngee Ann Poly which featured Lien Aid work done in the region. The global water crisis affects all of us. One in eight people don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water. In Africa, Latin America and Asia women and children are forced to walk 6km (3.7 miles) each day to secure water that is likely unsuitable for drinking. But the water crisis is not only limited to developing nations. More and more of us live in water-scarce areas, and climate change is making the water crisis more severe. The Live Earth events aim to bring each year the world together on focusing on one environmental issue – featuring solutions and ways that individuals and communities can save our planet and save lives! Do visit www.liveearth.org for more information. Click here to read the news report. Watch the Lien Aid Live Earth Run for Water video. |
| 2010 Mar 27 | Lien Aid Projects profiled in 'Trickle of Hope' feature in the Straits TimesTo mark the World Water Day in 2010, the Straits Times published a Special Report highlighting the efforts of the Lien Foundation, through its implementing NGO Lien Aid, to eradicate the water woes of villages in Cambodia and Vietnam. Journalists joined our team on the ground in both countries to chronicle these efforts and speak to the people who are the victims of the water crisis and those who are fighting to help them overcome it. Click here to read the feature |
| 2010 Feb 11 | Lien Aid launches the Lotus Treatment Plant in Cambodia
The Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Just south of the lake entrance on the Tonle Sap River is the location of the floating community of Chhnouk Trou. For the residents of this floating village, the river and lake is their livelihood yet the same lake that is supporting their way of life also threatens their health. At the same time as being their source of drinking water, it is also their latrine. Solid and liquid wastes from all sources, including defecation is disposed of in the lake by the community. Despite this use of their environment the community is regularly immersed in this effluent through bathing, teeth cleaning, washing babies bottles and from the ice used in coffee or soft drinks and beer. With the support of the Lien Foundation, Lien Aid together with the community set up the Lotus water treatment plant in the floating village. Launched by the Minister of Rural Development in February 2010, the plant can produce safe drinking water to meet the needs of up to 400 families a day. Owned by the Chhnouk Trou community, overseen by a community management committee and operated by a local entrepreneur, the enterprise provides low cost treated drinking water which is delivered door to door. The long term objective is the sustainability of the enterprise as a viable business to provide an alternative option to access safer water. |
| 2009 Dec | Low-cost latrines unveiled at the World Toilet Summit 2-4th December 2009To help villagers in Cambodia go an even longer way, Lien Aid developed quality, do-it-yourself latrines that now provide the community with easy access to sanitation at a low cost. Developed based on the local community's preferences, the project is a collaborative effort by Lien Aid, the World Toilet Organization and the United States Agency for International Development (USAid)’s WaterShed programme. The project aims to provide over 500 villages in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu province with their own toilets and easy access to direct sanitation. Related Articles from: |
| 2009 Oct | Winners of Sanitation Marketing Campaign Contest AnnouncedLien Aid and partner organization World Toilet Organization recently announced the winners of the Let's Increase Toilet Contest. The aim was to gather culturally appropriate messages for use in rural sanitation marketing campaigns in order to promote private investment in household toilets. Submissions included creative marketing strategies, TV/radio commercial scripts and illustrations. The winning entry by Mr. Veng Meng Keang is a storyline for a commercial, giving an account of a man who becomes embarrassed when a young lady visitor has to venture into the forest to urinate because his home does not have a toilet. |
| 2009 Oct | Lien Aid Project Featured in Documentary Series "Architects of Change"Jack Sim, the founder of World Toilet Organization and Board Member of Lien Aid was profiled in a documentary series on the pioneers of social change. Click here to find out more. |
| 2009 Oct 15 | Celebration of Global Handwashing Day in VietnamAt an event aimed at raising awareness and creating national momentum to spur behaviour change, 2000 students set a record for the most number of people washing hands at the same place at the same time in Hadong Stadium, Hanoi. In support of this event, Lien Aid, together with students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore produced promotional materials on the importance of proper handwashing practice. According to research, turning handwashing with soap at critical times into a habit can reduce deaths from diarrheal diseases by almost half. In the long term, "Global Handwashing Day" can become a powerful platform for advocacy aimed at policy makers and an occasion for concrete public commitment to actions that will help establish a lifelong healthy habit. |
| 2008 Dec 01 | Lien Aid works with the Water Sanitation Program (WSP) to raise awareness of water and sanitation in Cambodia through a nationwide video broadcastThe initiatives which strive to eliminate open defecation in Cambodia are reinforced. An awareness video is being distributed throughout the country with the support of the World Bank. To watch the video, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQjiGSzMCbw The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) is a multi-donor partnership of the World Bank. |
