Hi, welcome to our blog!

Project Naqua means a lot to us, and we want to share our reflections and learnings behind this journey with you.

Click on the tabs above, to read more about the thoughts of the people behind this project.

Kelvin
Founder, Year 4 Accountancy and Business Student

Kelvin has been involved in the Social Enterprise (SE) sector since 2007 and has advised on various SE projects in Singapore and beyond. While working on a project in Kathmandu, he learnt about the water and sanitation problems in rural nepal. This motivated him to start his very own SE, focusing on the issue of Arsenic contamination.

Biqi -
Year 1 Business and Social Science student
 

Biqi may be new to this whole arena of Social Enterprise, but she is exploring and learning. With a keen and genuine heart for SE, she is chasing a dream to impact many lives out there with Project Naqua. And while she is busy with school, she is always up for good music, a good movie or a book to take her mind off things.

Mei Jiao
Year 1 Economics and Business student

Newly on board the team, Mei Jiao hopes Project Naqua will grow to bring clean water to more  people. She wants to learn more about social enterprises in between meeting deadlines and differentiating utility functions. When she’s not being a boring busy beaver, she enjoys baking bread, reading and listening to happy music.

Ruishan
Year 1 Business student

Rui Shan’s interest in social entrepreneurship grew ever since she went on an Overseas Community Involvement Programme to Cambodia a few years ago. Intrigued by social problems that people in less developed nations faced, she aspires to make a difference in these people’s life and wants to do so by first reaching out to Nepalese who do not have access to clean water. Other than that, she enjoys experiencing, seeing and finding out new things through travelling and interacting with people.

Jamie
Year 3 Business and Accountancy Student

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie has been involved in several other social entrepreneurship projects before Naqua. She was first drawn into the concept of social entrepreneurship because the thought of being able to come up with innovative (business) ideas to change the social landscape seemed more meaningful and challenging than anything else she knew of then. Despite already being a full-fledged adult, her belief in life is to stay as curious about the world as a child would.

Leonard -
Year 3 Accountancy And Business Student

Recruiting New Members!

Now recruiting! We want to grow our team, and are looking for 2 freshmen who are Passionate about social entrepreneurship; Self-motivated independent learners; and are Committed to our cause and project for the long term. Contact us if you’d like to find out more!

Job description:

We need people to help manage financials and research, as well as plan the implementation of the project in Nepal. Mentorship will be provided.

Organisation description:

Naqua aims to alleviate the issue of groundwater Arsenic contamination in Asia through our core activities:

1. Installing large scale water filters in schools

2. Conducting educational workshop for families about the issue of water contamination and

3. Promoting the sales of family filters  

What is so special about Naqua?

· We create demand for drinking clean water through education
· We create change that has a measurable and quantifiable outcome
· Our model of operation is scalable
· It is revenue generating and financially self-sustaining
· It reinvests cashflows in projects in other areas

Partnering Mywaterbottle

Naqua has partnered mywaterbottle Singapore, a non-profit campaign to encourage more Singaporeans to use their own refillable water bottles, instead of buying or taking single-use bottled water.

All proceeds from the sales of refillable water bottles will go towards water projects like ours.

Do visit their Facebook group to buy a refillable water bottle, find out more details about the project, and get news about relevant water issues!

Reminiscing About How It All Started

It must have been more than a year ago when the idea of Naqua was born. I am typing this recount from my chair in my dormitory in Mannheim, Germany during my semester abroad. Time has flown by but the memories of how Naqua came about is still clearly etched in my mind.

 It started off with Kelvin and myself being interested in taking part in the Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (or GSEC in short), a social entreprenuership business plan competition organised by the University of Washington. We then married elements of two different projects that were ongoing in SMU-ISE at that time – Project Lil’ Mustard Seed (Nepal) and Project Flows (Water Treatment). Many people always ask “Why Nepal?” because of its distance from Singapore, making it difficult for us to have as much control over the running of the project as we would like.

