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.
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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.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Fundraising and Project Update Oct 11

As we celebrate Thanksgiving here in Canada, I cannot help but feel for the villagers of Laos. Yesterday we were honoured with the task of helping to prepare and serve a Turkey dinner with the Whitby Sunrise Rotary Club members, to the less fortunate families in the area. It was inspiring and self fulfilling to say the least.

On the other hand I kept thinking about the struggles in the remote Loatian villages. Indeed the villagers have smiles on their faces for what they do have. With so much sickness often caused by poor hygiene, an 8.1% infant mortality rate and a life span of only 54 years, I know there is so much we can do for them.

We, and others who have approached us to do fundraisers have been working hard through the summer and early fall. Together we have raised just over $25,000 in donations and commitments. With just 5 weeks to go before my return to Laos, I am getting closer to my targets but very nervous that there is not enough time left to raise the funds before we leave.

Here is where we are at the moment.

1) University Fees for 2 students for one year - Done and paid for.
2) Funding for two more school teachers for Had Chanh and Pha Yong Villages ($1550) - Target Achieved.
3) Funding to complete construction of a water tank and school access ($3210) - Target achieved
4) Funding for a new water Source ($7600) - Target Achieved
5) The provision of 202 Water Filter systems for 198 Families and Two Schools for Small Houp Han Village, Pha Yong Village and Had Chanh village ($10,100) - 198 confirmed sponsors, although I have enough word-of-mouth commitments to be able to say - Target Achieved Distribution is expected in December for at least two of the villages.
6) New School Project ($9450) - We have raised $2550 so far with an estimated $1000 more coming in and strong hopes for a matching grant of $2000 more, leaving $3900 to raise. This is a pretty tall order considering our official fundraisers are now complete for the season. I am crossing my fingers for sure.
7) Hygienic Toilets for Had Chanh school and for a bank of toilets in Had Chanh and Pha Yong Villages ($6000 est.) I have not even managed to start fundraising for this however if I can raise enough to cover the school project, I will donate whatever is needed to complete this project.

Now, let's go to some pictures of the schools;

Had Chanh Village;















Looks pretty sharp doesn't it? You can see that they take pride in their work. To complete this project we still have to fund and teach the villagers how to build hygienic toilets for the school.




Pha Yong Village












These people have come a very long way since the last update.
They have since had to complete even more road widening to get the rest of the materials up to the village.

Referencing the distribution of the water filters, we will be shipping them to Nong Khiaw, then by riverboat to Had Chanh Village. At that point, then the villagers from Pha Yong will trek over to pick up the water filters one at a time. This will require two villagers for each filter to carry. that is 85 Trips!!!

Currently I am waiting for a picture update from the last three fundraisers that were done so that I can properly thank the hosts, so Stay Tuned!