Early in the morning we begin our drive from the TerraClear factory. Turning off the main road, we quickly find ourselves on unpaved roads filled with orange dust and often have to cross a stream or two to reach some of the most remote, rural schools. We usually travel only 40-50 kilometers (30-40 miles) to reach a school, but our journey usually takes between one and a half to two hours to arrive. Some of the schools we visit don’t yet have electricity. Over the past 8 weeks, the TerraKids team visited 14 schools in one school district and our team recently received an invitation to visit 10 schools in a different district. We has been so encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response from school officials and students.
One of the highlights of our school visits is being able to give the gift of clean water to each classroom at the schools we visit. Our staff is able to help teachers understand how to use the TerraClear water filters and how to keep them clean and functioning well. In addition, our trainers present educational programs about the importance of clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, children’s rights, and avoiding human trafficking. We are thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in the rural schools on this region.
Another highlight of visiting each of these schools has been sharing the gift of new backpacks filled with school supplies for students whose families have not been able to afford these items. At each school we visit, teachers identify needy students and we are able to pass along these items thanks to the generous donations of our partners and friends . These gifts are another way to encourage students to stay in school here in southern Laos. The gleeful smiles and happy faces you see in the photo below are a joy to experience!
We continue to depend on donations to help us place water filters in schools here in rural southern Laos and fund the workshops that teach children to care for their health and hygiene and teach them about their rights. Please join our growing team of supporters today by visiting our donation page.
