Firstly, I am surprised at the speed in which Nong Boakham Secondary School is being built.  It will be a 6 room school but I was only able to raise money for the first 2 rooms this year.  This is the most expensive school so far but for a variety of good reasons.  Each room is costing about $10,000 although that includes contribution to the toilet construction. Still if any of you have sources that can contribute towards a room or perhaps do a fundraiser for a room named after them, I can’t tell you how much this would mean to this village of 300 families plus surrounding villages.  Here are a few pictures of what has happened in the last couple of weeks.

The Workers Quarters

After just 2 weeks - window and door frames arrived yesterday so work goes on.

Primary School just about complete, sponsored by another NGO

The above picture gives you a rough idea as to what the secondary school will look like, although it will be different colours, larger classrooms and more of them.  This primary school is located about 200 metres from the secondary school.  We hope one day to add a library with computers but of course we need to finish the rest of the school first.  Power has arrived at the village although not connected yet.  Water was also provided BUT it was poorly constructed – not sure who sponsored it but the piping was placed on the riverbed and was destroyed by the fast moving river during the monsoons.  I would love to find out what is being done about it.

Fortunately for us, they fixed the road leading to this new village and it cut down our travel time by 25 minutes, not to mention improving the truck access.

Next has to do with the Rotary Club of Oshawa and the derelict Meung Luang Hospital, located in Meung Khai, I spoke about in previous blogs.  This hospital had no water except when it rained.  Last year all we could do was provide a couple of water filters for the hospital because there wasn’t even a cover for the water tank – I wondered if there were rats floating around up there.

As of two days ago, the hospital has its own well and pump.  Along with that, all sink fixtures and pipes have either been repaired or replaced.  NOW they have water!!!  There are still things to do there including the tiling of the floor in the birthing unit and some minor upgrades elsewhere.  This project is wholly funded by the Rotary Club of Oshawa, which is only the second Rotary project in the country.  The previous project was located near the Vientiane capital years ago and when I asked about it, they couldn’t remember the details.  Here are some reminders of the hospital followed by the updates.

Reminder of what the hospital looked like.

The Birthing Unit

Running Water!!!

Water Tank - cable/pipe still to be buried and new top of the tank to be done.

The Well and Pump - still needs a security cover to prevent theft of the pump.

Tile and grout for the birthing unit - to be done over the next couple of days.

I am told that the project should be complete before the end of the month.

Next year, and I hope there is one, would be to tile the entire hospital floor; replace the latrines and include hot showers; provide a covered walkway over to the latrines and a personal goal of mine is to make the front of the hospital look a little more appealing by doing some landscaping, perhaps add a bench or two.  Fortunately it doesn’t cost and arm and a leg to landscape here.

I have to admit I had to do some manipulating. In fact I had to announce that I would be cancelling some of the projects if contracts weren’t signed within the next week.  Suddenly everyone came to life – engineers fell into place, the villagers became accessible to help and there was actually movement.  I had been here for 2 1/2 months with practically nothing to show for my efforts here except for water filter distribution and hygiene training. Now I can say that the well for the hospital is just about done (although there is a lot more to the project than that), Nong Boakham school is well underway for its first two classrooms, Had Chanh School Toilets are moving along quickly, and Pha Yong toilets start today – yeaaahhhhh.

Inside the new, temporary residence for the workers of Hat Kham School

A view of the temporary home from the outside

The Start of Hat Kham Village School, thanks to Jai Lao Foundation

In Hat Kham we were surprised to see all these bags of sand and gravel. – Actually it wasn’t the fact that we saw them, it was WHERE we saw them.  Each village family was required to collect a portion and supply it for the school – they were inside peoples houses, outside, hidden in other places until it was needed.  Now how cool is that?

The above picture is of the toilets being built for Had Chanh School.  It is already over budget!  Note also the trench to run the water from the village water tank.

I almost forgot – Phon Savanh water source project is underway too, although the actual building hasn’t started yet.  I trekked with a couple of the officials plus the engineer to source where we would be getting water and have to admit that it was one of the most difficult treks I have done.  We were climbing along the side of a mountain that was full of bramble. The mountainside was very steep and while the path was cleared with a machete as we went, the villagers are a lot shorter than me, not to mention much younger and more agile.  I found myself squatting under the bramble, trying to climb up hill – I am glad I borrowed a hat – the bramble did take it off for me a couple of times.  Still it was pretty exhilarating to say I did it although I was stiff for a couple of days (The villagers were even surprised that I made it).  I will upload pictures on my next post.

Water Filter Systems for Phon Savanh Village (with Hygiene Training)

One Very Happy Villager in Hat Kham taking his water filter system

With the first bank done, villagers and tourists come to use it.

From mud hole to dam, water tank and this unforgettable smile!

These 2 kids could not afford to go to school until now!!!