| 2008 Nov 24 | THE DEMON IN THE WATER - Photo and art exhibition to raise awareness on water sanitation woesA photo exhibition showcasing the works of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Film & Media Studies (FMS) students while on a reporting trip to Cambodia, will raise awareness of the water sanitation problems that developing countries face. Titled ‘The Demon in the Water’, the exhibition will be held from 27th of November to 3rd December 2008, at Vivocity’s South Avenue. 14 photographs portraying the problems of water sanitation in Cambodia will be showcased at the exhibition, sponsored by Nikon Singapore. The reporting trip, organised in early September as part of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s collaboration with Lien Aid, a local non-governmental organisation, saw 6 FMS students travel to three locations in Cambodia to document the lives of the local people. Focusing on arsenic poisoning, poor water sanitation and open defecation, the photographs will bring across the message of how others lead their lives in other parts of the world, and how solutions are being come up with to help them. This is the official International Year of Sanitation. As such, the World Toilet Organisation will also be displaying pieces of toilet seat art by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Students and Lasalle College of the Arts. Admission to the exhibition is free. |
| 2008 Nov 20 | Singapore NGO designs first floating toilet for Cambodian river communitiesIn conjuction with the World Toilet Day, Lien Aid unveiled a range of floating toilet designs which will be marketed to the river communities on the Tonle Sap. The first-of-its-kind initiative is unique as there is so far no recognised sanitation solution for the floating population on the great lake and instead of a standard hand-out approach, the communities are provided with real choices. Over in Kampong Speu, a similar project on land has been launched under USAID's Global Development Alliance programme. |
| 2008 Nov 04 | Lien Aid and partner, the Ministry of Rural Development – Cambodia, showcase their work at the 8th annual World Toilet Summit and Expo in MacauChief Executive Officer of Lien Aid, Sahari Ani, will be conducting a presentation, entitled “Looking at the Bigger Picture – A Different Take on Aid” at the 8th annual World Toilet Summit and Expo in Macau. His presentation maps out Lien Aid’s approach to development, specifically in the area of water and sanitation, by using its experience in Cambodia as an example. Lien Aid will also have a booth at the expo, held at the Venetian from 4 – 6 Nov, to showcase its work. This is a joint initiative with our Cambodian counterparts from the Ministry of Rural Development – Cambodia and serves to highlight the partnership between an NGO and the government sector in creating solutions to the water and sanitation crisis. |
| 2008 Oct 31 | Ngee Ann Polytechnic students produce the Cambodia story – “The Demon in the Water”Following their 10-day trip in September to visit Lien Aid’s projects in Cambodia, a group of six students from the Ngee Ann Polytechnic have completed “The Demon in the Water” – a booklet containing photo essays on the impact that poor water and sanitation has on the lives of the poor in Cambodia. Three poignant films in the attached DVD capture the personal stories of three Cambodians and how the water and sanitation crisis has affected their lives. A photo exhibition of the students’ works will be held at Vivo City from 27 Nov – 3 Dec. The joint initiative between Lien Aid and Ngee Ann Polytechnic was funded by the Lien Foundation-Ngee Ann Polytechnic SEED Fund. |
| 2008 Oct 28 | Singapore consortium launches “A Drop of Hope” project to provide safe water to Sichuan earthquake survivors at the close of the 11th SSTICThe Singapore consortium comprising the Singapore Water Association, Borouge Pte Ltd and Lien Aid signed an MOU with the local government in Sichuan on the provision of safe water supply to quake victims in Beichuan County. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Mr Lim Swee Say, witnessed the signing of the MOU at the close of the 11th annual meeting of the Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee (SSTIC). |
| 2008 Oct 13 | Lien Aid, Singapore Water Association and Borouge sign MOU to provide safe drinking water to Sichuan earthquake survivorsThe “A Drop of Hope” project, jointly implemented by Lien Aid, Singapore Water Association (SWA), and Borouge Pte Ltd in Beichuan County, Sichuan will be deploying a mobile water purification system to a resettlement camp, ensuring safe drinking water to 10,000 survivors using reverse osmosis and ultra filtration membrane technology. SWA, Singapore’s industry grouping of water and related companies, has rallied its members to build the mobile water purification system and transport it to the designated location while Borouge, a leading plastic solutions provider, will contribute pipe-laying services to the project. Lien Aid worked closely with its ground network of local authorities to coordinate the reconstruction effort and will implement the system with SWA's support. |
| 2008 Oct 02 | Lien Aid secures USAID funding, partners University of North Carolina to jointly implement WaterSHED: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Enterprise DevelopmentUnder the USAID Global Development Alliance (GDA) Programme, Lien Aid has received funding to launch a water, sanitation and hygiene programme in Cambodia. The WaterSHED programme will take the community led total sanitation model one step further by introducing a holistic solution incorporating both water and sanitation components. Affordable watsan products will be developed together with private partners and priced reasonably to ensure financial sustainability, while social marketing will be used to stimulate demand for these products and improve hygiene practices. Initiated by the University of North Carolina, the GDA will be funded by the USAID. |
| 2008 Aug 07 | Making schools a safe haven for learning once againNews reports in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake indicate that shoddy construction resulted in many schools becoming death traps for young children. Lien Aid is contributing to the reconstruction efforts by working with Lien Institute for the Environment (LIFE) and Sichuan provincial government to reinforce seismic resistance of two schools in Mianyang City. This technology can be deployed much faster and is 80% cheaper than the cost of rebuilding. These schools will also be equipped with water and sanitation facilities in order to enhance the health and wellbeing of the students. |
| 2008 Aug 04 | Reconstruction work begins in MyanmarThree months after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, humanitarian efforts are now focused on longer term reconstruction needs. To provide a permanent source of safe drinking water and reduce incidence of water borne diseases among high risk communities in Myanmar, Lien Aid is partnering the international non government organisation, Population Services International, to build wells and provide water treatment and storage facilities to 10 townships in the badly hit Irrawaddy Delta. |
