Relief Packages for Remote Villages in Laos

On the Road in the Mountains and Forests of Laos – Help That Reaches Those in Need

For seven years now, our friend Florian has been living and working in Laos. Together with his partner Keo and her family, he spends part of his free time supporting people in remote mountain and forest villages – places where hardly anyone else goes.

Laos, the “Land of a Million Elephants,” is known for its rugged mountain ranges, lush forests, and tropical climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, many dirt tracks turn into slippery mud slides, while in the dry season, the dusty wind makes travel even more challenging. The vegetation ranges from dense monsoon forests and bamboo groves to teak and frangipani trees, with rice fields shining bright green in between.

Their missions often begin with a scouting trip by motorbike. The paths are rarely paved, often just narrow gravel or clay tracks winding steeply through the hills and forests. This is the only way to reach villages that are nearly inaccessible by car. Once there, they speak with the village leaders, compile lists of the most urgent needs – and then set out to purchase supplies.

With a small truck and motorbikes, they head back into the mountains. On board: packages containing all the essentials – rice, lentils, noodles, cooking oil, and hygiene items. The aid is primarily directed to widows and widowers, single parents, families with disabled members, and elderly people, who are especially affected by the harsh living conditions.

Houses in these areas are typically built from simple natural materials such as bamboo, palm leaves, or rough-hewn wooden planks – from a Western perspective, merely basic shelter from heat, heavy rain, or cold. Tourists never find their way into these corners of the country. The people here live much as they have for generations, in harmony with nature, meeting the challenges of daily life with remarkable resilience and dignity.

The local team usually consists of five people: Keo handles the translations, while Florian captures the events in photos and videos. In 2019, Alexandra was also on site, helping with the distribution and gaining first-hand insight into the living conditions.

Almost every month, they set out again – thanks to our friends on the ground, this work continues steadily throughout the year.