Clean Water, Lasting Connections in Myanmar

 

The Rotary Club of Hawthorn is proud to share that our latest partnership to deliver safe drinking water in Myanmar is underway. The project is being delivered with the support of a Rotary Foundation District Grant.

 

This initiative represents not just another water filter installation, but the continuation of a powerful story of connection, compassion, and community that began over six years ago.  

 

From Nhill to the Mountains of the Karen State

In April 2019, twenty-eight members of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn set out for what would become a transformative weekend in Nhill. This journey began when Noel Halford, our Club Service Director in 2018-19, first connected with John Millington, who shared Nhill’s inspiring story.

Nhill had welcomed 200 Karen refugees from Myanmar, breathing new life into the town. Thanks to the extraordinary leadership of John and Margaret Millington, and the dedication of the Rotary Club of Nhill, the town has become a shining example of acceptance and mutual support.

At a special fundraising dinner showcasing Karen cuisine, our members were deeply moved by traditional dance performances and the stories of young Karen students aspiring to study medicine and give back to their new home. 

What started as an exchange of information soon blossomed into a partnership grounded in shared values and a commitment to making a meaningful difference. 

 

The First Project

Inspired by that unforgettable visit, and in partnership with Disaster Aid Australia, we launched our inaugural water project in late 2020.     
 
Collaborating closely with Fleur Maidment from Rotary Central Melbourne and her Safe Water for Every Child Myanmar team, we installed two SkyHydrant units in a Karen community near the Thai border.
 
Each SkyHydrant provides up to 10,000 litres of clean, filtered water daily, delivering safe drinking water for years to come, without the need for electricity. 
 
The local community was actively involved in installation and ongoing maintenance, received on-site training, and continues to benefit from built-in project support.  
 
 

The Journey Continues

Funds for the second SkyHydrant project were raised at a fundraising dinner held at the Community Centre during our club's second road trip to Nhill in November 2023. 
 
We extend our sincere thanks to the local Karen community for once again preparing a wonderful meal and generously donating all the ingredients. 
 
Thanks to this support, we are now able to embark on our next safe water project. The second village we are assisting is located in the remote mountains of Karen State, with a population of 789 people, a primary school, and a small health clinic.
 
Water testing by the Safe Water for Every Child team revealed that the only water supply from the local stream is unsafe to drink by World Health Organisation standards.  
 
Local clinic staff report that children and adults frequently suffer from waterborne diseases, especially during the rainy season. Children under five are most susceptible, and tragically, many children under five in Karen communities die from preventable waterborne diseases.
 
This new project will install a SkyHydrant MAX water filter along with the necessary infrastructure, including water tanks, roofing, and piping, to provide clean drinking water for both the school and village. 
 
WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) education will be provided in the Karen language, and community caretakers will be trained to maintain the system.   
 
This latest project will commence in the first half of 2026. The Safe Water team will continue monitoring and evaluation, ensuring the system functions properly and the community has the support it needs. 

A Model of Collaboration

This project is being delivered by the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, with support from a Rotary Foundation District Grant, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Nhill, Disaster Aid Australia and Thailand, and Safe Water for Every Child Myanmar.    

Katrina Flinn from Rotary Hawthorn serves as the primary contact, coordinating the logistics and partnerships that make this work possible.

Fleur Maidment from Rotary Central Melbourne continues to lead the Safe Water for Every Child Myanmar program on the ground, bringing technical expertise and strong relationships with the Karen community.

The Safe Water for Every Child Myanmar team, composed of local staff, will implement the project, train community caretakers, and provide ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and support.

The Karen community in Nhill provides a crucial cultural bridge, connecting their new Australian home with family and friends still in Myanmar and Thailand.    

Disaster Aid Australia and Disaster Aid Thailand contribute technical expertise and logistical support, ensuring supplies reach the remote mountain village. 

 

Safe Water, Secure Futures

In a region where communities have endured decades of conflict and still face the constant threat of attacks or forced displacement, this lightweight, portable filtration system offers a measure of security. If families are forced to flee, they can take the filter with them.     
 
During natural disasters, it continues to provide safe water without the need for electricity and reduces the need to cut wood for boiling, helping to protect the environment.    
 
Children will miss fewer days of school, and adults will lose less work time to preventable illnesses. Families won’t have to spend their limited resources on medicines for waterborne diseases. 
 
The simple act of turning on a tap to access safe drinking water has the power to transform daily life.  

Rotary Values

This project covers all seven areas of Rotary focus: providing clean water and sanitation, fighting disease, improving maternal and child health, promoting peace, supporting education, and protecting the environment. 

It connects three Rotary clubs across two districts, multiple partner organisations, and two continents. It builds on years of relationship-building and trust. 

Most importantly, it answers a community-identified need with a sustainable, appropriate solution that the Karen people will own, operate, and maintain long-term.    

Our club members who made that journey to Nhill in 2019, and those who have remained engaged with this work, can attest to how the experience has enriched our understanding of what it means to be Rotarians.     

We've seen firsthand how the values we espouse - service above self, international understanding, peace through service - can create real, lasting change.      

 

To learn more about the Karen community in Nhill, read the SBS article "The Karen Road to Nhill": 
https://www.sbs.com.au/voices/creative/the-karen-road-to-nhill/pzskeosfk 

 

Posted by Mark Pinoli on Dec 29, 2025