Soroptimist International Region of Malaysia (SIROM) has embarked on a project to bring "Clean Water to Rural Communities" starting with the village of Long Tanyit in Sarawak.

Long Tanyit is a remote Penan village located 300km from Bintulu in Sarawak. The Penans are part of the "Orang Asal" community in Sarawak and they have long been marginalised and forgotten.

This village has around 300 people living in longhouses and they have no access to clean and safe drinking water for cooking and drinking purposes. Logging activities have resulted in polluted rivers and this has robbed the villagers of their land and livelihood.

Long Tanyit also does not have any electricity, sanitation or clinic!

In Malaysia, childhood diarrhoea remains a leading cause of death in children under 5 years and is directly linked to the consumption of unsafe water and food.

Clean and drinkable water should NOT be a luxury. It is a basic human right and no community should be deprived of it.

Our first step is to raise funds for the following:

1/ Installation of a Rain water harvesting and filtration system to provide clean safe water for drinking and cooking. Storage tanks will also be provided to store water for use during the dry (drought) season.

2/ Construction of a small dam and laying irrigation pipes to start Organic farming which will provide the villagers with a sustainable source of nutritional food and income. Hobson Construction which has set up similar systems in other rural areas will provide the technical expertise. Women welders from the village who are currently undergoing training will assist in laying the pipes.

Please help us improve the lives and livelihoods of the people of Long Tanyit and to empower their women in leading this village out of deprivation.

Thank you very much for your generous support!