This is Clare Rutz reporting from Vientiane in Laos.

As an In-The-Field traveler I was able to see a side of Laos that most backpackers wouldn’t. I was able to talk to the people, visit their homes, and catch a glimpse of their daily lives. SEDA, a small non-profit that reaches out to many different communities with a thoughtful approach to each, gave me the opportunity to ask what it was the people of Vientiane and the surrounding villages needed. Their response was often exactly what SEDA was determined to help them with.

Some projects help thousands of people, while others help just one, but when given the chance to see the smile that comes from that one person in thanks for what was given to them, you do not question the importance of such philanthropy. Andee is a twelve-year-old girl who was completely paralyzed until six months ago. With physical therapy and medicine that helps rejuvenate her nerve cells given to her by SEDA she is able to show some movement. When asked to move her arms she did with a proud smile immediately following her accomplishment. I was fortunate enough to come on a day where Souly, the founder of SEDA, was delivering a surprise to Andee. We had brought a full set of sheets and a bright pink blanket for her bare mattress. Her simple joy for such simple amenities could easily ground anyone. With the right funding another surprise will hopefully make its way to Andee. Souly is currently looking for a hospital bed that will help her with physiotherapy and exercise!

Jumping back into the car we head towards another project of SEDA’s. We are visiting a woman who is apart of the microfinance opportunity that SEDA provides. When we arrive the first thing I notice is the spinning wheel. It’s the main attraction of the tiny building the family resides in. “Without the spinning wheel there would be no building”, was what I was told after I asked how their lives changed since the microfinance program. It provides them with a job that pays for the necessities. The microfinance project gives three to four hundred women loans in order to start spinning. The women collect old collars and bits of cloth from the factories and spin it back to useable string. SEDA provides the loans and helps the women with marketing. They are required to set up a group of five to ten women with one accountant and one secretary, and as a team they are responsible for repaying their loans. The interest rates compared to the local banks are extremely low, which allow the women to take the risk and begin working. The program provides a sustainable income for these women, and sustainability is a large component to the path towards self-reliance, the greatest goal of SEDA.

Our last stop is a once abandoned house that was previously owned by a USAID worker. The swimming pool is empty and weeds burst from the cracks, but something remarkable is going on in the backyard. A greenhouse full of potted plants is the beginning of a huge step forward for the farmers of Laos. SEDA is researching the most effective farming techniques that can be taught to farmers to increase the quality and quantity of their agricultural goods. They are also researching “cash crops”, which are the crops that are in high demand. Agarwood is the leading product in this field, and SEDA is making long strides to grow this special wood used for medicine and cosmetics, distribute the seedlings, and train farmers on how to tend to the crop. The difficulties of the process include the transportation of the seedlings, which is very costly and the training. Agarwood needs to be grown in a very specific way in order for the quality to be adequate enough to use, therefore, the training process will need to be long and thorough. With each great idea come obstacles! Follow the progress of SEDA on their page on GlobalGiving at: www.globalgiving.com/2219 to check up on Andee and to support the women in the microfinance program go to www.globalgiving.com/2504. To read about the agricultural program that completed its funding goal go to www.globalgiving.com/2012.

When asked what she would tell her friends about this project, Clare said: "Great: They are making a difference."

Pictures:

• SEDA (JPG)

It is Andee’s 13th birthday next week, and SEDA is preparing a birthday party for her. Andee’s family will be there, alongside SEDA volunteer, Scott, who has been teaching her English for three months, and Souly QuachAngkham, the founder of SEDA.

“I hope this will be a very special birthday for Andee, and with donations through Global Giving, we might be able to make it really special by getting Andee a therapeutic bed so that she can do exercises to make her stronger,” says Souly. “If any of our supporters have a second hand bed, or have contacts that could help SEDA obtain a bed, please do let us know; we can arrange shipment to Laos.”

Last week the Laos Wheelchair Handicap centre visited Andee to measure her so that they can build her a custom wheelchair, as she has outgrown her old one.
Scott is leaving SEDA in October, and is sad to be saying goodbye to Andee: “teaching Andee has been a highlight of my time with SEDA. She is a very special and bright girl.”

Scott will be replaced by a new volunteer in October, so Andee’s lessons will continue.

