Project Coast2CoastIn December 2004 a tsunami of startling magnitude struck

Banda Aceh, wreaking destruction of unprecedented scale inthe region. Eager to provide assistance, a group of youths underthe aegis of West Coast Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC)

decided to embark on reconstruction projects in the disaster-stricken areas; it was hence under such circumstances that

Project Coast2Coast was born in January 2005.

Three years down the road, a few things have changed –renaming of our parent organization to Ayer Rajah –

West Coast CCC, new members, burgeoning waistlines –but our core objectives remain consistent: Project Coast2Coast

reflects our desire to do our bit for local and regionalcommunities, in the process augmenting the sense ofcompassion in our youths, as well as fostering greater

camaraderie and kinship between different communities.

For this iteration, Project Coast2Coast visits the Lvea Em districtoff Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where alarming levels of arsenic

lace many of its natural water sources and directly threatenits peoples' health on a daily basis. Working with ResourceDevelopment International - Cambodia, our team aims to

provide safe, clean drinking water to the children of thevillage school Wat Chroy via construction of a 30,000 litre

rainwater-harvesting system. It is our belief that all childrenshould be entitled to a secure, conducive environmentto play, learn and grow up in - it is armed with this ideal

that we embark on our seventh expedition.

We are very blessed.

With a turn of the tap, fresh, clean water wouldbe available for drinking, washing and cooking.This is not the case in Cambodia.

70% of deaths there are caused by water-bornediseases. Having clean, accessible drinking wateris anything but a privilege. Cambodian peoplehave to live with this problem, EVERYDAY!

Project Coast2Coast Cycle 7 will be lending ahelping hand to the Cambodians. We will be workingwith Resource Development International - Cambodia,a well-established non-profit organization -in developing water harvesting/purification systemsfor rural communities, as well as sharing knowledgeon related technologies.

Through this intimate interaction we also hopeto learn from our Cambodian neighbors,and spark a deep, meaningful relationshipbetween our cultures.

Project Coast2Coast is a youth initiative underthe aegis of Ayer Rajah-West Coast CCC -through our service learning expeditions, we hopeto reach out to neighbouring communities,and explore ways where we can give back to thesociety at large. After enriching experiences invarious parts of Indonesia and India,our 7th venture brings us to Cambodia!

Scientific definition:The normal oxide of hydrogen, with highly distinctive physical and

chemical properties covering 75% of the earth

Dictionary definition:A colourless, transparent, odourless, tasteless liquid which forms the seas,

lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms

C2C Team 7 definition:Developing water technologies and sharing knowledge with our

Cambodian friends to enhance their lives. From humanitarian-aidexpedition trips to the recent children and education project, Project

Coast2Coast Cycle 7 will be venturing into Cambodia! In collaborationwith Resource Development International – Cambodia, the expedition

aims to develop water harvesting/purification systems for the ruralcommunities, as well as sharing knowledge on related technologies.

Putting together an overseas expedition trip is no easy task.It is certainly much more challenging for a group of total strangers

to do so in such a short time frame. However, with the hard workand dedication from the leaders and members of the team,

the expedition would no doubt be a fruitful and memorable one.

The team would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Grace Ng, PBM,Chairperson of Project Coast2Coast for her invaluable advice.

Our heartfelt thanks also to Mr. S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade& Industry and MP for West Coast GRC and Mr. Andrew Chua, PBM,

Chairman of West Coast Citizens’ Consultative Committee, for their kindand generous support. A special shout out to Jetstar Asia for their kindsponsorship as well the donors and grassroots sponsors, for believing in

our cause and supporting us in every way possible.

Official Country Name:The Kingdom of Cambodia, or Kampuchea

Population: 14 million

Capital: Phnom PenhFun Fact: "Phnom" is the Khmer word for "hill".Phnom Penh is named because it was developed from a smallmonastery which had been built on a hill near Mekong River in1372 by a rich Khmer woman named Penh. Phnom Penh literallymeans "Penh's Hill" and became the country's capital about 64years after the monastery was built.

Official Language: KhmerFun Fact: Cambodia has the longest alphabet in the world (74 letters)

Currency: Riel (KHR)Fun Fact: Kien Svay is also known as the Koki Beach18 kilometers away from Phnom Penh, Kien Svay is famous for its‘Water Houses’ - covered platforms built on stilts sunk into the river,which are popular tourist getaways destinations.

Donminant Religion: BuddhismFun Fact: Tonlé Sap means “Great Lake” in KhmerThe flow of the Tonlé Sap (also the biggest freshwater lake in SEA)reverses during monsoon season!

Resource Development International - Cambodia (RDIC)is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the

people of Cambodia by developing and implementingunique resources and appropriate technologies to

empower communities towards sustainable change.

Each year, preventable water-borne diseases killthousands of Cambodians. To tackle this problem,

RDIC have implemented various projects designedto provide clean water to rural villages.

Since 1998, RDIC has done some commendablework to benefit rural Cambodian communities.

In improving the portable water condition,the well-testing program in Kandal province

has already made an impact. Where wellswere found to be dangerous, RDIC has

implemented rainwater harvesting programsand sold affordable ceramic filters to combat

the increased risk posed by bacteria andpathogens associated with surficial water sources.

The result is a clean water source that minimizesthe possibility of developing arsenicosis, potentially

fatal diarrhea, and other dangerous health risks.

The rainwater harvesting systemRainwater harvesting is a cost effective way ofusing natural resources to provide safe, arsenic-freedrinking water.

A 30,000 liter rainwater tank can harvest enoughwater to get a typical large Cambodian schoolthrough the dry season.Rural schools are also thecenter of the community and provide an excellentlocation for a community water supply.

How does it work?1.Gutters are added to the roofs of nearby buildings.2.PVC pipe is run from the gutter to the cylinder tank.3.During the rainy season, the tank fills up.4.Water is diverted to hand washing stations,

into various outdoor filters for drinking water,toilets, or misc. water spigots.

Above all, the community will have a cleansource of water to aid in minimising the cases ofwater-borne diseases.

A foundation of about 5m in diameter and 0.1 meter in depth is dug.It is then filled with stones and concrete.

After forming the shape of the water tank with metal clading andsecuring with wire mesh, plastering of the inner and outer wall begins.

The roof of the tank is also built in a similar fashion.A small shed is built to serve as a water collection point.

Completed tank!

Interactions with the childrenBesides building the rainwater harvesting tank,we also had the opportunity to interact with thestudents from the school.

From the chicken dance to the alphabet song,from ball games to origami, we enjoyed ourselvesas much as the children did.

We realised from these interactions that...Language was no barrier,Age does not matter,Fun has no limits, and...

Laughter is indeed, very infectious.

My name is Serene

Their first attempt of the Chicken Dance

Getting ready for a game of the eagle catches the chicks

Yeah! We won!

Testing the conditions of the water around the villageChronic exposure to arsenic at low levels has apronounced impact on human health. RDI’s assessmentof the quality of ground water in Cambodia led tothe discovery of high levels of naturally occurringarsenic in water all over Cambodia. Those who are atgreatest risk to arsenic related problems are children.The damage caused by arsenic exposure is irreversible.Thus, testing wells and mapping their coordinatesis a crucial part of understanding and combatingthis phenomenon.

Besides checking the arsenic level in the water,other factors such as appearance of the water,presence of odour as well as the quality of thewater are also being tested. Wells that are testedpositive for arsenic are then painted red to preventany further consumption of the water.

Testing the conditions of the water around the village

Education - for a better futureRDI has developed an interactive curriculum thatuses live presentations in the classroom to teachvarious health related lessons. Some activitiesinclude puppet shows, visual demonstrations,and question & answer segments.

Cambodians are not over stimulated with media.Unlike western cultures, puppet shows prove over andover to be highly effective means of communicatingand teaching important concepts to all ages.

