Because clear doesn't mean clean

Today we are at the home of a Cambodian family in the rural province of Kompong Spue. We are welcomed by the family that lives at this house, as well as by the community leader.

We are here to watch one of our "Clean Water Experts" both educate the community on the importance of safe water and to sell a product to them that will achieve that clean water. The product is expensive though, $22 each, more than most of theses families earn in a week. Therefore we are working with an MFI to test out the viability of using small consumer loans to help families with this purchase. This particular loan will allow them to pay the $22 over the course of 2 years, making the filter much more affordable.

As it was with India, we are warmly welcomed into their community. The presentation is set up outside under a raised home, with several platforms pulled out for the attendees to sit on and watch from. We are quickly offered chairs and the fascination with our white skin is more than clear. Another fascinating thing? The fact that i am 30 and unmarried (apparently grandma isn't the only one afterall). Unlike India though I am not the only source of distraction today. Kendra is here and another American colleague named Ben.

There are about 45 attendees; all but 4 are women. In addition to that there are about 15 children present. And they are adorable.

Connecting with the community leader is extremely important in the sales process. And that connection has clearly been made. A man, about my father's age introduces us and the Clean Water Expert. He smiles a lot and while I don't know what he is saying, I know he is supporting the reason we are here.

Throughout the presentation I move around the space and snap photos. Again I am assured that the photo-taking is more than okay. Children actively pursue me, effortlessly making there way into the frame. Mothers proudly turn their babies to me and smile broadly.

While I am unsure whether I can divulge the actual number of filters that were sold at this single gathering, I can say that it was a successful 90 mins... For sales, and more importantly for education. Even those who could not afford the product, microloan or not, they still walk away with something powerful: the knowledge that clear water isn't always clean water, and that there are ways to prevent the health issues that they and more frequently their children are facing.