Now in its 17th year, Adopt a Village in Laos began with a focus on improving education in remote, impoverished villages of northern Laos, by building new schools and providing education materials and equipment. When it turned out that many children could not make it to school because of illness from the contaminated water supply, the focus shifted to include safe water supply with a water filter and hygiene training to each family. In some cases permanent water supplies have included a dam and several km of pipe (or a well is drilled depending on the area), plus a water tank and taps throughout the village. Rotary Club of Ladner has been a long term supporter of the program.
President of Adopt a Village in Laos, Steve Rutledge, is a member of the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise, in Whitby, Ontario. Retired after 22 years as co-owner of a medium-sized computer firm, Steve has devoted himself to this program and many other causes in his community and beyond. Steve's sister, Dawn Rutledge, is a Ladner Rotarian.
Over time, many Rotarians and Rotary clubs, have sponsored distribution of thousands of water filters which have improved the health of many thousands of people. This video is an update on the past season of Adopt A Village Laos, which Steve Rutledge presented on his visit to Rotary Club of Ladner on September 15, 2026.
