While visiting the Lao Rehabiliation Foundation Inc. (LRF) in February of this year, about 6 months ago, we had the chance to volunteer helping the Simmano Village (see blog), volunteer in a remote-area medical surgery mission (blog coming soon), and the chance to visit a number of projects the LRF is working on to improve conditions of health, education, and life for the great many in need in Laos. One of these projects is taking place in the Laotian northern province of Luang Namtha, working with engineers to find a way to bring water to a village of 700 hundred inhabitants without it. Because this mission is currently ongoing for the foundation, we find it particularly important to share this story now.

The hill and jungle landscape near the Akha Village

On a jungle drive back through mountain dirt roads from a remote-area medical mission in the Luang Namtha province (last year may), Dr. Phetsamon (Ophthalmologist) and Luc Janssens (Director of the LRF) came across 18 Laotian women and children carrying literally gallons of water strapped to their heads, as is common in the region for carrying heavy loads. Inquiring into the situation, the two men discovered it was a daily practice to bring potable drinking water back to their village. Offering them a ride back, the pickup was soon filled with water, women and children, and back on the road, with a slight detour in mind. What was thought to be a quick stop upon picking them up, was soon shown to be a 15 kilometer distance through the jungle, and on seeing the conditions the villagers had to live through daily to access water, a new LRF project was soon underway to find a way to bring water directly to the village. The LRF teamed up with the support of 'Water Hope,' an NGO working around the world to provide access to clean water to those deprived of it.

An Akha boy bringing water pales from the source back to the village.

The nearest fresh water spring to the village is about 3 kilometers away, but dries up for half of the year, creating the necessity of the arduous 15 kilometers hike for water in the driest seasons which last about 4 to 5 months of the year. In the rainy seasons, a well is present close to the village, with just a half hour hike down steep hills to reach, but the presence of wild animals and livestock in the water hole results in Typhoid Fever and other water-contamination diseases afflicting the villagers who source their water from there.

Anja and Akha children who came to greet us in the Village.

We invite you to join the LRF in this video footage provided by the foundation, showing the villagers at their scarce local water hole, and the journey through the jungle to find the nearest year-round spring, 15 kilometers away:

View the video above to see the Akha Water Project, filmed by the foundation.

World Wine Tour 2010 is proud to be a supporter of the LRF! Please visit their website for more information: www.laofoundation.com

With Akha children near the water hole.

~Anja and Georges