What better way to teach about water, than witha frog who knows all about water? What betterway to talk about the private subject of diarrheathan with a little girl puppet telling the studentshow she mixed salt, sugar and water to make aremedy for her younger brother?

Education - for a better future

1 Rainwater Tank... 1 Balloon Flower... 1 Water Bottle1 Cambodian Future

Lin Qingyao– Le OGL

Dec 2004, I was in Cambodia,building a rain-water harvesting system.

Jun 2008, I was in Cambodia again,building another rain-water harvesting system.

Same country, same work. Different person, different mind.

Towards the end of the journey the team sat in the dining hall,stuck in the rain. It was this moment that it hit me that I havegone one full circle, but somehow landing on a different point.

Within the few years, I saw, heard, learnt, experiencedand grown. From the start, it has always been more aboutpersonal development. Being able to help them was reallyjust a bonus. Till now, it is still a lot about me. But now,I am learning how to create the platform for them too.

I believe I have achieved what I set out to do.They opened their eyes, ears and hearts.

From nothing to a concrete tank. It was one of the first timeI felt that they are truly empowered.

To me, RDI embodies true commitment and passion to sustainabledevelopment, maybe even a Robin Hood to this world.

2 weeks have gone, so Where do we go from here?They will have to find their own answers.

When it rains, they smile because of you.

Above all else, it was the learning element which impelledme to sign up for this project. Risking sounding like a

romantic fool, what made this entire process particularlyvaluable was that instead of straightforward answers or an

on-demand feel-good experience, it highlighted morequestions and character development areas, footnoted with

generous mounds of data from observation and feedback.What is the true value and impact of our project?

What does it mean to be a leader?What do the Cambodians see us as?

Revisiting the final image of Huo running after our pickupambling out of the village, I do wonder if we did indeed

take more than we gave, whether we made a real positivechange to his life and others, and whether service had

been sacrificed over learning. It is then that I realizeperhaps such concerns are missing the point: it is not

about weighing the water tank against the affectionsand goodwill received from the villagers, measuring how

much we gave and took; rather, it is about not allowingthe water tank to become the be-all and end-all,

and continue to give, because it is not a zero-sum game.

Along that vein, arriving at definite answers for the questionsabove is also besides the point, as our responses will evolve

even as we grow inwardly – it is then more important to keepasking questions to spark that growth.

That perhaps is the biggest lesson gained from this experience.

Shen Jau– The Nanny

Even as you laugh wholeheartedly along with them, it is insanely difficult to ignore the thought that ill health and

poverty may one day erase those wide, beautiful smiles.

When time has passed and memories become faint, I thinkwhat I will remember would not be the program of our trip butrandom little things like the ‘subway’ we ate, the irritatinggiant gecko, the bonding with the kids and the peals of laughterfrom a bunch of strangers who turned friends on this trip.

There were some tiring moments, but we too,had a lot of amusing and heartwarming moments ~in short, a memory that last a lifetime.

Our first night...

Billy Koh– The Food Bandit

This boy brought me to this sugarcane store when I told him I wanted a drink.He not only lead me there, he also communicated with the stall-holder.This really touched me as we were strangers not long ago yet he was so

helpful after only knowing me for a few days.

This trip has really widened my horizons. I realised that howeasy people can be satisfied. Though people in Singapore

are forever power-hungry and working hard to climb upthe corporate ladder, it is really heartening to see the children

in Cambodia, always carrying a smile on their faces. I feltreally happy interacting with them as I felt that they sincerely

wanted to have fun and play simple games with me. It wasreally a different experience from the Singaporean lifestyle

that I have experienced for my entire life.

Though the physical conditions were not fantastic, I really enjoyedmy stay there, especially mingling with the children. I hope

that our short stay there made a differenceto their life, be it thewater tank we left there or the songs we taught them etc.I will want to go back to contribute if I have a chance to.

Chuan Ting– Queen Mother

It may not be the sturdiest brick wall, but it is definitely from the heart.

