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 130 communities in Laos to ensure that students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing quality education. Currently, PoP is impacting over 90,000 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 130 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.
Pho Lad
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With a population of around 1,239, Pho Lad is located within the Chomphet district. This community is nearby the district center and is easy to access. Community members speak Hmong, Khmu and Lao. Students at the Pho Lad Preschool and Primary School are eagerly awaiting their new school structure! |
Association of Unity Churches’ Impact in Pho Lad
There are currently two structures with six total classrooms for nine grades at the Pho Lad Preschool and Primary School. Because space is so limited, the nursery and three kindergarten classes are sharing one classroom. This has resulted in a noisy and distracting learning environment. These conditions pose a hazard to student safety and engagement.
In the coming months, PoP will be partnering with the Pho Lad community to build a new three-classroom structure. The community is committed to providing higher-quality education to its students, and will contribute 20% of the resources and labor required for construction. We expect to break ground in April of 2021 and, following months of hard work, complete the structure in July of 2021. The new Pho Lad Preschool and Primary School will provide a high-quality learning environment where every child can reach their unique potential.