Water Sanitation Delegate Returns From Indonesia
By Megan Marshall, Red Cross Public Affairs volunteer
For many Canadians, a broader awareness of environmental issues has only become heightened in recent years. But for Red Cross Water Sanitation delegate Ena Kuang, the need to use water sustainably has been on her mind for a long, long time.
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Ena Kuang at work in Indonesia. | |
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Kuang’s experience over the last 10 years with the Red Cross has seen her in Puerto Rico, Mozambique, Tanzania, and most recently Indonesia. She has worked on a variety of water sanitation assignments – from coordination of emergency response, to recovery, reconstruction and long-term development.
It is interesting to return home to Canada and see that there are similar issues of environmental damage and the beginnings of water scarcity, she says.
“We are very lucky here,” said Kuang. “Our standard of living is generally good. You can turn on the tap whenever you need it and have drinkable water – not everyone has this water quality - or even quantity- and we need to appreciate it.”
Kuang’s recent role looked to further build the water sanitation capacity of the Indonesian Red Cross society.
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Water Sanitation project in Indonesia. |
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The PHAST model has the community identify their own sanitation problems, generate and prioritize solutions, and prepare and implement their community plan of action. It aims to bring about awareness and behavior change - in particular around drinking clean water, the use of latrines, and of washing hands.
As hygiene promotion has a large human component, sharing both resources and information is key for success.
Kuang says working with her national society counterparts, training local staff, observing the local regulations and practices, and coordinating with other non-governmental organizations all were an important part of her role.
“Good engineers connect people,” said Kuang. “We contribute the most when we are not just focused on technical elements. We are dealing with people and their needs, so our interventions must take into consideration local conditions, culture and custom - whether in emergency scenarios or longer-term scenarios.”
While Kuang is currently on a break from international postings and is adjusting back to life in Calgary, she keeps connected to world events in case an opportunity arises and her awareness and skills are needed.
“Once you are in this kind of work you are continuously monitoring what is going on in the world...in case [The Red Cross] comes calling”.
