CAWST partner recognized in ACGC Top 30 Under 30 during Canada's International Development Week

Wanndet Dim is a busy man and, with a whirlwind trip to Canada now in his schedule, he's about to get busier. Currently, Wanndet is the WASH Training Resource Centre Coordinator for the WASH Skills Development Organization (WASH SDO), headquartered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Every day, he focuses on advancing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In the time he's been with WASH SDO, he's been instrumental in increasing WASH knowledge across the country.

"I like organizing training and also being a trainer," says Wanndet. "We have lots of topics but my favourite is 'what is WASH?' So—the basics of knowledge. Some people think that it's just a simple thing but, when we look deep into it, it's not that simple."

Approximately two million Cambodians lack access to safe water and three million lack access to sanitation

Cambodia is a country of more than 16 million people, and the majority live in rural areas where they are disproportionally impacted by a lack of access to safe water and sanitation.

"Cambodia has a national action plan, to reach [The United Nations'] Sustainable Development Goal Six by 2030," says Wanndet. "So I hope that Cambodia will have safe water for everyone, not only in the cities or in the urban areas, but also in the rural parts."

It's a lot of work and in the middle of it all, Wanndet is packing his bags for a very busy week in Canada where he will meet with CAWST staff and stakeholders in the WASH sector, the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC), and receive an award recognizing his efforts.

Recognizing people like Wanndet: International Development Week and the ACGC

Every year, during the first full week of February, International Development Week takes place in Canada. It was created by the Government of Canada in 1991 to “shine a spotlight on Canadians’ contributions to eradicating poverty and to a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world." The theme is #Go for the Goals, a call for Canadians to act to support the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The week involves everyday Canadians, the private and philanthropic sectors, schools, community organizations and the general public, as well as Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa and its missions around the world. Through Feb. 5–11, international development stakeholders will collectively host over a hundred events across the country and internationally. One of those events is the ACGC annual Top 30 Under 30 Awards Ceremony, created to recognize and amplify the work done by young people to help achieve the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals.

Wanndet Dim: Top 30 Under 30

Arriving in Calgary, Alberta, on Feb. 4, Wanndet will visit the ACGC in Edmonton Feb. 6 to share insight into his work in Cambodia and how climate change has impacted the communities WASH SDO partners with. Registration for this can be done through the link below.

Wanndet will return to Calgary, where CAWST is located, for the Top 30 Under 30 awards ceremony at Calgary's Central Public Library on Feb. 9. Award recipients are "selected by a committee of peers, for their commendable work in making the world a more just, fair, and sustainable place for all." This year, the ACGC will fly one international recipient to Canada and have selected Wanndet, who was nominated for the award by CAWST.

"We are very happy, but not surprised, that Wanndet was named for a Top 30 Under 30 award by the ACGC," says Karen Joe, CAWST Global Services Knowledge and Research Advisor. "Those of us who've had the pleasure of working with him in Cambodia are inspired by both his professionalism and his dedication to safe water and sanitation for all Cambodians."

Read more about Global Affairs Canada's International Development week here: International Development Week

Learn about the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation here: About - Top 30 Under 30 (acgc.ca)