Where will the school be built?
It will be in Ban Nalung – an amazingly beautiful village, located about 25 km away from Nong Khiaw near the Nam Ou river. The village is nestled in a narrow valley surrounded by magnificent 1200m lime-stone mountains. There are 3 ethnic minorities living together in this village, including Lao-Lum, Khmu and Hmong and resulting in a rich and diverse culture with remarkable differences in religion, way of life, language and handicrafts.
Why Ban Naluang?
Ban Naluang is one of the Fair Trek communities of Tiger Trail, known as Culture Lodge Program. As Tiger Trail drew near to the village on normal trekking tours, the needs in the village were striking and obvious. The earnings generated by Fair Trek” tour are invested in the Village Fund to improve health care, education and local infrastructure. Lack of proper school facility undermines the future of the next generation of this community. This is why it’s time for us to step over our core operation, and start the first clay school in Ban Naluang.
Where will I sleep?
Depends on the availability at the time of your visit. You could be staying at the Culture Lodge, which can host only 6-8 people. Home stay as well as sleeping in a hammock or tent is also possible. The villagers sometime have hydro-electricity in the wet season. Candles are provided otherwise. There are limited bedding from the community, so bring your own sleeping bag would be an ideal. A natural outdoor toilet is available and washing is river-style…
What will I eat?
The host community normally can offer local and/or forest food. However, contributing food food from outside is recommended. Purified water from a small clay water filter is available. Boiled-drinking water is also fine there.
What will I do at the village?
Your main tasks will be giving a hand on the school construction, depending on the existing stage. It could be mud-brick making, or helping with construction of the concrete foundation, or building the adobe walls!. There are also other village activities which are actually the villagers’ day-to-day tasks, such as cooking, cotton processing, basket making, animal tending, planting, harvesting, and so on. Don’t miss such real experience!
What should I bring?
- Trekking shoes or sandals
- Flip-flops
- A warm jacket for the evening (October – February)
- A raining jacket (May – September)
- Light clothes (prepare to get muddy!)
- Gloves and masks for construction
- Rubber work boots (if you can’t work bare foot with mud)
- Towel (and Sarong for women’s bathe)
- Flashlight
- Insect repellent
- Sleeping bag
- Silk or light cotton sleep sack (if you wish)
- Camera
- Personal toiletries
- Medical kits
- Books, stationeries, or games for children if desired
- Extra money for possible donations or handicraft shopping