Elaine Lim GCFull time unglam queen/ Part time designer

This was my first overseas expedition with acommunity service slant. I have to say that thiswould definitely not be the last.

I am most impressed by the intensity of the researchand fieldwork conducted by RDI. It is very heartwarmingto know that people are willing to leave their comfortablehomes in developed countries to help the people of aless developed one. This definitely takes a lot of passionand lots of heart for the community. It is also with thisthat I began to question the value of my education.I have never given much thought about how my skillswould eventually serve a bigger cause - it was morelike I want to study this because it is fun. A little self-servingbut I guess this has to do with the environment thatwe are brought up in.

This trip had also given me an opportunity to reflectupon myself and I have come to realise that takingpleasure in the simplest things and being contentedwith what we have seems to be the secret formula toa happy life. It may sound a little too ideal, but I guessyou'll never know until you give it a try. :)

Geraldine– Da Jie

"Strangers on Day 1 but Friends soon after"

To the many children and villagers in Prek Russei Cambodia,we are strangers, the volunteers from Singapore,

the generous donors, the "wannabe" water-tank builders.But very soon, we are friends, family, team buddies and

fellow construction workers. Undaunted by the toughliving conditions, our team has stepped out of our comfort

zones to reach out to the children and villagers, to roll up oursleeves to do construction, and of course, roll up our pantsto play with the kids, have mud fights in the rain and water

fights in the river. Playing with the kids, we see thesincere smiles, contented looks and innocent hearts.

We also see determined faces. Despite the dismal conditions,nothing seems to get them down. Seeing them gives me

a sense of renewed strength and appreciation of life,to live life better. Amazing how we find new perspectivesin unplanned situations and unlikely places. No doubt we

have touched the lives of the children and have becamea memory of theirs. We have made the living conditions

a little better, at least now one with safe water forthe children. We have contributed to them, but little

do they know that what I give them is nothing comparedto the joy they have given me.

Living in a new environment under extreme condition for14 days is no sweat. But staying with 15 new faces,working closely together for 14 days is no joke.

From nothing on the 1st day when we arrived at the village, to atank that actually collected rain water the last day we left.It was a great achievement. Life in Prek Russei is so simple,villagers smiling to me, kids are playing, having fun in the river.

"Simplicity" keeps you away from stress,"Contentment" keeps you happy,"Dreams" keeps you alive,"Goals" keeps your spirit high.

I’ve learn that there are times when you have to give upcertain things, taking a step backward is actually having morespace to take a bigger step forward. I've learnt to lovemyself more, learned to put myself above everything - only whenI'm in a tip-top condition, then I'm able to help and share morethings with more people around me. And helping others is notjust to do it for them, but to help them to help themselves.Sharing thoughts every night allows me to see things in adifferent and wider angle.

As the Chinese proverb says "A wise man learns from experience;a wiser man learns from experience of others."Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences.

Gilbert Chua– Arty-Farty Director/ Construction Head

When you see the smile on their faces..You know it’s the smile that comes from their heart...

Cambodia, a country wrecked from civil warsand poverty, this is not my first trip to Cambodia,

but it is the first trip I truly experienced Cambodia.

I joined this expedition with purely a heart to help.Without expectations of what’s going to be

presented to me, I embarked on my first communityservice trip overseas, with a group of 15 other strangers.

From the initial awarkardness within the group to thegradually warmed up camaraderie we’ve forged,

we have come a long way within a short time.

The locals provided me a valuable insight on what’struly Khmer. Once a proud civilization, but today

a warm country in need of true friendship. Though thehelp we have provided is a tangible object, the trulyintangible help I hoped we had given them is HOPE.

The HOPE to move on bravely into the future.

For myself, it’s back to my country, my family & friends.It is time for me to explore more into my abilities and

skill sets to be able to help more people.

Up, up and away!

