Solar energy brings clean water to schools in Vietnam
Our joint project with ActionAid Vietnam has made good progress in improving access to safe drinking water for schools affected by climate change and saline intrusion. Over the past few months, three solar-powered reverse osmosis filtration systems were installed in local schools. The initiative now directly benefits more than 3,300 students and teachers, and indirectly over 6,000 parents and guardians.
Water purifier brings joy to children at Tran Van An Primary School
At Tran Van An Primary School in Long Duc Ward, Tra Vinh Province, access to safe water was once a daily struggle. The area is among the regions most affected by saline intrusion and climate change. The school relied on borewells and stored rainwater, which became scarce and unsafe during the dry season. Many children had to bring water from home or buy it from nearby shops, where the quality was often uncertain.
“There were hot days when I was thirsty but didn’t dare to drink the school’s water,” recalled Thach Thi Ngoc Anh, a student at the school. “I had to wait until recess to go out to buy water from a shop nearby. Sometimes the water had a strange taste. I would occasionally suffer from abdominal pain and have to miss school as a result.”
In partnership with ActionAid Vietnam and the Support Programme for Development of Tra Vinh City, a solar-powered reverse osmosis filtration system was installed at the school. The system purifies up to 70 litres of water per hour and now provides safe drinking water for all students and staff. Powered by solar energy, it is both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. A trained staff member oversees operation and maintenance to ensure safe and long-term use.
Only a few months after installation, the difference has been clear. Students are healthier and happier, and cases of waterborne illness have dropped. “Now I just need to bring a reusable bottle to the faucet, fill it up and drink it all day. The water is cool, clear, and it tastes good. I no longer have abdominal pain, and my mother is no longer worried,” shares Ngoc Anh happily.
“We are extremely happy to receive timely support from donors. In the past, the school budget was limited, so it was not possible for us to provide safe drinking water for students. Now it is different. The students are healthier. Absence rate is lower. Parents also feel safer when sending their children to school. I am a manager, a teacher, and a parent, so a child’s wellbeing is very close to my heart,” shared Ms Pham Thi Dieu, Vice Principal of the school.
Installation of water filtration system
Ngoc Anh filling up her water bottle
Students enjoying water during recess
Educating communities on safe water access
Tran Van An Primary School has become a model for other schools in the region. Its success is inspiring neighbouring communities to adopt similar initiatives. The water filtration systems were also installed at Kim Dong Primary School and Ly Tu Trong Secondary School. Together, they directly benefit over 3,300 students and teachers. Close cooperation between schools, local authorities, and stakeholders ensured smooth project implementation.
Beyond immediate results, the project helps build community awareness of sustainable water solutions. It also encourages local government departments to replicate the model in other schools and communities.
Later this year, ActionAid Vietnam plans more awareness-building activities, including training sessions and an online campaign about waterborne diseases. Plans are also in place to provide water fountains and reusable bottles for 2,500 children in six schools.
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