This month, in Mae Pa Pai, our team’s goal was to move the Transformational Community Development (TCD) Village Committees closer to enacting their first real project. Gratefully, we have been able to visit much more regularly as COVID-19 restrictions have lifted and the rainy season is ending. Our meetings have consisted of problem and solution tree diagrams for all committees, small business Income Generation lessons for the weaving committee and prioritizing lessons for the Water/trash/pig raising committees. The committees have selected their first projects and are in the beginning stages of planning them. We are proud of their continued interest in the work and patience with the process as we do not simply seek to build things together but to build their capacity to plan and organize their own projects in the future.

In Huay Wai, the road situation is so bad that we have been unable to visit. Gratefully, the rainy season is almost over and the roads are drying up. This means that it is time to do road construction. We worked with an engineer in the United States to identify low cost and low tech methods to build better roads using locally available materials and tools. We met with our local Champion online and explained the tips to him. We were thrilled when he sent us photos of the community down in the local stream collecting sand for the road construction. This is very hard work but the community truly sees the value after the road has been impassable for so long. We are excited to help them build a better road to their community soon.