Community development is first of all a matter of heart. Too much is said about trainings, transfer of information and techniques, a question of logic... while what really makes a community move and change attitudes are people's feelings and passions.

In all our programs there is a deliberate priority for fun, plays, shows, festivities. Action-theatre, mass events for the anti-tobacco day, running for solidarit, and even... a competition between communes, for the one with the highest proportion of medical staff who have a... clean latrine at home!

The 31st May is anti-tobacco day (WHO). Bicycle races, then competition for the slowest cycle without putting one's foot on the ground!, and for many many others, a nice drive. Every years tens of thousands participate.

Very few women smoke, but half of the men do. One estimate the men in a typical district of 100.000 people spend the equivalent of the construction cost for a fully equipped class room... every single day!

When people go to a training, they go with their brain more than with their heart. They receive much information and advice, but it is far from common this leads to a change in attitudes...

In the Mekong delta there are not many roads, but rivers and canals. People love boat races! The anti-tobacco day is yet another excelent pretext. There are even teams from other provinces who join.