How earthen building started in Laos

Phoudindaeng Village was formed by the Laos government’s relocation of three distinct ethnic groups in 1997. When Kleiwerks International arrived in 2002, cultural differences among the ethnic groups stood out. Enter one visionary farmer. Raised in the area, Mr. Thanongsi Soulongkoun served in the Ministry of Agriculture during the war on Vietnam and Laos. The ministry struggled to help the people survive the endless bombings and threats to their food supply and safety. He retired form the ministry and founded Phoudindaeng Organic Farm in the mid 1990s to offer his skill in agriculture to his home village.

Enter Kleiwerks International. “A Kleiwerks International team first visited the village on break from development projects in Thailand,” Kevin Rowell recalls. “Within two days, Mr. Thanongsi had asked us to work with the villagers to build a community center.” Within the first year together, they had built a demonstration home and lined up support to build the community center. Upon breaking ground on the community center, Mr. Thanongsi commented, “We have planted a seed today in our community. With proper nurturing, it will grow…” And grow it did.  With the completion of the community center, the villagers have a place to gather, study, and hold festivals and meetings.

The village has gone on to create a seed bank, a youth center and various other projects in the area using a combination of natural building techniques brought by the Kleiwerks International team and traditional methods offered by the villagers. For information about Phoudindaeng Organic Farm go to www.laofarm.org.