From January to April 2025, I worked with a local Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) NGO in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Clear Cambodia specializes in BioSand Filters, a point-of-use slow sand filtration technique that has significantly improved water quality in rural Cambodia.

During my internship, I prototyped a compact version of their BioSand filter, designed and implemented a 2-month experiment to test the prototype, assisted in their transition from concrete to plastic filters, provided critical documentation for their team and interviewed users for a market analysis. I created a mentorship group of industry professionals and professors from UBC and UW to provide guidance (Ray Cantwell, William Anderson, Leili Abkar, and Zeina Baalbaki). I received funding and support for this experience from the Loran Award. 

I navigated culture differences and a language barrier while discovering and getting to know some of the most interesting, resilient, and kind people I've ever met. Everything I learned is shared here!