Location of Impact
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 88 communities in Laos to ensure that our students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing a quality education. To date, PoP has impacted over 61,000 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 88 schools in Luang Prabang Province, working in collaboration with communities to couple school builds with teacher training, in order to ensure that our students are benefitting from access to both educational infrastructure and quality instruction.
Before the PoP School Build
Prior to the PoP build, students of Kang were taught in a provisional wooden structure that had bamboo walls and dirt floors. Inside, classrooms were congested due to overcrowding, which limited student mobility, and made it difficult for students to focus and concentrate. When it rained, water would soak into the ground and form puddles, resulting in muddy and messy conditions for the students. This space did not provide an environment that was conducive to student learning and success.
Your Impact with the New PoP School
MoneyGram Foundation recognized and responded to the needs of Kang by helping PoP and the community break ground on a new 4-classroom school. Teachers, parents and community members were dedicated and committed to the project. The Ministry of Education was also supportive throughout the build. After 4 months, we held an inauguration ceremony, concluding tireless work to build a school equipped with formal blackboards, benches, desks, doors, walls and windows. MoneyGram Foundation made this school build possible for the students of Kang and created a safe, strong structural foundation where they will be able to learn and realize their potential and promise.