Glynis Hong– Missy Designer

Hope and happiness

Han Joo– New media (fake) guru

I thought would be difficult for someone like me whogrew up in the comfort of air-conditioning and electricityto live a back-to-basics life. Surprisingly it was not difficultat all and in fact, I enjoyed the times spent away fromcivilization the most. The team was also absolutely amazing,lovable and always had the never-say-die spirit.

Every other child we met was full of warmth and curiosity.In their eyes, we saw hope. In them, we saw the futureof the war-torn country. With a little help, these childrenmay probably outshine any Singaporean child easily.However, life is not always fair, or should I say,never fair. It was only through interacting with thesechildren that you learn to appreciate life, which isnot only about your grades or material possessionsanymore because you can be truly and equallyhappy without those. At some point of time,they made me feel like an ignorant fool.

There are two reasons why I wanted to join this trip.Firstly, I wanted to do something meaningful since I

had some free time. Secondly, I don’t really knowaboutCambodia so I would like to experience it for myself.

During the trip, I felt a lot of satisfaction when ourteam completed the water tank within the estimated

time and even faster. Besides, I really have a good timeinteracting with the children and the people. It’s quite

refreshing having a taste of the lifestyle of Khmers.

Overall, I really enjoyed myself during the trip.Hope that the water tank will make a differenceto the lives of the students. It’s a great pleasure

to meet very interesting people who have thesame goal. And the goal is to lend a helping

hand to whoever needs it! =)

The home for some Cambodian families.

Hui Min– Master of Big2

People impacted the most for me.Villagers beckoned total strangers like us to comeinto their homes. The children came forth withsincere smiles and played uninhibitedly with us.The Cambodians impressed me with their will to live,in whatever means they can, even in their state ofsocietal uncertainty. I was touched by the devotionRDI volunteers have for their cause; they abandonedcity comforts and stayed to apply their technologicalknowhow to improve the living standards of Cambodians.

The whole team, though of diverse backgrounds,came together by helping each other and playingout each and everyone’s strengths. All of us havethe capacity to do something, and we decide whatto make of our experience. Though the time weshared in Cambodia now turns into memories,we have at least left a footprint, whether deepor shallow, in each others’ hearts. I will definitelyprotect those that I have, and look forward todeepening it in the near future.

Unable to communicate by language, we use actions to convey our ideas to thechildren. Reciprocal signs of affection from them become even more precious.

Hui Qing– Miss Right

This was my first trip to Cambodia. It was alsomy first trip with a mission to help improve

the living conditions of others. Never havingbeen on such a trip, I prepared myself mentally

for things that I have never seen or experiencedfirst-hand. My personal objective for the trip

was to help within my limits and be focused onleaving behind something tangible.

I never prepared myself for the intangible thatCambodia had left behind for me.The children

were becoming restless. We decided to engagethem in something different from the usual song

and dance. So, out came the coloured papers andour imagination. We tried to teach the children

how to fold paper cranes but ended up folding thepaper cranes for them. The children thoroughly

enjoyed themselves but did they learn anything?

I completed a little girl’s paper cranefor her. When she took it back, she pointedat me, smiled and gave me a thumb’s up.

She may not have learnt how to fold apaper crane but she had taught me this –

that we don’t need magic to save the world.

Because going to school is fun...

Jian Fa– Sunshine boy

Simplicity. Perhaps this is the key to the happinessin Cambodians. All of us here are leading suchactivity-packed lifestyles, yet are we truly happy?Life is so simple in Cambodia. Kids are so just fascinatedand engaged in things, like playing in the water, ball games,dominoes (bricks used), climbing trees. I wonder how longchildren in Singapore will be kept occupied by suchsimple activities. The thing is, do they even engage in them?These little Cambodian kids really do find much joy andsatisfaction in their daily activities. The adults also seemhappy just sitting around in their little conversation circlesor waiting for people to come buy their goods. Perhaps itis because they have not seen the world outside and arethus satisfied with their current situation. Children learn howto derive fun with whatever they have.