Kelvin and I were both involved in Project Lil’ Mustard Seed (we were from different generation teams though), and it was regarding a collaboration with a social enterprise based in Nepal. We made a trip down to Nepal on seperate occasions, and one thing (out of many others) that really struck us was how clean water was not readily available. Sure, we can buy them in shops, but I was just not used to having to drink and cook from a seperate container that was filled up by a big water truck that comes by once or twice a month. And we were living in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. I didn’t dare to imagine what it must have been like for people living in more rural places.

So back to our humble beginnings at GSEC – we roped Leonard in and worked on an elaborate business plan for submission and we were delighted to be one of the shortlisted teams to get the opportunity to present our idea at Seattle, Washington. We had a fantastic experience there – all (save for one other team and ourselves) of the 16 or so teams there comprised of Masters students so we had great exposure to people who had much more experience than us. Our original idea involved the setting up of Village Water Treatment Plants and its ownership by the village. We received great feedback from judges who were from the field of social entrepreneurship (one of them even lived in Nepal for about 10 years!). That was a lovely experience but we were far from having actually changed the lives of any Nepalese.

Kelvin was abroad in Germany for a semester of exchange, and all he could think of after GSEC was Naqua, Nepal and nothing much else. I have to say that I was really blown away by his passion to take action – I recalled clearly that he told me that despite him being in Germany, his heart was already in Nepal and that was where he thought he should be.

And he booked tickets to fly to Nepal which was for one week after he returned to Singapore (after spending half a year abroad). I think his mum probably wasn’t too pleased but there was only so much you can do when your son wants to change the world.

When Kelvin came back to Singapore, we (Kelvin, Leonard and Alfred-an observer for GSEC and was also part of Project Flows) had meetings about what could be executed there, and who we were in contact with, and what support we could provide for him when we were in Singapore. Through these meetings, and Kelvin’s discussions with NGOs that were involved in hygiene and sanitation causes, we revamped our model and changed it to starting out in schools and using the schools to extend the reach to the rest of the community.

It wasn’t long before he left, and he kept us updated about daily activities. How he was able to join an NGO on a field trip out in the rural areas to see their execution of their projects. How he the Principal of the school was not keen on co-funding/building the filter. How he was having uncertainties about the smooth running of the water sanitation and hygiene workshop that was to be organised because of a strike in the country (apparantly if you drove a car during a strike, they would burn it). On our side, we search for as much information we could for him when he faced difficulties – finding what would be good lucky draw gifts as an incentive for mothers to come down and attend the workshop (not the typical-Singapore lucky draw with television sets or coffee-makers to be won. We were looking for resources such as animals that would help increase economic opportunities for the poorer villagers).

There were just so many things Kelvin was doing, but I was almost just as excited to receive messages from his Nepal mobile number about something new that happened everyday. Not long after, he returned to Singapore having built a filter for a school that provides clean water to (insert number when I have re-confirmed with Kelvin, but should be in the thousand) students, educated about 50 mothers about arsenic contamination in the water and importance of consumption of clean water and hygienic practices.

And I forgot to mention that Kelvin paid for the entire thing himself – the air ticket, the living expenses there, and even the building of the actual filter (it was co-funded by the school). It might not be a lot to some people out there but I think that this amount of money was pretty significant to him because he had other stuff he was working on which could very well use that amount of money.

This is such a long (and probably boring to read with so many words and no pictures!) recount of how things started and went along but it doesn’t just stop here. Let me continue another time about what we discuss in our subsequent meetings – the out-of-the-world ideas we thought of to increase the scalability ad economic viability of this project.

FAQ

BACKGROUND

How is Project Naqua different from the usual community service project?

We are looking into developing a sustainable social enterprise model for our project. With that, your contribution will serve as seed-funding to generate revenue that will be channeled towards giving more people access to clean water, creating rippling effects in the community.

Currently, we would look at collecting 5 rupees from each student per month. This money will go partly back to the school, and partly towards the funding of arsenic filters for other schools.

Why is there arsenic in the water?

Naturally, trace levels of arsenic is found in the Earth’s crust. Arsenic was naturally transported by the river systems of Himalaya and adsorbed onto fine-grained iron or manganese oxyhydroxides, which were then deposited in flood plains and buried in the sedimentary column. The arsenic compounds are today present in the sediments and groundwater of the low regions south of the Himalaya such as the Terai region of Nepal.

