Lao Voices

Now and then we see good news from Vientiane Times Newspaper and this is one of them. If the name of Sikhottabong district is somewhat familiar to you, then you are correct. One of our book box library has been sent to an elementary school in this district, namely Akat Elementary School.

French project supports mobile library

The Sol’ Asia Project, in collaboration with the National Library, held a story-telling workshop to promote its mobile library yesterday at Viengkham and Champa Primary Schools, and to foster a love of reading among young people.

This followed the first part of the organisation’s activities, which involved setting up a library and providing sports equipment to these two villages in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane, in June this year.

“We found that Viengkham Primary School didn’t have the structure to sustain a normal library, so the mobile library was the best alternative to ensure that the children of the village have access to books,” said the Sol’ Asia’s project coordinator, Mr Franck Caussin.

He added that the workshop and the mobile library would help children to improve their knowledge, which in turn would enable them to be more confident.

The administration of the two villages, Sol’ Asia and the Lao National Library have organised a schedule for the mobile library, which will involve activities every fortnight for the next three months.

“This is very useful for our students, as they have never had activities like this in the past, and the more they read, the more they will be able to share ideas with each other, an important part of the learning process,” said the deputy director of Viengkham Primary School, Ms Bounthong Inthavong.

These activities are part of a long-term vision of setting up a favourable environment to guarantee the success of children’s education.

The Sol’ Asia project is a French association, created in 2002 to support underprivileged children in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and more recently to Laos, particularly in the province of Vientiane.

By Ounkham Pimmata
(Latest Update October 2, 2007)
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