River Book Boat

The Democratic People's Republic of Laos is the only landlocked country and at the same time the most sparsely populated country on the Southeast Asian continent. It is characterised by the combination of mountain ranges and cut river valleys, as well as the fact that about 50% of the country is covered by dense forests. Often, the Mekong River and its tributaries are the only transportation alternative to the poorly developed road network, which is particularly important in the northern part of the country, with a population of 7 million inhabitants. The inaccessible terrain makes it extremely difficult to gain access to a reliable source of water and sanitation. This lack of access to clean water and toilets is the breeding ground for many childhood illnesses. Due to the impact it has on the health and well-being of the children, school attendance is significantly reduced and learning opportunities are diminished. Twice a month the "Ou Book Boat", or the boat of the British NGO "Baraka Community Partnerships" together with its local partner "CLI", reaches 44 villages and their schools alongside the 390 km long "Nam Ou" river in order to fight these problems. In addition to the distribution of daily hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes etc), there are also regular education campaigns on how to deal with the lack of clean water and sanitation facilities. The book boat also provides books, pens, pencils and notebooks as well conducting a variety of fun and educational sessions for the children.

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