A Few Drops Of Water Can Change Lives: A Drop at A Time

In 2010 when local Castle Hill businessman, Craig Hawkins, was courting his wife Hannah, they decided to take a trip to Cambodia. Their guide, Virak, drove them into the mountains to an ancient tower in Battambang, the scene of a shocking massacre during the Cambodian War, now overrun by vines, jungle and monkeys.

Virak introduced them to a local guide, David, who said he took tourists there because of its tragic history. It was there, the Khmer Rouge had rounded up men, women and children, separating them into three different caves, thrown grenades into each cave and fled.

The bodies lie there still. David was one of the fortunate ones. He ran for his life and hid but his entire family died. Craig and Hannah, moved to tears, wanted to know why he would take people to this horrifying place. His simple answer was, ‘…because we forgive, we don’t forget. Without forgiveness, we can’t move on’.

On their first tour of Cambodia, Craig and Hannah were to learn more important information about the country’s history, this time affecting people’s day-to-day lives. They had noticed modern signs along the way showing Virak’s name. He explained this was his initiative to help locals access water via pumps. Craig asked how much each pump cost and on departure, Craig gave Virak $300 to help with his work.

He didn’t think any more about it. A couple of weeks later an email arrived with 12 photos of a water pump being built in Craig’s name. An idea formed in Craig’s mind and he decided to put aside $5 from his fee to his client’s annual review towards a pump project in Cambodia. Over the next 2-3 years, money was sent to Cambodia and the project grew.

In

2014, Hannah and Craig decided to go on a return visit, to spend Christmas looking at water pumps. When Craig mentioned this to one of his clients, $50 was immediately donated. Craig knew something was growing, so he let clients know about the project through his business Facebook page and in-house newsletter. By the time he and Hannah flew to Cambodia, they had enough money for 13 pumps.

Over the last ten years, it has become a self perpetuating exercise.

By 2020, plans had been made to take a team of friends and clients to build more pumps but COVID put a stop to that trip.

In April this year the delayed trip became a reality when Craig took 30 people to Cambodia to create 46 pumps for locals in villages in and around Siem Reap in the north west of the country. The trip consisted of enthusiastic staff members, their partners, family and friends; they dug the 24-metre holes and laid the pipes for the pumps. In one village, 200 families had their lives changed for the better by the three pumps serving their community.

One local woman explained how the pump had been beneficial to her life and that of her daughters. Instead of hand-watering her eggplant crop all day, she could spend time helping her two girls to read and write in English.

The extra water meant she could grow more crops and within two years, she had saved enough money to build a brick house. The pump made everything in her life much easier. One daughter is now at international school studying to become a doctor. This could never have happened without the water pump.

Craig and Virak have a handshake agreement going back 14 years. “I will keep sending money and you will keep digging holes in the ground for the pumps,” Craig said. In a voice full of emotion, he continued, “This all started as an accident, taking a tour with Hannah in the first year of our relationship, driving to a temple 70 miles away from Siem Reap. Seeing modern signs in a developing country made me ask what they were. We never knew it would result in this. It’s been life-changing for us too. People ask me why I do this – I say, … because I can”.

A number of years ago, it was decided to start dedicating water pumps to clients (and family) who had passed away. Around seventy of the pumps have honoured clients in this way in recent years. Without the knowledge of the family, a photograph of the installed pump dedicated to their loved one is framed and given to the family at an appropriate time. This small gesture has been positively received. The photographs are hung in ‘pride of place’ and there has been a lot of emotion expressed in the giving of those framed photographs – on both sides.

In all, Craig and dedicated contributors have built 204 wells, creating opportunities and much happiness. His philosophy is that tiny amounts of money and a small effort can create monumental changes in all our lives. Craig was a proud nominee of the Fred Hollows Foundation 2022 Humanitarian Award.