Laos has been at the crossroads of many currents both historic and geographic. As a participant in the Silent War outside Vietnam in the 60s and 70s and its own internal upheavals it has the dubious distinction of being the most bombed nation on the planet. Tragedy does not define Laos , what does is the resilience of its people in the face of challenges.
Laotian Primary schools are in deplorable condition. Imagine wooden structures filled with some of the brightest eyed, most engaged children in the world. However, when the rains come, as they will during your summer, the roofs leak and the floors bubble up with stagnant water. This is a long way from Canadian schools but you who live and work in Canada can make a difference. Most primary schools in Laos are village based. They receive funding for teachers but little remains for capital upgrades. Curiously for a communist nation, the system promotes merit in students who compete for very limited university placements. Education is valued by the people. Just like in Canada , parents wish for a doctor in the family and will devote immense resources to their children's success. Their resources are not those we are used to in the west. Each of the projects is a micro involvement in a small community. Each seeks to improve quality of life for children while they pursue their education. Each day will be one of the most rewarding of your life. Over the next five years a series of schools have been identified as partners.
The Schools:
Ban Pak Ou school located in the village opposite of the Pak Ou Caves on the Mekong river. This beautiful village is one of the most welcoming places in the country. For this project the group will be helping repair and replace the ceiling of this school which is in pretty rough shape. The students will have helped (through the cost of their trip) purchase materials such as wood, tile and paint and will work with some of the local carpenters to fix the roof of this school which is badly need of repair. There is really no money for local infrastructure and as such repairs such as this would not happen without outside support. The work for the students will consist of hauling materials, assisting local carpenters with the wood work and painting. Working and visiting as more than a tourist in Ban Pak Ou will really draw a crowd of locals. The children love a little gift of a toy or ball, concealed in your magical pockets. Watch out however, you will quickly become very popular very with these kids.
Ban Som school , next to Kuangsi water falls. This school needs support to develop a library and also to help field a soccer team which they have no funds to do so (being a rural school). Soccer is a source of great pride for Laotian kids. Some of the supplies will be gathered by the group before they arrive. These include books and sporting equipment, soccer balls are a big hit. (Ask your local club for their used balls and you will have hundreds of bundles of joy to spread around the countryside. You will also be able to strike up conversations over a hack). Through communication with the school prior to going over, a list of materials for the library can be collected and brought as a donation. The students will also help build book shelves and assist the teachers in setting up the library. Again, the cost of the trip includes money to buy a soccer team uniforms for the kids as well as build on the library. The highlight will be a Canada / Laotian match for football supremacy. We have a record of never having beaten a Laotian elementary school, keep the dream alive.
Ban Kengyang school is located 12Kms from Vientiane city and is the primary school of the Ban Kengyang village. The school is badly in need of repair for the walls and roof. This project unfortunately is beyond the scope of what a single trip can address. However, if there are funds available from fundraising by the group we will help the villagers begin work on a section of the school. When this is completed it will begin a legacy for the following years.
What will you do?
Those who go to Laos will participate in primary level building projects. These are hammer and nail undertakings. Remember to bring your hammer. There will be very little access to power at the village level. Please to not pack your skill saw. The pace of building is different from Canada due to difficulties in securing supplies as well as labour appropriate to each job. No experience in building or construction is necessary and no student is required to work in any situation that makes them uncomfortable. Occasionally, supervisors will be required to restrict activities they deem to be unsafe. However, the thrust of the work lies in a group of Canadians who want to change the world working with a group of Laotians who want their world to get better.
Roughly speaking, you will spend Monday to Friday on the school site working with our partners on the infrastructure. On the weekends you will take time to explore the Mekong river, Vientiane , and Luang Purbang. Laos is a place on the edge of becoming a tourist Mecca . You will be among the first to explore the romance of this nation before the footprint inevitable to popularity is left on the landscape.
The Nitty-Gritty!
While in Laos , students will live in tourist accommodations guest house or small hotel arrangements. We will travel to/from the schools in pre-arranged transportation. Breakfast is included with the room. Dinners and weekend meals will be the responsibility of participants. There are many good restaurants in the area we will be staying. Food is of local flavour and there are few MacDonald's type outlets. This is one of the great advantages of working in Laos . Outings will be provided to the Mekong river and other Religious and cultural sites. Laos gives us the opportunity to explore the intersections between Buddhism and the modern world. Food is not expensive but is most often taken by the group deciding what restaurant to go out to.
As July is monsoon season rains will be an unpredictable part of our planning. The rainy season generally lasts from June until October. It is typified by a consistent pattern of low clouds and rain. Flooding occurs along the Mekong River and some tributaries.
The Country:
Laos was under the control of Siam ( Thailand ) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand . In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
The median age in Laos is only 19 years and this youth produces a vibrancy and hope for this nation moving away from socialism. The official Language is Lao but both English and French are spoken. The government remains a communist state that shows signs of moving toward economic if not social liberalization. The GDP in Laos is estimated at only 1900 USD per person. Laos continues to rely on IMF funding in order to drive investment and development in its economy.
2007 Itinerary: