NEWS IN BRIEF-August 5, 2008

August 5, 2008

COMPLETION OF BAN LIENG SECONDARY SCHOOL INSPECTION

There are three scheduled building inspections during the course of the construction at Ban Lieng Secondary School. The building is inspected for construction requirements according to the plan within the projected time frame.  Officials from the District Education Department, representatives from the Provincial Government and Indigo Threads Director sign off on the accepted completed requirements.  During the first inspection, the structural engineer noted there was not adequate support to accommodate the composition roofing material that had been selected after the original plan had been accepted.  Additional wood beams and tie down rebar were added to the roof framework.  The final inspection of the completed school is projected for Friday, August 22, 2008.  Shortly after, Indigo Threads will formally donate the school building to the District Education Department handing over the symbolic keys to the Director at a special Donation/ Dedication Ceremony.  As students from 23 different villages attend this secondary school, village leaders and elders from all 23 villages will be invited to the ceremony followed by an appreciation party.

PRIMARY SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM PROPOSED

Health care is not available to poor rural families, as in many parts of the world. Families rely on traditional medicine using herbs, bark tea and other remedies pasted down through generations.  We believe traditional medicine and modern medicine can work in conjunction with each other.   INDIGO THREADS works with village families providing emergency health care-hospitalization, surgery, Doctor visits, transportation and medication for colds to malaria. Recently, we provided malaria medicine for an entire village that had been suffering untreated.  Vitamins are one of the most requested items we receive.  INDIGO THREADS has proposed a School Health Care Pilot Program for students.  In cooperation with the District Public Health Department and the District Education Department, a nurse will examine the students at school every two months.  INDIGO THREADS will purchase prescribed medicines if needed.  Screening the students for illness will allow them to be treated for detected illnesses earlier resulting in less absent days from school.  In general, this Program will create a healthier community.  Reported by the UN, one-half of rural Laotian children 5 years old and under suffer from chronic malnutrition.

WE WELCOME YOU TO VISIT US IN SOUTHERN LAOS

We are offering a second visit to Southern Laos on January 13, 2009 in support of INDIGO THREADS Education Support and Village Development Humanitarian Organization.  You will have the opportunity to have hands on participation in INDIGO THREADS Education Support and Village Development Programs.  Our years of humanitarian work enable us to provide you with personal interactive experiences with village chiefs, friendly villagers, dedicated teachers, curious students, ethnic cultural events and Buddhist ceremonies.  Southern Laos has several sights of interest, many centered on the legendary Mekong River.  Villagers, not often visited by foreigners, share their intricate labor-intensive handmade crafts.  Our intent is for you to experience ‘authentic’ Laotian life, its customs and friendly people with a better understanding of survival poverty in a developing country and its far-reaching long-term consequences.  The small group visit of 5 people is 11 days, 10 nights commencing in Pakse, Laos.  The cost is $1,400. with exclusions.  For more information contact Shelly at krantzdech@earthlink.net  My sisters and friends visited us last year at the same time of the year. Please refer to the ‘blog’ on this website FAMILY AND FRIENDS

VISIT INDIGO THREADS. 

Indigo Threads office will be moving from Thalang Village to a larger property located at Sanamsai Village across from the UN World Food Program in Pakse.  The villa style house will also serve as the Director’s living quarters.  The new location will allow us to expand our Programs and provide adequate space for future developmental needs. We anticipate growing some of our own vegetables for our healthy School Lunch Program.   The School Lunch Program is prepared daily at our office and transported to the schools.  In development, is a small Volunteer Program for elders and or students to participate in our education and poverty reduction programs. Volunteers will stay at our headquarters house in Sanamsai Village while working with INDIGO THREADS Programs. This is a special opportunity not often experienced by tourist and funded by a designated donation.

We will be happy to provide more information on any of the above subjects. Our School Heath Care Pilot Program needs your support to help us give these students a better start in life with health care.  Because of poor early childhood nutrition, students lag behind academically.  Often students are not able to learn, which results in dropping out of school.

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