You’re Making a Difference Here
LAOS
In Laos, one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, a lack of educational infrastructure is one of the greatest barriers to accessing a quality education (BBC News Asia). 27% of people in Laos are illiterate, with even higher illiteracy rates amongst ethnic minorities (World Bank 2014).
Pencils of Promise works with 90 communities in Laos to ensure that our students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing a quality education. To date, PoP has impacted over 65,000 lives in Laos.
LUANG PRABANG
Luang Prabang Province, located in northern Laos, sits at the intersection of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers. Although a beautiful area, Luang Prabang lacks sufficient educational infrastructure.
PoP has built over 90 schools in Luang Prabang Province, working in collaboration with communities to couple school builds with educational programming, in order to ensure that our students are benefitting from access to both educational infrastructure and quality instruction.
Before the PoP School Build
Currently, the students of the Houay Tho Preschool and Primary School are being taught in classrooms of very poor conditions. The provisional structures, made of aging wood and dirt floors, are not durable in hazardous weather. The Houay Tho village does not have electricity and the current wooden structure prevents an adequate amount of light from getting into the classroom, making it difficult for students to study. Additionally, the classrooms are overcrowded and congested, which also makes it more challenging for students to focus during class. Overall, the present lack of formal classroom spaces is hindering student engagement and development.
Your Impact with the New PoP School
You recognized and responded to the needs of Houay Tho by helping PoP and the Houay Tho community break ground on a new 5-classroom school, the Houay Tho Preschool and Primary School. The entire Houay Tho community has engaged with the build process and is providing up to 20% of the materials and labor required for construction. The school being made possible by your support will include new classrooms for all preschool and primary school students, as well as a new teachers’ office. You’re helping to create a safe and strong structural foundation, where the Houay Tho students will be able to go to learn and to realize their full potential.