Did you drink water today? Clean water? Perhaps you drank it straight from the tap, knowing that it was safe to do so. Or perhaps you drank it from a bottle you purchased at a local store, or when you last bought groceries. If any of the above applies to you, know that you are extraordinarily lucky.
At the top of a mountain in northern Thailand there sits a tiny village of 260 people called Pha Dang Luang. This village is only accessible by hours of steep, dirt roads – often impassable due to rainfall or other weather conditions. There are no shops here. No grocery stores. There are no taps with clean drinking water or the opportunity to purchase it. The only water here comes from the rain or flows down from the mountain, and contains harmful substances collected along the way. The people of this village (having no other option), have been drinking this water for their entire lives – and it has started to take a serious medical toll on many.
If you have been following along on the LiveLikeBen Foundation’s journey, you know that two years ago a new school opened here, a school that love built. Ben’s School! In the process of the school build and the time spent with the locals, the dire water situation was brought up and became apparent – and Tara made a promise that the foundation would find a way to bring a permanent solution. This week, for the very first time, the villagers took their first sip of pure, clean drinking water from their new filtration system! It could not have been more beautiful to witness.
The foundation would like to thank Adam Roberts – teacher, coach, and friend of Ben, along with the EMS Rugby students in White Rock, BC for their generous and loving donation. In doing so, they have allowed us the opportunity to provide the water system so desperately needed for the people of Pha Dang Luang. Our gratitude for this goes beyond words, as does the gratitude from the children, the elders, and every human in between from this village.
The LiveLikeBen foundation looks forward to many further projects like this in order to carry on the legacy and the heart of Ben.
From the bottom of our hearts we thank all who donated and send love to each and every one of you. We ask that today you all take a pause as you drink your clean water and practice gratitude in your life’s blessings. Spread love, and always always LIVE LIKE BEN !
Water is life! <3
Niki Sinsawas is with Tara Trompetter and 3 others.
