You’re Making a Difference Here
WHY LAOS?
In Laos, 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 104 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 Thong Tai were eager to learn but the Thong Tai Pre & Primary School lacked the space necessary to provide a quality learning environment. The third graders attended class in a makeshift classroom inside of a hut, while first and second grade students had no formal classrooms. The conditions for the third graders were unsafe, while the lack of classrooms for the first and second graders severely hindered their learning potential.
Your Impact with the New PoP School
You’ve responded to the needs of Thong Tai by helping PoP and the community complete a new three-classroom school build! 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 process. Following months of construction, we held an inauguration ceremony in late April of 2019 and mounted a dedication plaque to conclude the tireless work required to build this school. You are creating a safe, strong foundation where Thong Tai students will be able to learn and realize their full potential and promise.