The residents of Khargi village in Laos regularly travel to neighbouring Phonxay village to access health care and to buy and sell goods. Children in grades 6 through 9 from Khargi also journey to Phonxay, home to the nearest middle school. For years, getting back and forth between the two communities was difficult, as the trip required crossing a river that could become dangerous during heavy rains.
One resident of Khargi explains, “Sometimes when the river was very high, during periods of heavy rains, the only option was to turn around and go home.” He adds, “… sometimes the river would become so high that there was danger of flowing away, and we had no choice but to spend several nights sleeping in Phonxay waiting for the water to recede before we could return home.”
When a River Becomes a Barrier
Middle school students from Khargi typically stay in temporary shelters in Phonxay from Sunday afternoons to Friday afternoons, returning home on weekends. During periods of flooding, these students were sometimes unable to cross back home at all. Pregnant women also faced serious risks, as access to medical care could be delayed when the river was unsafe to cross.
The river, while vital to the local ecosystem, became a barrier that limited access to education, health care, and economic opportunity. Seasonal rains brought uncertainty, disrupted daily life, and placed the most vulnerable at greater risk.
A Community-Led Solution
These challenges have recently been eased. With the support of World Renew, the community of Khargi worked together to build a bridge across the river. In partnership with the Mai District transportation department and the village development committee, World Renew helped coordinate a survey to determine the safest and most effective location for the bridge.
After the survey, villagers gathered gravel, sand, and wood to support the construction effort. The project drew on local knowledge, shared labour, and strong collaboration between community members and partners.
The village head, Mr. Laoler Laoli, 28, reflects on the impact: “The new bridge opens new opportunities, bringing education, development, and health care closer to our lives.”
Today, the bridge stands as more than a physical structure. It represents increased safety, improved access to essential services, and hope for a more stable future for families in Khargi—demonstrating how community-led solutions, supported by committed partners, can help remove barriers and build pathways to opportunity.
