Attapeu : hospital project

Inauguration of the new nursery

In order to address the need of the staff, SFE opened a nursery at Attopeu hospital on June 21. Women represent indeed 80 % of of the employees in the hospital. So far, there was nothing organized to take care of the children for the staff. This situation made the daily work of these women quite complicated, and they only have a very limited time to follow training courses. Since February, several members of SFE staff in Attopeu worked with zeal on the project, in spite of some unfortunate incidents in the course of its realization.

Sekong and Attapeu

Midway evaluation of the projects

May 15 in Sekong and May 16-17 in Attapeu have been important dates for three SFE projects. In Attapeu came the evaluation of the TB control project and of the hospital and community development project, in the presence of the local authorities and representatives of the Ministries. As a reminder, each project has first to be agreed upon by the government under a three years “Master of Understanding (MOU)”, and there is an evaluation in the middle of the contract duration. At this occasion, SFE presents the work accomplished so far and the objectives for the following period. This gives the opportunity to know what the authorities think about the work done and make some adjustments when necessary. The result of these evaluations was very positive and SFE received congratulations for its work. The authorities concluded several times with this sentence: “Working for the underprivileged populations of Laos is equivalent to working for the whole country”. This gratitude is a very nice recognition of our service.

Attapeu: community development

Installation of gravity water supply systems

The community development team in Attopeu is presently working for the construction of a water supply system in the village of Saydongkhong, which has 500 inhabitants and no other water supply than the river. A water supply by gravity will be implemented, taking water from the river about 2 km from the village. The system will bring water to 5 pumps in different places of the village, and provide the health center with running water. The work is rather difficult, as they have to cut a path from the river to the village through an area covered with big trees and rocks. When the village is reached, the construction of the reservoir and of the water supply sites will start.

In the same village, the team and the villagers have started to build toilets. SFE plans to build some 400 toilets this year in the different villages where we work.

Moreover, SFE is working at the setting up of vegetable gardens. It has started this activity in 7 villages so far, and the results are promising. SFE provides seeds and garden tools (hoe, rake, watering can, …). The villagers build their own fence themselves, and they sow and plant different vegetables according to the training provided by the SFE team.

Savannakhet : hôpital ophtalmologique

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Sekong: TB project

At the end of 2011, the staff of the provincial hospital in Sekong expressed their need and asked help from SFE to rebuild 45 mattresses. The generosity of our donors allowed SFE to honor this request, and we could eventually provide the hospital with new mattresses. April 8, an official ceremony was organized to acknowledge the donation of these new mattresses.

Moreover, they had a second request about anti-radiation protective aprons for the radiological unit. These aprons have been graciously offered by a French radiology office.

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 »