• Domaine :

  Water

• Région :

  Asia

• Pays :

  Tibet-China

The project:

Water supply for 2100 people by the installation of a 100 meters cube tank in Chetsa-Tibet China.

The request:

Montreal March 8, 2015
From Marie-Laure Liao
To Foundation Coup de Cœur

Hello Jean and Fatima,

I am applying to your organization for a contribution to a drinking water supply project  in the village of Chetsa, plateau of Qinghai, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Let me introduce myself, I'm Marie-Laure Liao, contractor working on business development projects between China and the Canada. I am an active member of the Old Montreal Rotary Club, district 7040 and I sit on its Board of Directors as head of international projects for our Club. Integrating my humane values with those of the Mission of the Rotary Club, it is important for me to give my time to provide those who are poorest a little relief to contribute to their quality of life. Therefore, I am pleased to present you this project:

(a) Relevance of the project:

Cradled at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains, this village of 2100 Tibetan nomads has access to water during the summer. However in winter, the water freezes and daily personal hygiene is sacrificed. The women walk 10 to 15 km, to access to drinking water - which requires asked 5 to 7 hours a day to ensure the survival of their family and their flock of animals.
These nomads live off their flocks of sheep and yaks, and their average annual incomes are between USD 60 to USD 100 per person.

(b) Transparency and governance of the project:

This request has been initiated by the local water office that defines the priority needs, in conjunction with the Friendship Association, a not-for-profit organization Charity that manages the basic needs of the entire regional community comprised of more than 80,000 nomads. 

c) Its impact on the population:

We begin phase 2 of this project with the construction of an underground water tank - to prevent freezing during winter. Phase 1 was to ensure the supply of 2 sources of water this required more than 50 km of piping to be built, due to the elevation, to supply the village during the summer.
Phase 2 is to build the tank of 100 cubic meter of water underground to store water during the winter period when the average temperature for the 5 months of winter is -15 degrees Celsius.
Thus women can spend their day on economic activities, cheese and cattle milk production, girls can go to school, because it was they who performed household tasks when their mothers went to fetch water.
The tank can also provide a bit of water supply for summer vegetable crops. In the end, water allows them to take care of their personal hygiene, dedicate a little more of their time to economic activities thus enabling them to increase their income by $30 to $50 / year.

(d) For the sustainability of the project:

The project will be managed during construction and will be maintained in consultation with the office of the local water agency by the "Charity Friendship Association" a not-for-profit organization that established the priorities of all the nomadic population, estimated at about 80,000 members in the region.
It is together, and with compassion and conviction, that it is our duty to bring a little relief for the struggle of human survival, a meaning to their existence and dignity.

I hope have given you sufficient information. Please accept our deep gratitude.

Marie-Laure Liao
International Service Chair
Rotary Club - Old Montreal
District 7040 

Financial contributions​: