We faced countless obstacles, we had to be patient to accept a delay of more than two years due to the pandemic, we spent sleepless nights, our local team had to face the most difficult weather conditions, drive on tracks destroyed by heavy rains, etc.

But we never gave up, we believed in it, our donors and partners trusted us and today we succeeded!
It is with great emotion that I announce the official launch of the first TdS community water kiosk in the Nahom area, Oudomxay province, Lao PDR 🥳🥳🥳🥳.

I would like to warmly thank:
⁃ Our local TdS team, especially our project manager Ly Chongheuly who brilliantly led the preparation and launch of this first water kiosk.⁃ Our employee Luongmoua who assisted Ly with ease.
⁃ Our precious donors for their trust, immense generosity and loyalty, without whom this water kiosk would not have been possible.⁃ Our artist with a big heart, Denis Vautravers, for the proceeds from the sales of his paintings entirely donated to TdS.
⁃ Marlene and Peter Schmid for their important financial contribution in this first water kiosk and for funding our next water kiosk.
⁃ Our partners, including the Barilla Group for their trust, financial support and future involvement in our projects.
⁃ My exceptional and brilliant Professor Soli Makohliso for his valuable collaboration in the development of this concept and who has mentored and guided me over the past two years.
⁃ Our Strategic Advisor, Alexandre Cantacuzène for his constant support and wise counsel in the steps taken to reach this first major milestone.
⁃ The villagers and communities of the Nahom area for their patience and help to our local team.
⁃ I also thank all the people who follow and encourage us.
🙏🙏🙏

Now let’s move on to some numbers:
Today, there are :
👉 5 villagers hired and employed by TdS to run the water kiosk.
👉More than 5’000 people who have access to drinking water.

An important point: some villages are more than 4 km away from the water kiosk. To ensure that no one is deprived of this vital need: drinking water, a delivery service has been set up covering the most remote areas. Communities closer to the water kiosk can reach it by motorbike, car or on foot. We will adapt our services to the needs of the beneficiaries if necessary.

More data will be presented soon! Our areas of intervention address other basic needs, but for now we are focusing on access to clean water and giving beneficiaries time to make this new community space their own.

Finally! After five weeks of delay due to the pandemic context in Laos to obtain the results of the first water analysis of the Nahom borehole, we have obtained the authorization from the concerned authorities which allows us to start the construction of our first water kiosk! The company Indara and our local team arrived on site this morning

We are pleased to welcome a new member to our local team, Mr. Longmoua HOUAXAY.

With a strong background in IT, Longmoua works with our Project Manager, Ly Chongheuly, particularly on the various administrative tasks with local authorities. His professional experience will also be a great asset for our team in all matters related to IT and project monitoring. We also wish to express our thanks for his devoted involvement already at TdS since he offically started his duties on 19 July.

The situation in Laos remains delicate and the population is even more vulnerable. Our team has been closely affected by the pandemic. The covid and the different measures taken have caused a delay of more than a year in the launch of our project. We are also subject to price inflation as a result of the economic impacts of this crisis. Fortunately, our team remains strong and optimistic.

Being unable to start the construction work, we have moved forward on other important steps.

Today, we are pleased to announce the opening of our office in Oudomxay. Donors and/or travellers passing through the region are welcome to meet our team and learn more about our ongoing project. I will come back soon to share with you the good news which will follow very soon when our first water kiosk will be launched in the current month of August.

Kob Chai Lai Lai 🙏