You’re Making a Difference Here
WHY LAOS?
In Laos, a lack of educational infrastructure is one of the greatest barriers to accessing quality education (BBC News Asia). 15% of people in Laos are illiterate, with even higher illiteracy rates amongst ethnic minorities (World Bank 2015).
Pencils of Promise works with 135 communities in Laos to ensure that students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing quality education. Currently, PoP is impacting over 94,000 students and teachers in Laos.
LUANG PRABANG
Luang Prabang Province, located in northern Laos, sits at the intersection of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers.
PoP has built over 120 schools in Luang Prabang Province and is currently working in collaboration with communities to support teachers and provide quality infrastructure to ensure that students have access to quality education.
Na Vaen
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With a population of around 389, this community is located within the Vieng Kham district. Here, members of the community engage in upland rice farming and other agricultural- and livestock-related activities. The Khmu language is spoken here. |
SeCoDev’s Impact in Na Vaen
Previously, first graders enrolled at the Na Vaen Preschool and Primary School attended class in a combination of concrete and temporary bamboo structures. One of the two concrete structures was unusable, with cracking walls and roofing. This resulted in the community building wood and bamboo structures for students to learn in, but these were easily eroded by the weather. These conditions hindered learning, posing a hazard to student safety and engagement.
PoP has partnered with the Na Vaen community to build a new structure to replace the unusable and unsafe space. The community is committed to providing higher-quality education to its students and contributed 20% of the resources and labor required for construction. We broke ground in October 2020 and, following months of hard work, completed the structure in February of 2021. The new Na Vaen Preschool and Primary School will provide a high-quality learning environment where every child can reach their unique potential.