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.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Had Chanh Village Project Update

July 22 Fundraiser for Water Filters

It is wonderful to know that our first fundraiser sold out within two weeks of the announcement. For those of you who are not from the area, sales are generally last minute. Volunteers and Coordinators alike are usually in a panic during the last week before the event. Perhaps this is a new trend for the Municipality. I'd like to think it is due to this important cause. The event is in just two days and we are actually oversold and I have regrettably had to turn people away.

Had Chanh Village Update

Despite the monsoon rains, the school is approximately 65% complete. Here are a couple of pictures of the progress as of July 18.




We are pleasantly surprised at the progress here. It looks like it will be completed on time, in September. I am hoping too that it will come in on budget.

Floods

On the other hand there have been some setbacks with the other school in Pha Yong Village. Due to the heavy monsoon rains, it took one truck three days to get to the village. This isn't an ordinary trip either. The truck starts off on the road then has to drive down to the riverbank, be loaded onto a float of some sort, float across the river, then try to climb the mud banks on the other side. It is difficult across one river but there were many rivers and streams to cross. Needless to say, the mud hills created havoc.

At the moment, everything is pretty much at a standstill. I am told that many of the farmers were on the side of the roads. This is why.





These pictures were taken on the way back from Had Chanh Village to Luang Prabang. It is sad indeed. The entire rice crops have been washed away. Those farmers that have fields in the hills seem to be in good shape however so sticky rice will still be available. Still, I can't imagine what these farmers must be going through.

I am trying to get an update from Pha Yong Village however communication and transportation from there continue to be a nightmare for them. I will post another update once I am successful.

No comments:

Post a Comment