Installing latrines and handwashing stations in schools is much more than a matter of basic hygiene—it is a powerful investment in health, education, gender equality, and sustainability.
The lack of basic sanitation is a global injustice, one that quietly denies millions of children their right to learn, grow, and thrive. It is a clear example of systemic inequity. For some in Cambodia, this injustice is a daily reality—and a matter of life and opportunity.
Diseases like diarrhea and cholera are widespread, often caused by contaminated water and poor hygiene practices. At the same time, inadequate sanitation pollutes the environment, contaminating water sources and putting entire communities at risk.
In rural areas, where poverty is most severe, children risk their health simply by going to school. And girls are hit hardest. Without private, safe latrines, many are forced to stay home during menstruation—missing lessons, falling behind, and being pushed to the margins of education.
This is how inequality is maintained—silently—through a lack of clean water and safe sanitation.
Co-Action: Fighting Inequality with Soap and Water
This is where the EU co-funded CO-SAVED project is stepping in to make a difference across Cambodia’s coastal provinces. Action Education / Aide et Action (AEA) has installed or rehabilitated 114 latrines and 244 handwashing stations in schools.
This isn’t charity—it’s justice. It’s a bold investment in the future of Cambodia’s children. This is how we fight inequality: with soap, with water, and with a safe door to close.
Co-Impact: Justice, Not Charity
By providing clean, functional sanitation, the project protects children’s health, keeps them in school, and restores the dignity every child deserves. Improved sanitation means fewer sick days, more focused learning, and an education system that doesn’t discriminate based on gender or geography.
It means girls can stay in school, not stay home. It means cleaner communities, protected water sources, and a path toward long-term sustainability.
We must demand more. We must call for change. A latrine should not be a luxury. Handwashing should not be a privilege. Let’s refuse to accept a future where children suffer for lack of the most basic human needs.
Together, let’s break the cycle of inequality and build a Clean Cambodia—where every child, no matter their gender or where they live, has the chance to learn in safety, dignity, and health.
