Svay Leu is a remote district in Cambodia that endured over three decades of brutal civil war, finally finding peace in 1998. But even after the fighting ended, the scars remain.

Today, families in Svay Leu still live below the poverty line. Basic infrastructure—such as roads, electricity, and clean water—remains critically underdeveloped. Most of the roads are little more than dirt paths, often impassable during the rainy season. These routes are not only unreliable but also dangerous. As recently as February 2025, landmines leftover from the Khmer Rouge era have continued to injure and kill civilians—including children. But the greatest daily struggle is access to clean water.

Residents rely on water from ponds, hand-dug wells, and boreholes to meet all their needs—drinking, cooking, laundry, and gardening. These sources are often unsafe. Boiling the water can help, but firewood is not always available. In many cases, children drink from untreated sources out of desperation and thirst, putting their health at serious risk.