AquaSol for Equity: Solar Innovation to Solve Water Insecurity
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OUTCOMES:
1. 600 students now attend the school regularly
2. School attendance has increased to 90% since the installation of our system
3. Health benefits - reduction in water borne diseases in the community by 50% within 6 months of installation
We are leveraging clean energy innovation and youth empowerment to deliver a sustainable, long term solution that resolves water insecurity and improves education access for this indigenous community. Our system integrates solar energy with water distillation technology, ideal for off-grid villages where traditional purification methods are impractical. The modular design includes solar panels powering a distillation unit that can purify river water, rainwater, and contaminated groundwater. The distillation process heats water to create vapour, which is condensed into purified liquid, removing contaminants, salts, and microorganisms. Each unit produces 100-125 litres of clean water daily, enough for 900 people. For example, our solar system ensures clean drinking water supply to the local school children all year round. Additional off-grid solar panels power lights and fans in the school, creating well-ventilated classrooms providing comfortable learning conditions for school children.
A group of 10 local youth, below the age of 24, have been trained and mentored by Green Hope Foundation as change ambassadors. Through them, we conduct regular workshops on water conservation, sanitation and hygiene, to change community behaviours.
This region in Cambodia is impacted by climate change induced drought, resulting in severe water insecurity. Lack of clean water affects the health and well-being of the community, disproportionately impacting its women and children. Lack of hygiene and sanitation aggravates the situation. It is also very hot throughout the year and the village’s only school does not have a supply of clean water. As a result, children do not come to school especially in the summer months and many of them fall ill after drinking polluted water. Our solar innovation addresses this intersectional problem of water insecurity, lack of access to proper public health practices, and lack of access to education.
