Lao Voices

Its that time of year again, when we are looking for Interns to be a part of our team during the summer.
We all know that Darly makes a mean “Tum” and that Ginger has a deft hand at “Rolls”, so I expect to see you both applying.
I think that Internships are good, it [...]

Recess time for the kids and they are having fun.
Part 1

Part 2

I thought this is a happy news coming out of Laos. I hope the students at Vientiane Secondary School will take advantages of the computer lab and language lab. With internet access, the world is at their fingertips.
Vientiane students say ‘merci’
More than 4,300 students at Vientiane Secondary School now have a new computer laboratory and [...]

Improvements to the access road at the National University of Laos are now about 30 percent complete.
The university’s Vice President, Associate Professor Dr Phetsamone Khounsavath, made the announcement yesterday when he received the project funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Lao-Japan Human Resource Cooperation Centre.
The funding was granted to improve access [...]

Investing in the future of Lao children could be the most valuable contribution for socio-economic development, particularly for primary education in Laos.
“Laos needs to further strengthen human resource development through improvements to the education system,” the Deputy Minister of Education, Ms Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun, said during the opening ceremony of Dong village primary school in Paek [...]

Vientiane to raise education standards
The Vientiane Education Department will further expand and improve the basic system of education in primary and secondary schools in Vientiane in the 2008-2009 academic year.
The strategy will focus on three main points: expanding educational opportunities for children, improving the quality of education, and strengthening administration.
There are many problems both in [...]

There are many non-profit organizations (NGOs) that are working hard to improve the quality of education in Laos. Below is a story about a Lao lady who is dedicating herself to improve the quality of education in Laos by working with Room to Read non-profit organization from the Vientiane Times Newspaper.
Woman dedicates herself to children’s [...]

I never thought that our books boxes can turn into a library, and according to Darly’s post, the books box library at Akat Elementary School in Vientiane is being used by the students during their break time. The students are also allowed to check out their favorite books and take them home to read and [...]

A video made by Lao Participating Youths 2007 for their presentation in the 34th Association of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth (SSEAYP).

Inside view of the National University of Laos (NUOL).

The book box library at Akat Elementary School in Vientiane is being used by the students during their break time. The students are also allowed to check out their favorite books and take them home to read and bring them back in a few days. The school administrators created an extra room with a lock [...]

In early 2007 we delivered four book boxes to four different elementary schools in Laos. We now have some photos from Akat Elementary School, which is located in Muang Sikhotabong, Vientiane to share with all of you. Akat Elementary is a few minutes from Wattay International Airport with a few small buildings, including a kindergarten [...]

Ministry to strengthen employment opportunities
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is focusing on improving Lao labour management so that more people can find employment and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development.
At a national training workshop on employment services at the Settha Palace Hotel in Vientiane on Monday, Deputy Minister Laoly Faiphengyoua said the [...]

Photo slideshow from Operation Smile. World Journey of Smiles (WJOS) in Pakse is part of the medical mission conducted by Operation Smile, a United Nations affiliated organization.

I found some interesting read as to why so much pressure is placed in Laos’s education curriculum, I think it is because the English language might be the language of choice for many, and French is losing its popularity in the Asia region, and if it were not enforced then it might be diminishing, [...]