MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LAOS

Hinmou Peung. Some of the 20 kids at the School. 
Hinmou Pong - making ‘lids’ for the headworks tank 

ROTARY GLOBAL GRANT 1412794
​for water projects in Lao pdr

Lao Water Supply and Sanitation Project
In Xiengkhouang Province,
​Lao PDR


The Rotary club of Lindfield has combined with a number of other Rotary clubs in Australia to undertake a water supply project in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.  
Hugh Hamlyn-Harris, from the Lindfield club, is returning as project manager for the water supply project. 

Rotary is providing the engineering expertise plus all equipment and materials for the project, while the local Ban Xai men and women are contributing their labour.  Under the MiVAC umbrella, Rotary clubs are making a difference for Ban Xai and similar communities in health services, agriculture and tourism and so assist these locals to overcome their poverty.

The project is part of a wider program of work being instigated by a non-government organisation called MiVAC (Mines Victims and Clearance Trust).   MiVAC consists predominately of Australian veterans from the Indo-China war and supporters who are committed to improve the lives of Laotian people in this poverty stricken country.  During the war, Laos was extensively bombed. Unexploded ordinance in the form of bombs and mines still litter the countryside today, 40 years after the cessation of hostilities. Each year there are many injuries and deaths resulting from this devastating legacy of the war and large tracts of land remain inaccessible for farming.

The Rotary water project will provide   clean water to 700 people in the village of Ban Xai which is in one of the most seriously affected areas.  The project involves the laying of 4km gravity pipeline plus a pump station and a further 2km of rising main to transfer the water to a holding tank in the village.

Hugh Hamlyn Harris returned on the 17th November from 7 weeks in Thailand and Lao PDR. His reason for the trip was to help with the planning of a project and preparation of a Global Grant which a number of clubs in District 9685 are undertaking, together with clubs in District 9455 in Western Australia..

Once in Lao, he had a multi-tasked role of finalising a water supply project that Lindfield, Mosman, Kuringai and Lane Cove clubs commenced the year before. It was very heartening to see what is now a free flow of water to stand-pipes in the remote village of Ban Xai where previously water had to be carted manually from wells some hundreds of meters distance.
• His role included discussions with district and provincial government officials on outstanding issues, then finalising the work to a stage of Practical Completion to their satisfaction.
• His planning activities also included investigating the cost of materials and equipment that will be required for the next project.
Overall, his trip was very successful; he was pleased that he was able to foster a much closer relationship with the Chiangmai club and gathered invaluable information for planning and budgeting of our Global Grant submission.'

TRAINING REPORT -
​BAN NAXAYTHONG
What:  Health & Hygiene training, incorporating water maintenance, water care and use, and village fines for not caring for system

When:  Training was conducted on 12 and 13 March 2015.

Where:  In the school at Naxaythong, but due to high numbers, some spilled outside.

Who:  Between 200 and 300 villagers from Naxaythong attended.  Their view (as reported by Moua) was that the training was very beneficial.

By Whom:  The Phoukood District Health Team of 5 staff, led by Mr Syamphay (ie Mr Water 2)

How:  Using charts (eg do’s and don’ts of hand care), laptop and OHP, drawing & writing on blackboards, training aids such as soap, and a combination of lecture style; Q&A; and some discussions.  A final Q&A session was busy with questions.

Conclusion:  Very useful and needed, well received by the villagers.

THE  LAO SEWINg
PROJECT

Picture
These two children are proudly wearing their new outfits.

​While I was on site last year we invited ladies in the nearby villages to express their interest in being trained in sewing skills.  Six enthusiastic ladies were sponsored to undertake a sewing course in the nearby town of Phonsavan.  One of the ladies showed her enthusiasm by topping the course!  

Now, a year later, I am back in Lao and MiVAC has decided to assist five of the ladies to establish a business in making children’s school uniforms.  

The venture was launched only last week in a room built and decorated for the purpose. MiVAC fitted out the work place with sewing machines, overlocker, iron, tables and all the required materials for the uniforms.  MiVAC is also sponsoring the venture for three months, to enable it to become self –supporting.

The photos show the newly renovated premises and a few of the ladies who are contributing in the venture.  Two young students are modelling the newly sewn uniforms.

Hugh Hamlyn-Harris
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3. Water source location at base of black line, taken from hilltop in Ban Naxaythong.  The holding tank is located on this hilltop.  Pipeline heading off to holding tank.
4. Headworks tank - slab poured.  Vertical reo added, and formwork being fabricated.
5. The weir at the water source.  Note - two supply pipes used - due to likely supply flow rate to holding tank vs delivery flow rate to village.  Inlet filters yet to be installed.
6. The finished headworks tank prior to placing roof slabs. Concrete & steel carried up to site by local village people.
7. Holding Tank. Area for tank excavated - initially by hand, but due to volume (16m3) & soil hardness, villagers paid for excavator.    
8. Holding Tank. Slab poured - 6m x 4m x 180mm - with starter bars for tank walls.

9. Holding Tank. Steel reo tied, and formwork completed.  Walls 1500mm high, 180mm thick.
10. Holding Tank. 75 villagers poured the concrete walls for the holding tank - 8m3 or 19 tonnes - in 2 hours using spades & buckets, with 2 concrete mixers.
 11. River Crossing. 71 metre crossing using 63mm poly pipe in position attached to anchored 14mm steel wire rope to right, concrete support post in photo centre, shear legs (at 43m point) on far bank and another concrete support post and anchor at 71m point on far bank. UV protection for the pipe was provided by cutting lengthwise some 90mm poly pipe, attaching the upper half to the top of the 63mm pipe.  The coils of both pipes then acted like a spring when released from the bridge, causing the pipe to wrap python like around the cable.
12. Water Point. Slab for first water point with initial concrete batch in place, with more being mixed.  The long “handle” shape coming towards camera is the diverting drain. There are eleven WP throughout the village.

school water supply

The school was intended to have water supplied to its holding tank via a pipe from the new, higher holding tank near the southern section holding tank (WP1). However, the static head of the water from the water source is too low for a new holding tank to be constructed. The head of water from the source is also too low to supply the school holding tank. Previous GPS elevations reveal that the water source at the southern section springs are at the same level as the school tank inlet. A branch pipe 200M downstream from the source at a higher position will be tested to see if there is enough head to provide a small water point downhill from the school but it is doubtful. However, over the last week the springs at the source have almost dried up. This test may be carried out when the water level rises. 

MIVAC