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! 🙌🌍🙏