In addition, human activities such as the extensive use of arsenical pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, etc. in agricultural land enrich the soil with arsenic compounds. Leaching of enriched soil by precipitation then contribution to this problem by contaminating groundwater with arsenic.

What are the health issues brought about by arsenic contamination?

The symptoms of the adverse health effects can be divided up into the acute health effects and the chronic effects. The former are those that occur directly after a brief exposure of high concentrations, and involves effects on the central nervous system, leading to coma and for doses from 60 to 180 mg, for an adult human being, to death

The chronic effects occur gradually over time, and develop after a long term exposure of low levels of arsenic concentrations. Long-term exposure to this poison through drinking water and/or food can result in adverse health effects including dermal diseases such as melanosis (dark and light spots on the skin) and keratosis (hardening of skin on hands and feet); vascular diseases; birth defects; low IQ; cancer of lung, kidney, skin, and others.

How severe is the issue of arsenic contamination?

In the southern Terai region, more than 1,400,000 people are affected by Arsenic contamination in ground water sources. In recent years, the government has carried out blanket testing on the level of arsenic contamination in wells in the region. The wells with the most dangerous levels of arsenic contamination are sealed off, but there remain wells contaminated with arsenic that people drink from. Although not severe enough to kill one immediately, drinking water contaminated with arsenic would take a toll on health in the long run as shown above.

What is the particular community you are targeting in Nepal?

We are targeting the Terai region of Nepal, beginning from the district of Birdiya.

PROJECT NAQUA DETAILS

Why do we choose to address this problem? Is it a significant issue for the community?

Yes. Without good health to begin with, the success of other efforts to improve the lives of the community, such as through education, will be limited.

What is our primary goal?

We hope to educate families about the effects of arsenic poisoning, and persuade those who are currently drinking from contaminated wells to purchase small arsenic filters for their homes.

What is our method of achieving that goal?

The funds that we raise go towards the construction of an arsenic filter for schools. This will be used as a platform for us to educate the families about the problem of arsenic contamination.

Before the filters are constructed, consent forms are sent out to the family of the student. The consent forms would also include questions that will help us identify the families who are drinking from contaminated wells. These families will then be targeted and invited to the educational workshop conducted at the school.

Why are families not purchasing the small home filters?

The small filters are subsidized by the UN and affordable. However, as the effects of arsenic poisoning are not immediate, families do not see the severity of the health issue. Hence, it is difficult to encourage families to buy filters for their homes.

What will happen at the educational workshop?

Families will be taught about the effects of arsenic poisoning on health, and the importance of drinking clean water. After that, families will be introduced to the small home filters which they can purchase.

If our primary goal is for education about arsenic poisoning, why must we first construct a filter in the schools? Is it possible to reach out to parents through workshops without building the filters in schools?

It is not easy to get people to come down for educational workshops in Nepal. Also, we hope that the educational workshop can be targeted only at those who are drinking from contaminated wells, for greater efficiency. The consent forms handed out to the families before the construction of the filter contain questions that will help us identify the affected families.

In addition, in order to solve the health issues from drinking contaminated water, children should have access to clean water both at home, and in school. Even if we manage to reach out to families through workshops and can get them to purchase the home filter, children will still be drinking contaminated water in school if no filters are built there. The constructed filter in schools would also open doors to helping in promoting the small home filter.

What is Naqua’s role in this project?

Naqua would help to source for loans from investors for the school filters. We also highlight the importance of measuring results to the NGO, such that they track statistics such as the number of parents who are aware of the effects of arsenic poisoning. We implement the educational workshops that are essential in improving knowledge about arsenic contamination and generating demand for clean water. Next, we also bring in the concept that the filters can in fact be seen as an asset that generates funds for the school (be it through the 5 rupee payback model, or other business possibilities such as the sale of water).

How is payback being achieved?

The filters will only be constructed if at least 85% of families agree to the payment of 5 rupees per month. The funds that are collected will partly be channeled back to the school, and will partly be for the construction of filters in other schools.

Is the payment of 5 rupees affordable?

Yes. 5 rupees is the price of a cup of tea. The price of school fees per month for primary school children is around 200 rupees.

How viable is this payback model?

