Water Aid Updates

I have become aware of negative space (corruption) since living in Cambodia, which has changed my thinking of how I look at my surroundings, and has made the positive space snap into focus. I believe leadership is about empathy, it is about having the ability to relate and to connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives. This I did not realize until I moved to Cambodia. What hurts the most is everyone just stands by and says – “oh , how sad, what a tough life these people have and lucky we are to be so blessed, the tourists visit Cambodia for 3-5 days, leave and go about their “blessed” lives. How selfish and heartless so many people have become, only concerned with themselves and have lost in our hearts in how we are all connected. It is hard for me to believe that I have had over 2000 comments on my website blog, without  even$1.00 of a donation from the people that have taken the time to search out this website and blog- voice their opinions and think they have had some impact. HOW SELFISH, get over yourself and donate and make a difference in people’s lives that are living on less than $1.00 a day.   To all the generous people who have donated and supported Water Aid for Cambodia, I thank-you, respect you and you are the people that will change the world. Thank-you , you are the people that keep my heart filled with hope. Scott

Now that I’ve lived in Cambodia since Jan. 2011 we are coming up on our 150th well and passed out over 1000 water filters. We are now concentrating on community wells and promoting sharing within the villages and has been a huge success. I do have to admit I am slowly working my way through all the comments (over 2000) . If everyone who has commented (and I’m not trying to be forward) would donate $5.00 -$10.00 each we could really have some impact. The feeling of being able to accomplish this is the most amazing feeling and truly changes the lives of the villagers who are recieving them. There is so much to say, my mind feels clogged and do not have all the resources dialed in here in Cambodia do quite do the job as I would like to while in Cambodia on the blog,  but am determined to figure this out to be able to share through pictures more of what I am trying to say. I’m exausted, happy, and know that all over the world everyone has thier own set of problems, Cambodia is the 2nd poorest counrty in the world and despertly could use all the help anyone could give. Last month going to and from a village we had been working in (20 km outside Siem Reap) I witnessed 9 deaths in 4 days. It is taking a toll on me but with your support I know we can pull together as the villages have and survive this. Your comments, the villagers, and seeing the change we are making is keeping me going- I don’t want this to sound depressing, but the longer I am in Cambodia, I realize how important this has become- bigger than me, you, all of us- but it is all of us together who can make the difference and change needed to provide the basic human right to have clean water. Much Love from Cambodia, Scott

I’ve been in Cambodia for about two months now, and am trying to get everything up and running on Water Aid for Cambodia’s website. Between being sick and working in the field I am sorry to say it has been a chore getting things to work properly. Ly and I will be going to the boarder next week to help supply water to the villager’s that have been displaced due to the fighting on the boarder between Thailand and Cambodia. My email on the website has not worked for the last two months, so if there has been no response I am truly sorry, you can get in touch with me at scott.dukes3@gmail.com until I can get this glitch fixed. I hope to keep everyone updated as much as possible soon with pics to follow- any donations before leaving for the boarder would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to everyone for all your support. Scott Dukes/ Water Aid for Cambodia

WATER !!!!!!!!

I’ve been working on Water Aid for Cambodia for over two years and have met many generous and compassionate people, but during this journey have realized that the people in Cambodia- that we are trying to help with this basic need of water, have no government support and no voice in this issue- they are off the radar- and that these people deserve water as a human right. We are all  inter-connected and need to realize that if we can help with the initial tools  to help these families out of poverty that it will be the first step in this journey to a better life……. and with out water there would be no journey.  I think we often ask ourselves:  If I don’t stop what will happen to me ? What we should be asking is: If I do stop…… what will happen to him/her ? Please help to provide clean water for the villages of Cambodia Thanks, Scott

I’d like to present a challenge to everyone- try to go a day- just a day…. without turning on your faucets, taking a shower, or doing anything that has to do with water- unless you walk to get it. I’ll let you buy it… and won’t restrict you on money, remember you have to start the day with out any water. It won’t be easy ! Please, share your comments and in this process think if you had to do this everyday ! It’s CRAZY- Water should be available to everyone and should not take up your whole day trying to obtain it.  Good Luck, Scott

I want to skip ahead to present day and let everyone know what Water Aid is doing in real time. A good friend of Ly’s, Mary Paula has also been very generous to Water Aid and worked in Cambodia recently with Ly as well on such projects as school uniforms, water filters and was very generous to an orphanage in Siem Reap during her last stay in Cambodia. We have also recieved donations from Lianne in Singapore, (I will send your pics soon Lianne) Paula from New York and Michael from California recently. “Good Times” a non-profit from Rome, Italy donated and distibuted forty water filters in Aug. during their stay in Siem Reap with Ly and was a huge hit at the village they worked in. He (Federico) also informed me that they would like to do it again in December, Thank-you to Federico ! Finally, John from California made it to Siem Reap and helped to pass out 16 water filters and left his motorcycle in our water filter warehouse- Thanks John ! (Don’t worry, it will be in Siem Reap when you come back.) I would also like to thank Brian-my friend who has put together Water Aid for Cambodia’s website-pro-bono, as well as getting me up on my computer skills, Thank-you, thank-you and thank-you to everyone that has given to Water Aid over the years. Enjoy the pictures, Scott