Please donate to Andee: her caretaker family is very poor and they need help to provide her with basic care, such as special foods, medicines and equipment. Andee needs the help of Global Giving supporters to help improve her condition and become strong and healthy.

Thanks to generous donations, Andee’s treatment has been continuing to go well. She has been receiving her medicines and foods and her condition continues to improve.

SEDA has also been helping Andee by providing her with English lessons. Volunteer teacher, Scott Milne, has been giving Andee free lessons three times a week.

It has been almost six weeks since Scott met Andee, and in that time, she has made a big impression

“Working with Andee has been one of the most rewarding and challenging parts of my job in Laos. Andee cannot speak properly, but she is very bright and can understand. I have been teaching her to recognize English words and simple phrases, and using body language to help her communicate with me.”

Andee has never received formal education because of her condition, and keeping her both mentally, and physically, active is an important part of her treatment.

The next step in Andee’s treatment is to raise enough money to buy a therapeutic bed from a hospital. The bed will allow Andee to do basic physiotherapy on her own, and build up her muscle strength.

Andee is a very special girl, and with your help, we can make sure she gets the treatment she needs to have the future she deserves.

Pictures:

• Andee and Scott (JPG)
• Andee (JPG)
• Scott teaches Andee (JPG)

SEDA has also joined the Twitter community. Why not follow our Tweets to find out what's going on in Laos - http://twitter.com/sedalaos

Also, why not join our Facebook group. You can see photos, read the latest reports and have discussions with other supporters!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/SEDA-Laos/93076021515?ref=ts

Links:

• SEDA on Twitter

Pictures:

• SEDA Logo (JPG)

It has been an exciting few months for Andee, all thanks to the donations received through Global Giving.

In July, Andee was given a very special gift; a brand new day bed.

Until now, Andee has been resting on the floor during the day, which has not allowed her space for her basic exercises. Now she can stretch out and further improve her strength.

Andee was delighted to receive a brand new mattress, sheets, pillows and a blanket, all in her favorite color, pink. And when SEDA went to buy Andee’s new bed, the local shop owner was so moved by her story, that she donated some extra towels to Andee as well.

And that’s not all. For the last month, Andee has been receiving English lessons once a week from SEDA volunteer, Will Thomason. Despite her condition, Andee is very bright, and has been learning quickly. Now new SEDA volunteer, Scott Milne, will be taking over and will be able to give her three lessons a week, helping her improve even more.

Scott met Andee for the first time last week and they hit it off straight away:

“Andee is clearly a very special girl and I’m really impressed with how much she has learnt already. I’m looking forward to spending time with her and becoming friends.” - Scott Milne, SEDA volunteer.

Swimming for strength:

Thanks to Andee’s medicines, special diet and exercises she is now ready for the next stage in her program: swimming.

Andee loves being in the water, and is able to move her arms and legs with ease, helping to improve her muscles and her co-ordination.

SEDA is trying to raise the $10 needed each week to send Andee to these important lessons.

More help is needed:

Andee’s progress is slow, but with her fighting spirit and very generous donations, she is getting stronger every day.

The new day bed will make a huge difference to Andee’s progress and her comfort, but it’s not enough.

SEDA is planning to buy her a hospital bed, especially designed to provide Andee with physiotherapy and exercises.

The new bed will help Andee to sit up for longer periods by herself, and eventually help her to stand for the first time.

The special bed will cost $1,500. Please consider donating so that Andee can get the bed she so desperately needs, and continue to pay for all her essential daily medicines and food.

Please donate through global giving. For more information please contact SEDA at
info@seda-laos.org.

Pictures:

• Andee likes her new bed - all in her favourite colour, pink! (JPG)
• Andee with SEDA founder, Souly, enjoys her brand new day bed (JPG)

Special Andee
Written by SEDA Founder/Practitioner Ms. Souly QuachAngkham
Edited by Rebecca Carnevale