Based on discussions with our NGO partner, this model is currently the most feasible for ground conditions.

What is the maintenance cost for the filters built in schools?

The iron nails in the filter would have to be replaced every 5 to 10 years at a cost of 10 -20 USD. Also, the filter will be protected from abuse by a structure surrounding it.

FOR DONORS

Is this a long-term project? What happens when the current batch of students working on this project graduates?

While the execution of the project is supported by SMU students, the main leaders of the project (Kelvin, Leonard, Jamie, Biqi, Ruishan, Meijiao, Zhanghan) will remain the same.

I’m interested to contribute to your project as a corporate donor. What is the benefit for my company?

We will naturally acknowledge your support with the following:

• Video documentation – showing merits of your contribution in Nepal
• Photo Archive – Ready to publish collection of project photos with narration, suitable for media release or other company publications
• Detailed write-up – on use of funds and social impact
• Company logo featured on our official website, blog and facebook group

In addition, we are open to any suggestions from you on other ways in which we can collaborate

How was the success of the pilot project’s 5 rupee payback model?

The pilot project focused on the social aspects, as we worked on details such as local contacts, and modified our project to suit the local conditions. The revenue model has not been implemented and will be tested this May.

a hello from newbie!

I’m interested to learn more about social enterprises, to explore ways for a sustainable impact on the community apart from merely giving a one-off donation/service with a charity model.

Yet, it is one thing to read about the amazing social enterprises out there, and another to try and work on one yourself. Project Naqua is my first step into working on one, and as we worked on the project, we slowly discovered the limitations there are on the ground, and the difficulties and innovation needed in coming up with a model that is effective. It has made me even more appreciative of the amazing work that social entrepreneurs around the world have come up with. I’m learning bit by bit as I fumble along and I have a lot more to learn. I hope we’ll be able to grow Project Naqua, and bring clean water to more in Nepal.

Right now, we’re looking for funding for our project, before progress can continue. We’re still looking at another $12,000 at least, to build filters for 5 schools in May. The figure’s daunting, and I do hope our efforts will bring in the needed funding by May!

Touchdown

After 2 flights and a 10 hour transit in Delhi, I finally arrived in Kathmandu this afternoon. On the flight from Delhi, I kept looking out of the window to spot the himalayan peaks and occasionally studied the GPS to figure out how long more it will take before i finally touch down. I was excited. After having scrimp and saved for months (just for this trip), I felt a sense of purpose and a sudden rush of energy as I finally walked off the plane.

Picking on Morteson’s experience, I picked the taxi driver who seemed the least interested. On the way to Rosa’s factory, memories of my first trip to Kathmandu ran though my mind like it was yesterday. I spoke to the driver about the political situation in Nepal and about his family. When he mentioned that he had 2 schooling children, I spotted a smile,

There was also a special feeling walking into Rosa’s factory once again. The sewing machines were neatly arrange and the women were busy cutting and putting pieces together. I hope my box of chocolate gave them some encouragement. I knew how seldom such things come by. Yet, I can’t help but admit how lucky Nithu and Sanjita actually are to be part of Project Little Mustard Seed (LMS).

Michelle’s contribution, the team’s hardwork (not forgetting Jamie of course) and Rosa’s devotion to nurturing this little enterprise has clearly raised the quality of life for the 5 or 6 seamstress. I always believed in numbers. Impact. Scale. But for once, I stopped to recognize how important it is to touch just one person’s life.

If not for LMS, Rena would probably not be able to make it to school given how poor her family was. If not for this enterprise which favors empowerment, Sarros will never have been able to demonstrate his talent for cutting and replicating whatever he sees. In a society still deeply rooted in the caste system, he was never allowed to touch the scissors in his father’s workshop and was only allowed to sew. This, I thought to myself, is empowerment.

So, here I am. In Nepal once again, but for a different purpose. I have read much about the issue of Arsenic contamination in the Southern Terai Region but I am finally here to do my part towards improving the conditions. Our commitment to startings a new social enterprise focusing on water and sanitation (WATSAN) issues have brought us from the drawing boards of SMU, to the pitching sessions in Seattle and to Nepal at last.

We will be updating about the progress of our project shortly