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.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

I cannot believe how fast the time flies. I am two blog entries behind and only 9 days to go before I head back to Canada. I feel very sad at times knowing that I have to go home and leave so many wonderful people behind and with projects that are in various stages of completion.

A few weeks ago I ran into a lady at the Bangkok Airport while waiting for my flight back to Luang Prabang, as we were watching CNN to catch up on news that we had missed. We started a conversation and have become very good friends.

Xenia is an amazing lady who's heart is similar to mine and wants to do everything she can. I took her to some villages along with her best friend who is 82 and I am quite sure they had an experience of their lives. I knew it would be difficult to climb up the banks of the Nam Ou to get into the villages but they were really good about it.

I had to hold Xenia back at times from commitment and sponsorship towards various projects until she hade a chance to see everything I wanted to show her. Quite frankly I wish there was someone here that would do that for me! I am going broke a lot faster than I would have imagined but it is difficult when there is so much need.

Xenia became quite taken by a young fellow finishing his last year of high school. I had been sponsoring Oudom but was quite thrilled that Xenia wanted to take over the sponsorship. I have been already sponsoring two other university students and it was becoming difficult to manage a third sponsorship. So Oudom is now covered until the end of May or June when he graduates from High School. It will be up to him to present a formal request for sponsorship for university, to Xenia. I wish him luck for sure.

Here are a few highlites.
Above: Xenia and I enjoying a slowboat trip up the Nam Ou towards Hat Kham Village









Left: Candy does wonders when it comes to kids doesn't it?
Right: While painted artwork is not common among the villagers, this one was particulary interesting. You can see that they take pride in their few possessions.

Above: Unfortunately the lighting is not very good, but Xenia and Oudom, the student enjoy a photoshoot together after a bacci celebration. Note the white strings on their wrists.









Left: from the left, Myself, Oudom's father, Xenia, Oudoms grandmother, Oudoms mother and Xenia's friend Pam.
Right: A Distillery for Lao Lao. Every village has them!
Posted by Steve Rutledge at 5:12 PM

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