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.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Heading Back to Laos

I can hardly believe that I will be on the plane in just two weeks. Can you guess where I will be in two weeks and one day? Still on the plane or in some airport!
Since April we managed to put our house up for sale, sell it, buy another house back in our old neighborhood and move in. That was the easy part. We also gained charitable status of course but more importantly we have finished something like 20 presentations to various interest groups and Rotary Clubs and managed to squeeze in one fundraiser.

As of tonight we have raised just over $59,000 in cash and commitments. We have almost reached our targets but the last $10,000 is always the hardest. What is worse is that I have less than 2 weeks to do it! Indeed I am pulling out all the stops along with the few hairs left on my head. Forget the email campaign...now it's phone calls!
Here is what we need;
Boakham Secondary School - $3,833 (out of $25k)to start construction on Phase 1
Phon Savanh Water Project - $2,275 (out of $10,300)
Hygienic Toilets for Pha Yong Village and Had Chanh School - $3,800 (out of $5K)
Toilets just don't seem to be popular among donors! Perhaps they think I might inscribe their name on the ceramics? Kidding of course.
Water Filters - we need just 27 water filters to match last years numbers ($55ea)

So there you have it. Indeed it has been a little stressful as of late trying to raise the rest. I wish I knew more people. I even tried an ad in our newspaper, although the total amount needed since then has changed.

I am crossing my fingers on this because I have never tried an ad of this nature before. It just went in todays weekend paper so we will see if it has any effect.

Once I arrive in Luang Prabang, I need to immediately prepare for the build of Hat Kham School, sponsored in its entirety by Jai Lao Foundation in California and thanks to Daravanh Bill's success in winning an essay contest about Hat Kham Village. This will also be our first distribution for this year's water filters. Their entourage arrives just 5 days after I do - Yikes!

With $9900 to go and 27 water filters I am sure crossing my fingers for the other projects. I won't start a project unless I have the funds to finish it. The last thing we want to see is concrete posts sticking up in an overgrown field in a third world country - I bet you all have seen that!
I will try to do one last update before I head out to let you know if I was successful or not!

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