Its Official!
We are now an incorporated Not-For-Profit Organization. It was a bit of a wait but certainly worth it. Now our next step is to apply for charitable status and be able to issue tax receipts for qualified individuals. This is estimated to take at least a year. Meanwhile a few dollars can go a long way in Laos. For example a $50 dinner for two buys a water filter for a family of 6 or 8 for years to come, saving the agony of illness caused by water borne bacteria.
Please note that our current directors are as follows;
President: Steve Rutledge
Secretary: Cleve Pendock
Treasurer: Ron Coleman
As we prepare our next submission to the government, I am currently in Luang Prabang preparing for a revisit to Pha Yong and Had Chanh Villages. I have now purchased school supplies and will be purchasing gifts for the children of these villages. We already have donated Tshirts, toothbrushes and toothpaste. While we didn't have enough space to bring more, there will be at least two new toothbrushes per family - currently they share one toothbrush per family!
Tomorrow I am off with Mr. Somnuek Bounsa, manager of Le Belair Resort to visit the District Vice Governor, a Hygiene official and an Education official from the Muang Ngoi District, followed by a vist to three villages including the one village that currently uses a mud hole as their water source. This is the village that I will likely be giving final approval for the sponsorship or a new water source.
Following that, on Tuesday we are expecting a large shipment of 155 water filters to arrive in Luang Prabang and onwards to Nong Khiaw. Then they get loaded onto boats and shipped up the Nam Ou (River). Some will get dropped off to the riverbank closest to Pha Yong and manually transported one by one to the village approximately 2 hours away. The rest will be shipped to Had Chanh Village, thankfully right at the top of the river bank. So yes, it will be another very long day.
I will be returning to Luang Prabang on Wednesday to complete our shopping for the guests coming on December 6. This also needs to be shipped to the villages in advance of their arrival!
I almost forgot - somewhere in the mix I will be moving to a Salanoy located close to downtown Luang Prabang. I signed the lease today but just haven't figured out where I am going to find the time to move everything.
As you can see, my schedule is a little daunting but everything always works out, just not quite the way I imagined it. I expect that my next posting will include lots of pictures.
Why we are Helping and how YOU can get involved
The remote villages of Laos have never recovered from the 'Secret' war of the 1960's. While rich in culture and tradition, their education, healthcare and hygiene conditions are severely lacking. The average lifespan is only 56 years and average age is only 20.8, caused by poor quality water, poor hygiene and general poverty. BUT with your help we have already made a difference in the lives of over 2700 villagers.
We have built schools in the villages of Pha Yong and Had Chanh, and a 3rd school located in Done Lom is under construction. We have also distributed over 200 water filters systems and completed hygiene training for three entire villages. Each family is required to take this course before a filter is provided, in order to promote a longer, healthier and happier life. A new water source including a dam, water tank and taps has been completed, as has our first bank of hygienic toilets.
It doesn't stop there. We have requests for 34 new projects and with your help, will do what we can to support as many requests as possible.
You can help in so many different ways. Before you do though, note that less than 5% will go to direct overhead costs, contrary to many NGO's who's overheads can reach 80%. Sponsors for every project will receive emailed pictures and details of how the money was spent.
Here are some examples of how you can help with your financial contribution.
- $55 buys a water purification filter for a family of 8.
It will also include your name on the water filter and a picture forwarded to you with the family and the filter unit.
- $12,500 US buys a school for grades 1, 2 and 3. Perhaps you would like to sponsor or assist us to sponsor a school.
- $4,000 US (approx) buys school tables and desks for a three room school and a two-room kindergarten.
- $700 US (approx) pays for a teacher for one year
- $50 US buys education for one child for one year including school fees, 2 uniforms, shoes, backpack and school supplies.
- hygienic washroom facilities rane depending on the number of stalls and start at about $3000, but are critical to prevent more disease.
If you would like to become involved and to help the people of rural Laos help themselves lead a more fulfilling life, please email us at AdoptaVillageinLaos@gmail.com. Official Tax Receipts are not yet possible although we hope to receive charitable status this summer. Meanwhile we would still love to hear of your interest.
Please help............we cannot do this alone....
Meanwhile, please enjoy our updates below.
We have built schools in the villages of Pha Yong and Had Chanh, and a 3rd school located in Done Lom is under construction. We have also distributed over 200 water filters systems and completed hygiene training for three entire villages. Each family is required to take this course before a filter is provided, in order to promote a longer, healthier and happier life. A new water source including a dam, water tank and taps has been completed, as has our first bank of hygienic toilets.
It doesn't stop there. We have requests for 34 new projects and with your help, will do what we can to support as many requests as possible.
You can help in so many different ways. Before you do though, note that less than 5% will go to direct overhead costs, contrary to many NGO's who's overheads can reach 80%. Sponsors for every project will receive emailed pictures and details of how the money was spent.
Here are some examples of how you can help with your financial contribution.
- $55 buys a water purification filter for a family of 8.
It will also include your name on the water filter and a picture forwarded to you with the family and the filter unit.
- $12,500 US buys a school for grades 1, 2 and 3. Perhaps you would like to sponsor or assist us to sponsor a school.
- $4,000 US (approx) buys school tables and desks for a three room school and a two-room kindergarten.
- $700 US (approx) pays for a teacher for one year
- $50 US buys education for one child for one year including school fees, 2 uniforms, shoes, backpack and school supplies.
- hygienic washroom facilities rane depending on the number of stalls and start at about $3000, but are critical to prevent more disease.
If you would like to become involved and to help the people of rural Laos help themselves lead a more fulfilling life, please email us at AdoptaVillageinLaos@gmail.com. Official Tax Receipts are not yet possible although we hope to receive charitable status this summer. Meanwhile we would still love to hear of your interest.
Please help............we cannot do this alone....
Meanwhile, please enjoy our updates below.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
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