Houy Pan (Phase 2)
Completed (January 2016)
Completed (January 2016)
Village Chief standing next to the completed communal latrine (February 2016)
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Location and Access
Approximately 50km to the north of Luang Prabang sits the village of Houy Pan. The majority of the route from the city is via the major road (route 13) northbound with a turn off and a few hundred metres of dirt track downhill to reach the community. Accessibility is therefore very good, even in the most severe periods of the rainy season supply runs should be achievable. The community is surrounded by mountainous terrain and sits in a valley where a small creek encircles the village. 
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The Economy
The economy is predominantly farming; the majority of locals working on the surrounding mountainsides. The proximity to the Nam Ou River also makes fishing a source of income to the community, though the new dam on the Nam Ou may alter the viability of fishing depending on the effects it has on the river and fish stock pattern. |
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Demographic
The village is home to 113 families with a total population of 513. Two minority ethnicities reside in the community with 30 families being Khmu and the rest Lao Leu. The village is densely populated, giving the sense that households are almost built on top of each other; homes consist of a variety of wooden shacks with several homes constructed with bricks. |
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The Project:
To assist the local community in the construction of a communal latrine unit for the village community centre.
To assist the local community in the construction of a communal latrine unit for the village community centre.
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In July 2015, Volun-Tour Laos completed the construction of a gravity flow water system. This system will provide great benefits to the community now that they have a year-round supply of clean running water.
In an effort to continue improving the health and wellbeing of locals within the community, VTL will commence work in November to complete a communal sanitation facility (much like the one pictured to the left) for the village community centre. What is more, we will run hygiene workshops throughout the project in an effort to raise awareness within the village on the importance of practicing safe hygiene. |
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According to UNICEF, "In Lao PDR, an estimated 10% of under-five deaths are due to diarrhoea. The data show a strong association between water and sanitation (WASH) and diarrhoea, underweight and stunting." Therefore, the importance of not only providing the facility but utilising the community centre as a source of education on the importance of sanitation is vital in preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases. UNICEF continue, “Many rural communities are unaware of appropriate sanitation and hygiene practices. "
Style of work for volunteers
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We have recently completed a very similar project in another rural community as part of a three phased development program. With Houy Pan however, we are seeking to develop the community to become a hub within the surrounding area. There are twelve smaller communities in close proximity to Houy Pan who will work with the community to understand the processes of implementing a project. We will then seek to deliver development to these surrounding communities and use Houy Pan as a model village.
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There will be minor sanitation work in Houy Pan subsequent to this project. The plumbing of sanitation units to utilise the increased water supply. Moreover, the school could be a potential site for expansion. Currently the village has a large primary school utilised by many from the surrounding communities. It may well be that there is potential to bring higher education to Houy Pan.
Why is rural sanitation 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
· 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
Around Houy Pan
By December the unit is starting to take shape, with the concrete cast and structure in place. Over Christmas the locals will keep the project moving forward and out final volunteer group at the end of December will add the finishing touches.
The completed unit in January 2016.
he communal system will act as a model for the community to understand the construction process and to be used to educate locals on the importance of safe hygiene practice.
These education workshops will take place over the next few months before construction begins on individual toilets for all the families currently in need of one.
he communal system will act as a model for the community to understand the construction process and to be used to educate locals on the importance of safe hygiene practice.
These education workshops will take place over the next few months before construction begins on individual toilets for all the families currently in need of one.
