Laos

Partner in Laos

Please pray in response to the points raised below.

Project Specific

• We have just had our first experience with doing opium detoxification.  This was an exciting period for our staff and we learned a lot.  Now the center based portion is over (for 30 participants) and the real test remains, how will the participants cope once they are in the village and face various stresses and temptations to return to opium use.  Government detox sessions in the area have proven to have a 90% failure rate!   
• We are trusting that we will have approval for beginning a new integrated development project in the province of Phongsaly.  We have some funds to get the project started, but we will be needed to identify additional sources to ensure that we are able to carry out the activities to meet the needs of the remote communities being targeted.
• Once approved, a big task will also be identifying the right staff for the project.  We have some staff now in Xieng Khouang project who can move to Phongsaly, but it is important priority to hire female staff in the areas of health and education andin particular the project would benefit from identifying at least 1 or 2 ethnic Akha staff as 7 of the 12 target villages are Akha (they called themselves Er-See). 
• Once Phongsaly is approved, we will also be starting to recruit one additional expat to support capacity building of the staff in both project areas.  We  would like to have a second international staff in country as Program Advisor.
• One of our project staff will be travelling to Canada with his family, for a two month period, at the end of June 2008, for deputation, speaking in churches and at vacation bible school, etc.   He has not been home to Canada for a break since Dec 2004.
• September 08 is a big date for the project in Xieng Khouang as we will carry out a project evaluation.  This evaluation will form the basis of our request to extend our work in Xieng Khouang beyond the 5 years approved in Phase 1.

Country Specific

• Logging resulting in deforestation and land concessions for plantations are both having a big impact on the lives of the poorest communities in Laos.  Some communities are being relocated in order to make room for large plantations.  Laos used to be over 70% forested, currently down to about 30% and more going out daily.  There has already been an impact on climate with some of the reservoirs having their lowest water levels ever.  It appears that cutting down the trees today puts money into somebody's pockets tomorrow; the short term interest of those who stand to benefit from making "the wrong" decision blots out all other considerations.
• There are some 8000 Hmong living in Phetchabun camp.  Thailand and Laos are discussing extensively concerning repatriating them, although many do not want to be repatriated.           

This page was last updated on 14 November 2007