Tom Casazzone’s Impact in Houay Soy, Laos

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.

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Before a PoP School Build

 

When our team first visited the school in Houay Soy, Laos, they found students being taught in a space made of wood and concrete. There is only one classroom used for first, second, and third grade. The fourth and fifth graders must walk three miles to get to their school.

 

Your Impact with the New PoP School

 

You recognized and responded to the needs of Houay Soy by helping PoP and the community break ground on a new 5-classroom school, the Houay Soy school. 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 was also supportive throughout the build. After months, we will mount a plaque, concluding tireless work to build a school equipped with formal blackboards, benches, desks, doors, walls and windows. You will make this school build for the students of Houay Soy possible and create a safe, strong foundation where they’ll be able to learn and realize their potential and promise.