April is the hottest and driest month in Laos. The rains will start in June, but it has been at least 5 months since rain cooled and watered the land. In Dak Cheung, a very mountainous area of southern Laos, the steep mountain roads become impassible not because of mud but because the soil dries to a fine powder that is inches deep. Trucks and motorcycles slip and slide on the hills in the powdery dirt. It is very difficult to maintain traction!
The TerraCare sales representatives, Kadam and Lumphan, spent 4 hours struggling on their motorbikes up the slippery slopes. They travelled in pairs because the road conditions are questionable enough that it is always good to have someone to help in case of trouble.
When they arrived in DakSeum Village, they explained about the importance of clean water and how by using a TerraClear ceramic filter, everyone in their homes could have clean drinking water. Just put the river water into the filter and clean water comes out. Many families were interested and 11 familied qualified to receive subsidized filters. Paying $5 (about 10% of the cost of the filter), these needy families qualified to receive the filter along with 4 trainings on clean water, handwashing, and the dangers of open defecation. The families were so excited, they asked when they could get the filters. With the road conditions so bad, Kadam and Lumphan worried that they could not carry the filters to the village.
The villagers offered a good idea: Could they come down the mountain and each family carry their own filter back up? Yes! That was a great solution. Two weeks later, the TerraClear truck was able to bring the filters to the bottom of the mountain. Then all 11 families plus some other families who bought the filters at full price met Kadam and Lumphan in that village at the bottom of the mountain. They received their filters as well as their first training about clean water and handwashing. Then each family carried their own filters up the mountain.
These families REALLY wanted clean water!!!
