So how is the project going you might ask. The bad news is that the answer is boring our recent progress has increased the size of the filter according to plan and is continuing smoothly. Currently the filter is 2.7 litres. The aim is for a final size between 5 and 8 litres.
Over the past fortnight we have initiated information gathering activities to seek more feedback from the remote villagers who will be using it.
We are trying a few different techniques to determine the best way to gather information.
We are gathering feedback from three different communities with three different liaison officers using three different approaches.
The first approach involves a foreign expatriate traveling to remote villages where he will demonstrate the filter using a video of the filter and the production process. Villagers will be solicited for their feedback.
The second approach is based in the capital, Vientiane, and it focuses on migrant seasonal workers. Most of these workers are from ethnic minorities and will return to their villages after a short work stint in the city. Many of these villages have problems with liver and lung flukes. While the workers are in Vientiane an expatriate liaison will use actual filters to gather feedback from the ethnic workers.
The third approach relies upon a local villager who is a respected member of an ethnic village. He will be shown the filter and explained how it is made and used. He will then be provided with photographs of the filter and seek out feedback from his and several other local villages.
Our intention is to use the results from this brief test to inform our decision when we are choosing our communication and local engagement approach.
Abundant Water ABN 74 867 217 898 in partnership with Global Development Group