Thateng

New community developement agriculture project

The activity focussed on the development of the silk sector in the district of Thateng has led to the self-reliance of families from now on managing themselves the production.

The SFE team is now pursuing its action with a community agricultural development project that has been started last August. 6000 villagers of the district of Tatheng can benefit of training, material as well as technical support. The expected result will be the improvement of agricultural production, the access to water supply and the development of small husbandries. Various activities will enable families to ensure their self-reliance and food security.

Two expatriates together with 11 local employees (staff) are carrying out all these activities and the beginnings are promising

Attopeu
New phase in community development project

the Community Health Development Project is continuing with a second phase concerning 13 new villages.

During the first phase, 2010-2013, the percentage of people suffering of intestinal parasites (worms) has been reduced from 62% to 32%, these rates are to be put in parallel with the fact that 94% of the families are using toilets versus 3% in 2010. To be noted also, that more than 67% of the population knows how to treat diarrhea versus 27% in 2010.

The training of health volunteers in each village is a major point of our engagement on the ground.

Attapeu

Attapeu : 15 years of cooperation with the provincial hospital

The hospital project started in 1998 has come to an end in July 2013 after 15 years of a fruitful cooperation. SFE is focused now on community projects in more remoted areas. Phase II of the community project will be started this autumn. David Mallow, the new German collaborator will be joining and reinforcing the team while Ruth Marcasi has moved to Sekong where she will be involved in a hospital project

Boloven
From the silk project to a community agricultural development project

The silk project has also come to an end earlier this year (February). All the producing families that wished it have been offered a contract with MSL, which will buy their silk production and ensure the follow-up.

SFE is preparing a new community agricultural project that includes the training of adults.

News (beginning of 2012)

The Kapue Silk Project

The <lang=”fr”>Attapeu nursing competition: 14th January

Sekong: TB project

Kapue Silk Project : a participant testifies

Témoignage d’une villageoise qui produit de la soie (source : blog d’Elise et Célio Nelson)

Five years ago SFE started a project to develop silk production in the Sekong province. There is a significant market for silk in Laos and neighboring countries. The project’s aim is to enable villagers to earn extra income and thereby improve their living conditions.

E. was only seven 7 years old when she terminated school. She would have liked to continue school but her family needed her for work. She was married when she was 17 and today at 22 she is the mother of a baby four months. She has been trained by SFE and is now integrated in the project.

« At first we did not want to raise silkworms because we were afraid of them! But on seeing that other villagers could earn additional income by producing silk, my parents encouraged me to participate. I find it is easier for raise silkworms rather than buffaloes! ”

She has now been producing silk for four years silk. Silk production can increase family income by up to 40 euros per month (In Laos, the average monthly wage is less than 30 euros per month). In addition to silk production the faeces of silkworm droppings are used for making tea! There is also a lucrative market for the caterpillars as these are delicious grilled! While the income from rice production is irregular and depends on the weather particularly during the harvesting time silk production assures a regular monthly income. Through this regular income E’s entire family benefits. Her family consists of seven people : her mother and father, two brothers, her husband, her baby and herself. Their living conditions have considerably improved.

“With this additional income we can purchase more: meat, clothes … But I have not yet been able to afford a television! ”

E. is one of the best in the village for silk production and has acquired autonomy by the means of this activity. She has learned how to reproduce silkworms and by so doing avoids the cost of buying them. On the other hand she does not maintain a plantation of mulberry trees and is therefore obligated to buy the mulberry leaves to feed her caterpillars. She still hopes to find extra time to do that and thereby further reduce costs. She has become independent and wishes to continue producing silk. She would like to return to school but does not think this will be possible. The entire family now depends on her.

“Life was hard before I had the opportunity of participating in the silk project. If I was not producing silk I would be growing vegetables but income from that is lower. I hope to continue producing silk »