When Hope is Reborn, Everything Becomes Possible 🙏

Without funding to cover operational costs, Terre des Sourires’ projects are now at risk. Yet, the first two water kiosks, which serve over 5,000 people, have been a resounding success.

You may already be familiar with this story. It began 20 years ago during a solo trip to Laos. What started as a painful realization turned into a life mission: to enable rural communities to have sustainable access to clean drinking water. This is how the Terre des Sourires association was born in Geneva. Since then, with my team, we have built 31 wells, providing more than 30,000 people in the most remote areas with vital access to safe drinking water.

In 2022, we reached a new milestone with the launch of two community water kiosks based on a social entrepreneurship model. The Ban Nahom kiosk, fully self-financed, is now managed by the village employees, trained by our local team, marking a major advancement. However, the Ban Huanambak kiosk, opened in May 2024, still requires regular monitoring to ensure its sustainability. Unfortunately, this crucial follow-up is no longer possible.

In October 2024, due to insufficient funds, I was no longer able to pay our two local employees, Ly Chongheuly and Chue Lang, based in Muang Xay. Despite their efforts and dedication, they had to find other means to support themselves. Without them, requests from staff in the field go unanswered, and kiosk maintenance is no longer guaranteed. This situation led to the closure of the Ban Huanambak kiosk, which was left out of service due to a faulty pump. Ironically, we have the funds to replace the pump, but no one to carry out the repair. Without a dedicated team on the ground, our projects cannot function.

For several months, I have been intensifying efforts to find funding. Unfortunately, many refusals have occurred, either because Laos is not eligible or because donors prioritise concrete projects, such as building new infrastructure or purchasing equipment, over operational expenses.

In moments of doubt and discouragement, I considered the unthinkable: closing Terre des Sourires. The idea of depriving thousands of villagers of their access to clean water was heart-wrenching, but without the means to support our small local team, this option seemed inevitable.

Yet, hope resurfaced thanks to Sarah Joliat, the new Ambassador for Terre des Sourires. Through her company, Les Pompes Funèbres du Léman (www.pfduleman.ch), a percentage of the bills is now donated to our association to fund operational costs. This support is an encouraging first step, but the road ahead is still long.

For Terre des Sourires to continue its work, we need 20,000 francs per year. This amount covers all essential operational costs: salaries for our team based in Muang Xay, essential for supporting and training kiosk employees, vehicle maintenance required for field trips, and administrative expenses.

Today, I invite you to believe in this mission and join this adventure. Every donation counts. Together, we can write a new chapter in this beautiful story. Your support is a drop of water that, added to others, forms an ocean of hope and life. 🙏❤️