On April 26, 2022, Keppel Land held two ceremonies to hand over the water filtration systems to the authorities of Bao Thuan and Dai Hoa Loc communes respectively in Ben Tre province through the Living Well project, after one year of planning, inspection and installation works.
Living Well, an initiative developed by Keppel Land, aims to provide clean water to the communities in Mekong Delta where the locals have been affected by saltwater intrusion.
Sponsored by Keppel Land, the water filtration systems are able to produce 12,000 litres of clean water a day for domestic use. With the Living Well project, the local people in Bao Thuan and Dai Hoa Loc communes, which were severely hit by drought and saltwater intrusion, will be able to have better access to clean water.
Mr Dang Van Quyt (75 years old), a resident of Binh Hue 2 hamlet, Dai Hoa Loc commune, said: “We are very excited to have better access to clean water every day. For the last few years, we struggled a lot when the saltwater intrusion came. Due to our coastal location, the water source in our wells was intruded by saltwater. This also happened to the water supply system of the local authority.”
Mr Dang Van Quyt taking clean water home on his bicycle.
Mrs Dang Thi Luy (76 years old), said: “I have been living alone for almost 10 years on government welfare. If I am required to buy clean water as part of my living expenses, I must spend VND100,000-150,000 per cubic metre. Therefore, this water filtration system is very convenient and cost-saving for me.”
Mrs Luy, who lives alone for almost 10 years on government welfare in Dai Hoa Loc commune, now has clean water for daily use.
Speaking at the ceremonies, Mr Joseph Low, President (Vietnam) of Keppel Land said, “We are heartened to be able to touch the lives of about 20,000 villagers through the Living Well initiative, which will bring clean and potable water to the two most drought-stricken areas around the Mekong Delta.”
Mr Joseph Low (right), President (Vietnam) of Keppel Land, with Mr Truong Cong Ly, Chairman of Dai Hoa Loc commune People’s Committee (left) at the handover ceremony for the water filtration system.
Keppel Land has been present in Vietnam since the early 1990s and is one of the largest foreign real estate investors in the country. For the past three decades, Keppel Land’s CSR campaigns have focused on environmental stewardship, especially on fighting climate change, as well as social responsibility. In line with Keppel’s Vision 2030, Keppel Land places sustainability at the core of its strategy and operations. In 2022, Keppel Land celebrates its 30th anniversary in Vietnam with a series of activities, including Living Well project.
This meaningful project was organised in collaboration with Keppel Infrastructure, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, and Tien Phong Newspaper.
To further strengthen its commitment to giving back to the communities where it operates, Keppel Land plans to replicate this initiative in more areas in Vietnam as well as in other countries in Asia.