Done Lom School - for 3 classes. Primary 1-3...our latest accomplishment

None of these projects would have been possible without the support of so many Rotary Clubs including Whitby Sunrise, Port Hope, and Oshawa.  This year we are also delighted to gain support from the Rotary Clubs of Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Toronto and Scarborough.  THANK YOU!  Our thanks certainly don’t stop there either.  Jai Lao Foundation has agreed to sponsor Hat Kham School, Jennifer’s Jazz It Up Studio has been a strong supporter and there are hundreds of sponsors who have made such a positive difference in so many lives.

One thing we are really delighted about – The hospital water project which gets underway today is fully sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oshawa.  It is not only the first Rotary project in Luang Prabang, but it is only the second Rotary project in all of Laos (the first one was in the Vientiane sponsored by the Rotary Club in Bangkok a few years ago).

I am personally thankful for the logistical, accounting and moral support of two great people – Cleve Pendock and Ron Coleman!  In addition to their daily support, together we managed to gain Charitable Status in a very short time, setting the scene for much greater things to come.

Summarizing the political and logistical landscape in Laos has not been an easy task and it is ongoing.  We have made strides with the local and district governments and have begun to expand this to Provincial and National Government but still have a way to go.  It isn’t exactly a simple process – I have been known to put the cart before the horse so-to-speak, due to inexperience and lack of knowledge but am gradually getting to know the landscape and have made some good contacts resulting in fewer mistakes.

On the other side of the coin there are definitely things that I need to improve both here and in Canada.  While we run on a shoestring budget here, everything beyond the direct project costs still comes from my pocket including most of the overheads.  I have to find a way to change this somehow hopefully sooner than later.  I also will need to find more logistical, bookkeeping, planning, media and other support in Canada on a volunteer basis which is equally difficult.  In Laos, I still need to find a couple more people here that I can trust to continue some of the projects when I am not here.  We are ok for now but if something happens – sickness or other with the two people I do trust, it is going to be very tough.  That is a goal for next year to be sure.

Some of the other things I need to consider of course include more exposure across Canada, with the corporate world and beyond.  Hopefully charitable status will help me do that. To be able to speed up preparations for construction before I arrive and to complete 90% of the construction projects during the dry season is another goal of mine.  Transportation can be nearly impossible during the rainy season and there is a lot of sickness here during that time.  I hate to see people suffer and with roughly 7 months of relatively dry weather, so much more should be able to be accomplished.  We certainly have a way to go on that front.  These are just a couple of the obvious targets but there are more, perhaps on a lesser scale.

That just about wraps up the year for me.  I miss turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, I miss Wendy’s hamburgers and frosties but most of all I miss my dearest friends and family including my Rotary family.  It doesn’t take long for me to realize though that it is all worth it.  The rural villagers deserve the things in life we take for granted.  Clean Water, Education and basic Sanitation.

Happy New Year to All of You and Thank You for being there for us.

Here are some highlites;

Kids just can't resist candy - nor can the adults

She remembered me!!!! I just melted with that smile and didn't want to leave

Lao Hyan (sp.) - sweet and potent.

Sharing Lunch with the school teacher from last year

It was particularly difficult to see the man sitting next to me with the tuque.  He was the school teacher last year and had sent a letter to the District Government to ask to retire.  So vibrant at the time – always smiling.  About 3 months ago he suffered a stroke but has been able to walk with a lot of difficulty and one arm is of no use – at least he can talk.  I wish there was something I could do and he asked to go to the hospital but they do not have the facilities or the expertise to deal with this.  Khamdee (teachers son on the right) said he would explain to his mother when they were alone.

Heading back to Nong Khiaw - what a great shot! Thank you Sean

Once we arrived, there was fanfare of course.  Our intention was to provide hygiene training and discuss the water project we had planned for them.  It was cold and with no sun it certainly wasn’t comfortable.  It should be noted that these villagers have nothing and I mean nothing.  They have to trek for their water, they have no electricity, no toilets and one very dilapidated bamboo school house.  We hope to build a school there next year if all goes well, although it won’t be cheap – even the sand and gravel has to be shipped in.

Our arrival with the water filters

The Village of Phon Savanh

The village mascot! (I mean the monkey, not Sean)

Two more images I just couldn't resist - back in time for the training

Filters waiting for a new home

Anticipation! there must be balloons or candy around somewhere

Contract Negotiations for new water while filters are being set up

Art showing the art of balloon blowing - is this the best you can do?

Wow Art, your training worked well!

Hygiene Training - prerequisite for receiving a filter

Happiness is.....

Another celebration of Bacci

A Truck sets up a temporary market

Stunning views on our return to Nong Khiaw

The steep inclines were just a bit too much for the van!

Hygiene Training in the Education Compound Meeting Room

We also provided training and a water filter system to Oudon who is in his final year of high school.  This is his dormitory but he managed to fit the filter inside.  It was pretty cold but I guess with enough blankets….

