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 Jeem Preschool and Primary School were being taught in severely overcrowded classrooms. The old classrooms did not have enough space for both the kindergarten and primary grade students, and were packed with as many as 55 students per classroom. These conditions posed a hazard to students’ safety and well-being, as well as to engagement and learning.
Your Impact with the New PoP School
You’ve recognized and responded to the needs of Jeem by helping PoP and the community complete a new three-classroom school structure. This new structure will serve the kindergarten students, freeing up space in each of the existing classrooms. Teachers, parents and community members remained dedicated and committed to the project, contributing 20 percent of resources and labor. The Ministry of Education was also supportive throughout the build process. We will mount a plaque following the upcoming inauguration ceremony, concluding the tireless work required to build this school properly equipped for the present number of students. You’ve made this school build for the students of Jeem possible and are creating a safe, strong foundation where they’ll be able to learn and realize their full potential and promise!
