Our team also took water samples from the unfiltered water and had them tested to determine what heavy metals and other contaminants the community is facing. Those tests revealed that heavy metals and chemicals are within acceptable limits but E. coli is high. Next, we will test for those after filtration.

In Mae Pa Pai, the community selected a Community Trash Cleanup as their seed project. When our team arrived to help out, the streets were lined with local men trimming back trees and grass and local women picking up trash. The Village Chief was even there in his farming clothes! We were so impressed with their ability to mobilise people to action! Having cleaned the street, the group turned their attention to the local Buddhist temple where the monk came out and helped clean. After the temple was clean, the plan was to then move to another street, some locally prominent areas, and then to the areas in front of everyone’s homes. Unfortunately, by this time, nearly everyone went back home. A few people did keep cleaning as planned though! At our next community meeting, we plan to discuss the community’s initial plan and what actually came to pass and brainstorm why the two were so different.

Thank you!