AP Residents Keep Active with Summer Break Activities

AP residents Roth and Sreyphea
collect and measure the water
transported vertically using the
second water pump model. 

Innovative Do-It-Yourself projects take a lot of trial-and-error, patience, testing, calculating, recording, and making improvements by thinking outside the box. The AP residents are all learning these attributes as they take on an exciting new project guided by English teacher Rob. The project introduces a basic water pump, all constructed with items found in most Cambodian households. The pump can be used to transport water vertically or across horizontal distances and does not require petrol, diesel or any other fuel for operation. As the children know well, these water transport needs are very relevant to life in Cambodia, particularly in the countryside where many households lack access to electricity and where people are required to walk long distances to access water for home or farm use.

In the last two months the AP residents worked with Rob to develop two versions of the water pump. The first model pumped water from the ground to the first level of the Aziza’s Place building (a vertical height of 3.1 meters) at a rate of just over 2 liters in 3 minutes, using hosepipe, a bucket, and physical arm-power (to rotate the bucket). All calculations were made by the AP residents. They are currently working with models that can later be scaled up in size for increased capacity. Their efforts to make improvements with the second model were impressive. Adding in a bicycle wheel and adjusting the hosepipe to work more effectively, the second water pump moved 10 times the volume of water – 21.7 liters of water up a vertical height of 3.1 meters in 3 minutes! The next step has been to power the water pump using a swing. You can see the children enjoying these results on video here.

The project has been recorded online for others around the world to participate, make comments and try their hand at producing improved results. See the Water Pump Instructions online. The AP children have been inspired – we all look forward to seeing their future results from the next new and improved versions!