RESULTS
33
Projects
35 639
People with access to water supply
2 344
People with access to healthcare
120
Children in schools
It has now been a month and a week since our community water kiosk in Huanambak became operational. The residents are gradually adapting to this vital infrastructure, which ensures them a sustainable supply of quality drinking water. Their curiosity about the filtration system is evident, and they eagerly engage with our two dedicated women staff members who ensure the kiosk’s daily operations run smoothly. 💪🙋🏻♀️
We will soon be organising meetings in Huanambak, bringing together the villagers, kiosk staff, our local team, and local authorities. 👉 These meetings aim to once again explain TdS’s social mission, which focuses on providing sustainable access to clean drinking water to improve living conditions and reduce waterborne diseases. We will also highlight the importance of handwashing and basic hygiene practices, which will be reinforced through our collaboration with the local clinic 🏥, a trusted entity among the villagers. This partnership further validates our efforts in promoting hygiene and public health. 🤝💧🧼
In Ban Nahom, the integration of clean drinking water into daily life is now a reality, ensuring the complete self-financing of this initial water kiosk. 🚰
Finally our second Community Water Kiosk is officially up and running🥳 👏🙏 !!!! It’s been a journey of resilience, perseverance and strategic planning in the face of tremendous challenges 😅 As social entrepreneurs, our work is already very demanding. And when we work in Laos 🇱🇦? It’s even more complex! We’re constantly faced with lengthy bureaucratic procedures for all the activities we carry out, but we’re also caught up in unpredictable weather patterns – going through long periods of torrential monsoons, then facing severe droughts. The economic landscape also presents its own challenges, with galloping inflation rates and currency fluctuations undermining financial stability. On top of this, prevalent health problems such as dengue fever and gastrointestinal diseases slow down our team. And woven into the fabric of our work are significant cultural issues, with values and beliefs deeply rooted in the communities we work with. 🌊💼🌱
This last challenge proved particularly daunting, considerably delaying the launch of our second community water kiosk in Huanambak, Xay district, Oudomxay province. The recruitment process encountered obstacles due to:
👉 Seasonal farming requirements, limiting the availability of labour.
👉 Cultural norms and gender disparities, restricting the participation of women, especially among the Hmong population.
👉 Persistent wage disparities, despite compliance with Laotian labour laws, making it difficult to attract qualified candidates in the face of rising living costs. A disconcerting paradox in a region where villagers’ financial situation is precarious! 💵👩🌾🚧
But thanks to our unshakeable determination, we succeeded! By taking on three employees, including two inspirational women, to run the day-to-day management of the Huanambak water kiosk 📜, which will benefit the 4,000 inhabitants of the region and surrounding populations deprived of access to a source of drinking water.
Our approach? Close collaboration with local stakeholders and a convincing awareness campaign. Our Team went out to meet local communities, presenting the benefits and societal goals to join our mission of ensuring sustainable access to drinking water 💧, offering professional opportunities that promote the local economy 💵, improving the general health of the inhabitants through simple hand-washing gestures 🫳🧴 and dismantling gender norms in the process. 🌟👩🔧🌏
And the TdS Switzerland Committee salutes Ly, our extraordinary Project Manager! Unlike large organisations that have several specialist departments and teams, Ly juggles a multitude of responsibilities. Not only does he oversee operations in the field, but he also manages the local team brilliantly with remote support from TdS Switzerland. From logistical coordination to financial oversight, Ly embodies resilience in the face of adversity! 🙌🌍🙏
We would like to express our warm thanks to the 1% Fund for Development for its financial support for our second community water kiosk in Huanambak, Xay district, Oudomxay province.
We are deeply touched by the remarkable work and dedication of the 1% Fund’s team of international professionals working on a voluntary basis.
The story of the 1% Fund is a remarkable illustration of the impact that each individual can have in the fight against extreme poverty and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as emphasised by Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Thanks to their exemplary commitment, members demonstrate the power of collective action by donating 1% of their salaries and actively participating in the project selection process (https://www.onepercentfund.net/fr/29293-2/).
