Building Trust and Communities in Lao PDR

On 18 February we celebrated the official signing of our latest memorandum of understanding with the Lao PRD Ministry of Education (MoE). It’s this very agreement with the Laotian government that allows our work to continue in some of the most underprivileged communities in Southeast Asia.

From our first school building project in 2006 to 164 schools today, our track record has developed trust with not only the MoE, but with many communities as well. This trust continues to play an important role in expanding and developing our projects and programmes.

As of 2021, our completed infrastructure projects total 293 between school buildings, boarding houses, computer labs and water systems throughout the provinces of Champasak, Savannakhet, Xainganbouli and Luang Prabang. Our scholarship programmes have awarded 878 high school and vocational students with scholarships, as well as 209 university students. Key partnerships with five organisations in the country have extended our reach and have been pivotal in driving sustainable development goals countrywide.

Our interventions are becoming better understood and embraced as schools and communities become more responsive to our efforts. Behaviours and attitudes towards education and school management are slowly changing along with a sense of ownership and pride and a shift towards sustainable practices.

With the Lao PDR MoE on our side and in full support of our mission, our projects, programmes and partnerships will continue to grow, expand and develop. Our vision of empowered people reshaping their community will become a reality as our beneficiaries move towards a more sustainable future.