Adopt-A-Village Laos
Ban Xiengda Water Supply Project 2017-18
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| Ban Xiengda is in the Luang Prabang Province of northern Laos | ||
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| The dam for the water system will be similar to this one under construction in another village. Many leaves have fallen in dry season | ||
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| The spillway, similar to this one, will direct water to the village and pipeline |
The Nambak District Water and Hygiene Office in Laos asked the Adopt A Village In Laos (AAVIL) program whether it could provide a permanent water supply to Ban Xiengda.
The Rotary Club of Ladner, which has been participating in AAVIL program over the past three years, has undertaken to lead an international service project of Rotary to develop the water system, including a dam, 6.5 km of pipe and 15 taps throughout part of village.
Rotarians and Friends plan to assist in the construction of water towers with taps for the village including ground levelling, forming and tying metal rods, mixing cement etc., in addition to the many activities to make construction possible, such as fundraising, logistics, materials purchase and delivery, donor reporting and accountability reports.
The on-site services will be managed by Steve Rutledge of the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise in Ontario, in District 7070, and Adopt A Village in Laos (a registered Ontario Charity).
Once the water delivery system is completed, the villagers assigned by the village chief will ensure the dam is kept clear of obstructions, taps are in continuous working order and pipes are repaired as required. The lifetime of the system is estimated to be 20 years.
Joining the Rotary Club of Ladner in funding this CDN$45,000 project are the neighbouring club of Tsawwassen, other clubs in Rotary District 5040 and the District itself with District 7070 in Ontario.
Adopt-A-Village in Laos
The original intent of Adopt-A-Village was to improve the education of children in poor, remote villages of Laos. Because the children were often ill from poor drinking water and could not participate in their education, the program broadened its scope to include clean water and health supplies for these villages.On completion of the Adopt-A-Village visit to Laos in January 2017, a total of 3,278 water filters, serving 16,400 villagers with clean water, will have been delivered. These water filters will have a dramatic effect on the health of the villagers in these remote villages and will help increase the average life expectancy of 56 years.
Ontario Rotarian Steve Rutledge founded Adopt-A-Village as a registered Canadian charity in 2011. The program now brings Canadian Rotarians, including two last year, each with a family member, from the Rotary Club of Ladner, to Laos: Mike Storey and Diana Cabot Nimsick.
Travelling sometimes through forest and on rough dirt tracks and across streams the team primarily provides clean, filtered water, hygeienic toilets and student support.
Small schools have been constructed, as have small dams, water supplies, and several dental/health initiatives have been implemented through this charity.
In January 2017, the team from the Rotary Club of Ladner will have grown from two in 2015 to eight, including Mike and Kathy Storey, Diana Cabott and her daughter Tamara Kiengersky, Rotary Past District Governor Sonia Baron, Dawn Rutledge-Brennen and husband Beau Brennen, and Sandra O’Keeffe.
With other Canadian Rotarians, this team plans to visit three villages to deliver several hundred filters and dental supplies, assist with the hygiene courses and meet several of the primary grade students now being supported.
Adopt-A-Village’s main water project planned for 2016-2017 is a dam and nine kilometres of water supply pipeline to the village of Thong Thuen. The $78,600 project still requires $5,000 to complete it.
Less than five percent of Adopt-A-Village’s donations, sponsorships and grants go to direct overhead costs, leaving over 95 percent of funds for the benefit of the remote Laotian villages. 
More information is available at: https://adoptavillageinlaos.wordpress.com/
Or please contact:
Mike Storey
Rotary Club of Ladner
Office: 604-946-9669
Cell: 604-830-1310
mike@idealdoor.ca
Mike Storey
Rotary Club of Ladner
Office: 604-946-9669
Cell: 604-830-1310
mike@idealdoor.ca