Provide 20 Eco-Houses For the Underprivileged

The eco-housing project in the Mekong Delta continues to make strong progress thanks to the support from GlobalGiving donors and local communities. Since our last update, more families have received upgraded homes or built new ones, and the feedback has been encouraging: houses are cooler, quieter, and more resilient to weather conditions.

One recent example is the story of Mrs. Khao and her family.

Mrs. Khao’s family consists of seven members — she and her husband, along with their five children. Three of the children are in school (grades 7, 4, and 3), one is a toddler, and one suffers from cerebral palsy. The family owns no farmland and depends mainly on daily wages. Mrs. Khao sells vegetables at the local market, while her husband was the main laborer until a work accident in May 2021 left him unable to work due to poor health. Since then, the entire burden has fallen on Mrs. Khao.

To support her family, she joined Mekong Plus’s closed-loop livestock program and received a small loan to raise chickens and fish, creating an additional source of income.

The family’s old house was made of worn wooden planks — cramped, poorly insulated, and vulnerable to weather. With a total cost of $2,940, the house was rebuilt into an eco-home. Mekong Plus contributed $1,340, while the remaining amount came from the family’s savings, low-interest loans, and community support.

This transformation would not have been possible without strong community participation. Neighbors volunteered labor at a reduced cost, and some donated materials such as cement and decorative tiles. This collective effort helped lower costs and strengthened the family’s bond with their community.

Since moving into the new home, Mrs. Khao shared that it is now much cooler and quieter during heavy rains, and she feels a renewed sense of stability and hope for her children’s future.

However, many disadvantaged households in the community are still waiting for support, as funding remains limited compared to the growing need. Each contribution helps bring a safe, sustainable home closer to those who need it most.