This last picture was taken outside a restaurant in Nong Khiaw.  It turns out that the guy beside me was one of the crew who works for the UXO Office (unexploded ordinance) and just happened to be part of the same crew who removed all of the bombies from the Done Lom School site.  He told us they removed over 150 bombies – OMG!

Unsung hero of Laos - shy too!

Bounmy hams it up for the camera in front of the cave

Entrance Stairs to the Governors Cave

Imagine the sound of the bombs echoing off the walls during the secret war.

Governor's meeting room

Interesting Rock Formation

The next day we headed to DoneLom Village by boat and provide the Rotarians an idea of the projects we have been doing over the last couple of years but first I had to fix a mistake I made on one of the labels – I accidentally put a Canadian Flag as the background for an American donor so I didn’t waste any time correcting it.

Sorry Audrey for the error - all fixed now!

I cannot seem to go anywhere without a big bag of candy for the kids (and adults too).  It brings such joy and maybe bad teeth but that is why we supply toothbrushes too.

Above: climbing up to Done Lom School with great views.

Rotarians, Villagers and guests - THANK YOU

Rotarians at Work by Kwangsi Waterfalls?

We were asked not to take pictures below their neck!! Looks Refreshing.

We made an easy day of this allowing them to see the sights of the city on their own since most were right on the street where they were staying.  The following morning we picked them up at their hotel and headed to Nong Khiaw, about 2 1/2 hours north to spend the night there.  They had a delayed start because I had forgotten to go to the bank on the Friday before and had to wait for it to open on the Monday.  They settled into their bungalows and then we made a short trip to Nong Ein – about a 10 minute drive from where we stayed, visited a school where AAVIL and its sponsors had supported two children – one had lost both their parents, the other was being supported by his elderly grandparents who were left with the child when the parents left them.

Mr. Ngi is 11 years old and now able to go to school

Mr. Ged, 12 years old now going to school every day

Ged and Ngi at their home, shared with many others.

We arrived in Vientiane nothing went right the first day other than some shopping that we managed to get done – We were to meet the Permanent Secretary of the National Science Council and Assistant Advisor to the Prime Minister and Rotarian, to assist us in submitting to Foreign Affairs but the meeting was delayed to 4pm (when most offices close), we ended up at the wrong building causing another half hour walk and by that time, he was in another meeting.  So with a brief hello and an offering of documents to us, the meeting was rescheduled for the next day.  Bounmy did get a chance to go to the Khmu radio station to introduce himself and say hello – these are the folks that allow us at least some contact with the villages by making announcements for us.  They put him straight on the air and interviewed him.  I know what it must have been like – been there…done that.  He was nervous to say the least but did well from what I understand.

Bounmy with the KHMU Radio Station Hosts

The next day I was able to find a good reasonable source for bicycles that I need for a couple of villages, did not find the blackboards that I have been searching for and finally met with the National Science Council Permanent Secretary, Ir. Somphone Phanousith.  He brought in fellow Rotarian Prof. Francois Polidano (France) who also works in the Prime Ministers Office.

Ir. Somphone Phanousith (middle) and Prof. Francois Polidano (right)

We did not manage to get to the Foreign Affairs office at all but I was requested to send the information by email to Mr. Somphone and he would process it on behalf of me.  We discussed Rotary and their function in Laos, their challenges and their structure.

One thing we tried to do was pick up some malarone, a malaria prevention drug, to replenish Sean’s supply.  We did find a childs version meaning that 4 pills would have to be taken daily instead of one and they were very expensive.  The main drug they sell for this is Chloroquin – it works in places like Central America but not Asia because the mosquitos have developed a resistance to it.  So the only other possibility is to get the drug in Thailand.  So if you are coming to Laos, bring your Malarone with you!

The next morning we headed to a city I have wanted to visit for a while now….Pakse.  I was surprised at the wealth of not just the city itself but the surrounding area.  The trip was just a sightseeing trip and also to get 2 days of down time. We headed to what is identified as the largest waterfalls in Asia.  In fact the driver tried to make a comparison to Niagara Falls….hmmmm….not so sure about that one.  Let’s see what you think.

'The Jewel of Asia' located about 2 hours from Pakse

Bounmy's required reading in Primary 2 was about these falls.

We were supposed to head over to an ancient temple afterwards and we got to the riverbank where we were to drive down to the shore (many people got stuck in the sand) but it wasn’t to be.  The van overheated and it took another 3 hours so we had to head back to Pakse.

The next day however, with a replacement vehicle we did manage to see the temple, although we had to cancel the rest of our tour plans due to the previous days mishap.  Here are some highlites;

Looks a lot like Ankor Watt doesn’t it?

This temple is believed to have been built about 1500 years ago

South Laos is surprisingly flat - roads are certainly better too.

The night of our return I managed to have dinner with some rotarians from the Whitby Sunrise Club (Diane Allen) her sister and husband from the Cobourg club and a doctor after they just completed a sweat equity trip in Cambodia with my dear friend Lisa McCoy from the Gravenhurst club.  I never thought to brig my camera – sorry!