Andee is a very special girl who was born an orphan. Her birth mother is Laotian and her birth father is Caucasian –it is not known exactly where he is from. The minute Andee was born her birth mother gave her up to a poor family. In Laos, there are no orphanages. Andee has been living with her step family ever since and she is now 12 years old. Why should we care about her story? Andee was born a perfectly healthy child and was living with a caring family. After six months, Andee became sick and her step parents took her to the hospital after hospital. Twelve years ago the hospitals in Laos provided very slow service and it took a long time for Andee to get a diagnosis and proper medicine. By the time the doctor prescribed her medication, it was too late and, in fact, an overdose was prescribed. As a result of her illness Andee has never been able to walk. Even after her sickness went into remission it turned
out that she was paralyzed and her step parents took her to local hospitals again. Unfortunately, the family came across an unscrupulous doctor who did not successfully treat Andee’s illness and drained her already struggling family of their money. Her parents raised grants from international donors – however the local hospitals took the grants, and continued to provide less than adequate care. Her parents could not continue to take her to the hospital as they had no money left.

I had spotted Andee's house on a walk one day - it was the beautiful flowers in her family’s garden that caught my eye. My colleague suggested we ask the family if we can pick some flowers. We knocked at the door and began to speak with Andee’s step parents about the garden. While we were waiting at the front door, I spotted Andee lying in a chair (one of the plastic stackable kinds) that was obviously not providing her with the comfort or support she needs. Her body was covered with an old towel instead of a blanket. I am the Founder and Bio- Medicine Practitioner for SEDA, so I asked her parents about her medical history and tried to find out if we could help her. Her parents told us that they has tried everything and had given up searching for help. I told them about SEDA’s Rehabilitation Treatment Center (RTC) and the treatments we offer using herbal plants. I explained to them that each patient at the RTC receives an individual assessment to determine a treatment plan. SEDA's mission is to assist the poor in rural areas. As Andee was living in the city, I had to make a special request to the board members to help her. As she was born an orphan and living with a low income family the board agreed SEDA should help her.

Andee can communicate and wants this treatment. The treatments began on July 14, 2008 and each day we have to find a herbal plants for her since the herbs for her treatment are not cultivated. It is therefore quite difficult to help Andee. Her treatments will include the use of three different types of herbs. She will follow a diet of herbal juice, herbal tea, and nutritious food. She will also undergo physical therapy three times a day. We are hoping that with the combination of the herbal treatment, special diet, and physical therapy Andee will be able to walk on her own. I visited Andee July 20 at her home for her physical therapy sessions. She did a very good job and she is gaining strength and control of her fingers and hands. This is a very good sign. Andee has also learned how to count numbers with me. She can understand our communication, but cannot speak. Her step family is very happy to see her learning and hopes that with her exercises/ physical therapy will continue to improve her condition She is very excited to about the treatment. We are hoping that the treatment will last about six months.

While SEDA is helping her, there are some items that Andee needs and her parents cannot afford. She needs powdered milk, diapers, cloths, and a special bed that she can exercise on her own. I can tell she is a fighter from the time I have spent with her. She is very young and needs our support to help her walk. Donations to help buy her personal supplies and bed will help her very much. Each year, her personal and medical expenses are around$4500-5000. Please consider donating to help this brave young girl!
Please donate through global giving. For more information please contact SEDA at
souly@seda-laos.org or info@seda-laos.org .

For the first time in 12 years, Andee was finally able to sit up on her own. As a result of a strict diet and herbal medicines and teas she now sits up at least 20-40 minutes per/day. She was particularly happy to get chance to sit up on her birthday and to see the gifts her friends at SEDA-Laos bought for her.
Zachary App, a volunteer for SEDA, sent Andee t-shirts and stuffed animals. Today, SEDA-Laos is still raising funds for a new mattress and bedding for Andee. Her current mattress is very old and doesn’t provide the support she needs. Her caretaker does not earn much and can not afford to buy her new clothes, traditional medicine, or new blankets for the cold season. SEDA-Laos is hoping to raise funds not only for her bedding, but for winter clothes and medicine. All of these supplies are necessary to support Andee’s improving health.

Her strength and courage are demonstrated in her ability to sit on her own and we are currently working with her to stand. Andee’s recovery may be slow, but she is showing improvement each day. She is looking forward to more independence and health in the future.
To see more photos visit: www.picasaweb.google.com/souly2008

Pictures:

• Andee celebrating with her friends and family (JPG)
• Andee with her birthday gifts from SEDA (JPG)
• Andee sitting on her own! (JPG)