Living simply for 2 weeks in Cambodia, cut off from theforms of communication; it really feels good to be awayfrom the hectic life back home.

MERRY-go-round in the mud – innocent fun & joy

Kezia Ng– Princess of the lost moment

Before embarking on this trip, I knew very little about waterissues faced by a nation. I had doubts as to how a rain

water harvesting system in a school was going toimprove the lives of thousands of villagers. More importantly,

I was also skeptical about the sustainability of the project.

Being brought up in Singapore, where contaminated water is virtuallyunheard of, I was unaware of the importance of clean water.

From Micky, one of the founders of Resource Development International,RDI, we learnt that half of Cambodia’s children die before the age

of five due to diarrhea from the consumption of contaminated water.

With this knowledge, I realized why RDI places so muchemphasis on identifying contaminated wells and finding

ways to treat contaminated water. Providing clean water is the cornerstone to improve the standard of living for

Cambodians and RDI is at the forefront of it.

During the trip, the living conditions in the school were vastlydifferent from the comfortable lifestyle that I am accustomed to.

This made me realized that things that I had taken for granted mightbe a luxury to people in another part of the world. Clean water,

electricity and even a flush toilet are some such examples. I learntto appreciate the little things in life for one will not realize how

important it is or how inconvenient things will be until it is gone.

My whole experience can be best summed up in a quotation Ionce heard: “For it is in giving that we receive.” For this trip, I felt that

I have gained much more from the Cambodians and fellow team matesthat what I have offered. The lessons that I have learnt will stay on

with me for life and I’ll strive to pass them on to the people around me.

They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Luke CC Lim

Huimin and Geri walking out of Angkor Wat together- that unpretentious ease of new friendship.

“Its 4pm and we are told that we are done for theday by the locals; some are going to bathe in the riverwith Tee whilst some are cycling across the bridge tothe village opposite before the sun sets. I look at thewet cement on the tank and think that it would beanother good day tomorrow”

That was our normal day when we stayed in Cambodia,going through an almost out-of-body experience.It was at some points mind blowing.

Working with the locals like Chanda himself and myteam has been enjoyable. There was a good natured,optimistic atmosphere that made the work that I amunfamiliar with so much more bearable and fun. The senseof community and camaraderie was almost overwhelmingand never once faltered throughout the whole day.

Without a doubt, the cause for the trip was worthy butI also began to see that much more is still needed.The trip is a start to see the social and environmentissues around us and what we can possibly do.

I hope that this start will lead myself to continue totake small societal footsteps without allowing thereality to whitewash my experience in Cambodia.

For now, at least, it has a totally different meaningwhen I walk in the rain back home in Singapore,and John from RDIC said it better – for hope is the future -and tomorrow is indeed another good day.

Serene Ong– The philosophical one

Back to Basics: Water

Proper water to drink was a necessitylacking in the lives of the Cambodians.

In these 2 weeks in the village, I hadexperienced how this simple yet conveniently

neglected commodity is so important andsignificant to the people staying there.

Yet, all is not lost. I feel that it is encouragingthat the children had some head start as

there is a school providing educationfor them. With the help of RDIC, they have

some knowledge about hygiene andwhat they can do to keep them clean,

and to drink water from the filters.

As for us, I am glad that I am one of the 16 pairs of hands that helped build thewater tank. With this, it is sustainable for

them as they will understand how they canprotect their health and improve of the

quality of their lives for a better future.

She ain’t heavy, she’s my sister...

Violet– Food I/C

One day, a young man who was walking along thebeach encountered an old man who was scurryingthrough the surf retrieving starfish and throwing themback into the sea.

He hurried back and forth in a frantic manner.The young man was curious and asked the old man,“Sir, why are you running about and throwingthose starfish back out into the sea? There mustbe thousands of them and the beach stretchesfor miles. What difference does it make?”

The old man paused thoughtfully as he preparedto throw another starfish and then replied,“It will make a difference to this one.”

And he threw it back into the sea.

An interesting story from Team 7 to share...