You’re Making a Difference Here
WHY 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 113 communities in Laos to ensure that our students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing a quality education. Currently, PoP is impacting over 14,000 students 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 113 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 a PoP School Build
Previously, the students of Na Sam Phanh were learning in a structure built by the community. This structure had metal roofs, bamboo walls and dirt floors. In addition to the makeshift structure, the students were experiencing extreme overcrowding. With six grades located in just two structures, there were not enough classrooms for the students to learn in. Not only did these conditions pose a safety hazard to the students, they did not produce a quality learning environment.
Your Impact with the New PoP School
You’ve recognized and responded to the needs of the Na Sam Phanh community by helping PoP and the community complete a new three-classroom school with larger, safer rooms. Teachers, parents and community members were dedicated and committed to the project, contributing up to 20 percent of resources and labor. The ministry of education also supported this build. The Na Sam Phanh Preschool and Primary school was officially completed in June 2018. Your support is creating a safe, strong foundation where the students of Na Sam Phanh will be able to learn and realize their full potential.