Their generous contributions enable us to realise our vision and pursue our mission with enthusiasm. We would like to thank them all for their invaluable support.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The Huanambak Community Water Kiosk is now complete, the water filtration system has been installed and the future employees will soon be trained, ensuring access to drinking water in jerrycans that are systematically washed and disinfected for the 4,000 villagers of the area.
We’re now waiting for the jerrycans commanded and needed to officially launch the kiosk, hoping not to be delayed but always bearing in mind that timescales are not the same as in the western countries, so let’s be patient ☺️🙏
Sometimes words fail to express our gratitude. Today, I’d like to extend my sincerest thanks to Peter and Marlène Schmid from Cartigny, Geneva, Switzerland.
TdS’s turn towards our current concept of social entrepreneurship was greatly supported by Peter, who was the first person I turned to in 2020 once our concept had been developed. He and his wife Marlène had already funded several wells when we were still under the philanthropic model, so they were already familiar with our association and our mission.
At the end of our presentation in 2020, he saw the long-term potential of this community water kiosk project in Laos and without hesitation, together with his wife, supported us financially to build the very first community water kiosk in Ban Nahom, Beng district, Oudomxay Province. I will always be grateful to them for believing in us and in this new model, which has now been validated.
After the launch of our first community water kiosk in March 2022 in Ban Nahom, preceded by complex issues including the Covid pandemic, the floods that hit Laos and the province of Oudomxay in August 2022, and the economic crisis we are still facing today, I contacted them to tell them about the financial situation of our association undeniably affected by the current context and all the difficulties encountered.
Fully aware of the economic and financial challenges of a social entrepreneurship project, and the importance of the capital needed to achieve our self-financing objectives in the field and for the association, they readily reiterated their support. Today, we can continue our activities and make our second water kiosk a reality in the village of Hunambak, Xay district, Oudomxay Province, with an official launch imminent.
It is with great emotion that I thank them for their confidence in us and our project! This gesture means so much because there is nothing more gratifying and comforting than receiving financial support from qualified and informed people who know our association, our budgets, our funds and how we operate, and who have confidence in our mission.
Once again, thank you Peter and Marlène Schmid !
The construction of the building of our second water kiosk, located in Huanambak, Xay district, Oudomxay Province, Lao PDR 🇱🇦 has been completed !
Now, we have to install the entire water filtration system, as well as training the future local employees in this region with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of this life-changing infrastructure. Their role will be crucial to the day-to-day running of this infrastructure.
All this in anticipation of the inauguration of TdS’s second Community Water Kiosk, a prototype that has now been validated! 🚰💧
We are facing unprecedented challenges: After COVID, the economic crisis (inflation of over 43%, devaluation of the KIP), and now the devastating impact of climate change. 💔
Our first water kiosk in Laos was self-sufficient in 7 months, serving 85% of the population (over 4,200 people). Today, due to heavy rainfall, more than 40% of families can’t access drinking water, and our team can’t reach isolated villages on treacherous roads. 😢🌧️🛤️
We are witnessing incredible solidarity, but it’s not enough. The villagers use tractors to fetch water, but the isolation is getting worse, depriving them of essentials like drinking water. 💧🤝
⚠️Why do we need you ?
👉To cover the extra cost of petrol to ensure delivery services.
👉To buy gravel and employ villagers to repair paths and fill in holes.
👉To cover the additional costs of the Nahom kiosk, which income can no longer cover due to climate issues, inflation in the price of raw materials and the devaluation of the local currency (KIP), which is totally beyond our control.
🙏Scan the QR code for any financial support you can provide 🙏 Or use our bank details on our QR Code for all donations.
⚠️ Our second water kiosk in Huanambak is nearing completion, to achieve this we really need you 🙏🙏🙏
Ideally situated alongside the road, the 4,474 residents of the Huanambak region, regrouping three villages: Ban Huanambak, Ban Sensouvan, and Ban Senlad, located in the Xay district, will soon have access to clean drinking water💧
