Houy Khaung
Completed: January 2017
Completed: January 2017
Location and Access
Located inland from the banks of the Mekong River, Houy Khaung Village is approximately 2 hours north via slow boat from Luang Prabang and 30 minutes overland. Accessibility is via the Mekong River and reaching the village can be achieved throughout the year. Supplies that can’t be sourced from the community directly will be shipped up the Mekong from Luang Prabang and transported by songthaew to the village.
Located inland from the banks of the Mekong River, Houy Khaung Village is approximately 2 hours north via slow boat from Luang Prabang and 30 minutes overland. Accessibility is via the Mekong River and reaching the village can be achieved throughout the year. Supplies that can’t be sourced from the community directly will be shipped up the Mekong from Luang Prabang and transported by songthaew to the village.
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The Economy
The economy is predominantly farming and fishing. With such close proximity to the Mekong River fishing to sell locally or at the market is a main source of income. The surrounding mountains and valley’s provide grounds for agriculture. Valleys of paddy fields juxtaposed by hills steeped in teak trees. Slash and burn is evident and indeed prevalent during the month of March. |
Demographic
There are a variety of houses ranging from semi-concrete and wooden structures through to wooden shacks. Population totals 411 spread across 84 families. |
Condition of sanitation in Houy Khaung pre-project
Out of 84 family households, more than half the community suffer from no adequate sanitation facility. Moreover, many toilet units within the community are inadequate. Volun-Tour Laos will look to construct over 40 individual units.
Out of 84 family households, more than half the community suffer from no adequate sanitation facility. Moreover, many toilet units within the community are inadequate. Volun-Tour Laos will look to construct over 40 individual units.
The Project:
To assist locals in the construction of a new toilet units for households in the community
To assist locals in the construction of a new toilet units for households in the community
Photos showing previous VTL work done on providing toilets to rural Lao communities.
Why is this work so important?
Why is this work so important?
· Diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for one third of all undernutrition cases and one tenth of deaths among Lao children under the age of 5
· Over a third of Laotians lack proper sanitation, practising ‘open defecation’, and only 19% of children’s faeces are disposed of safely
· While urban sanitation access in Lao PDR is 90%, 50% of rural households are still practicing open defecation and/or using unimproved sanitation as of 2012. This is far below the average for rural sanitation access in Eastern Asia (excluding China) of 83%
· During the last decade child malnutrition has improved very marginally and almost 49% of rural children were stunted in 2011
· Stunting has a permanent impact on the life of a child. It does not only affect the child’s height, but also her/his cognitive abilities. Stunted children are likely to become less productive adults, and be less able to contribute to their country’s growth and prosperity
· The poorest segments of the population are suffering most from the lack of improved sanitation facilities: in 2011, only 13% of the poorest households (100% of the richest households) were using improved sanitation
Why is this work so important?
· Diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for one third of all undernutrition cases and one tenth of deaths among Lao children under the age of 5
· Over a third of Laotians lack proper sanitation, practising ‘open defecation’, and only 19% of children’s faeces are disposed of safely
· While urban sanitation access in Lao PDR is 90%, 50% of rural households are still practicing open defecation and/or using unimproved sanitation as of 2012. This is far below the average for rural sanitation access in Eastern Asia (excluding China) of 83%
· During the last decade child malnutrition has improved very marginally and almost 49% of rural children were stunted in 2011
· Stunting has a permanent impact on the life of a child. It does not only affect the child’s height, but also her/his cognitive abilities. Stunted children are likely to become less productive adults, and be less able to contribute to their country’s growth and prosperity
· The poorest segments of the population are suffering most from the lack of improved sanitation facilities: in 2011, only 13% of the poorest households (100% of the richest households) were using improved sanitation
A volunteer team arriving on site
Supplies arriving in Houy Khaung