Refuge of the Last Dreamers
Luang Prabang, a city in Laos, is a refuge for those seeking peace and tranquility. It is a place where time seems to stand still, and the worries of the modern world fade away. The city is steeped in history and culture, with numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries dotting the landscape. The Mekong River winds […]
Volunteering in Laos
I’ve had the chance to witness firsthand the incredible potential and challenges of this beautiful Southeast Asian country. While Laos may not be well-known as its neighbors Thailand or Vietnam, it offers a wealth of meaningful volunteer opportunities for those willing to approach it with care and cultural humility. The current climate in Laos is […]
Unwind on a Mekong River cruise
He’s aiming for luxury travel with a dose of education, history and first-hand insights into how some of the most traditional (and poorest) people in this region live.
The result is a fascinating and, at times, hilarious experience that is not only, yes, relaxing and tranquil, but also a sobering reality check.
Hunger remains a major problem in Laos
One-third of children in the country have limited access to food, World Food Program says. In a file photo, students eating lunch at a school in a remote area of Oudomxay province in northern Laos. Citizen Journalist Despite economic growth, one-third of Lao children and about 20 percent of the country’s population as a whole continue […]
Students learn remotely during COVID
Since the rapid spread of COVID-19 (119,000 cases and 437 deaths) took hold of Laos schools have been closed and education moved to online learning. This is not an option for many students but it is pleasing to see a reasonable number of LEOT School students have been able to continue lessons.
Students get bicycles fixed
Many local Luang Prabang school students had their bikes fixed while being served free lunch at the town library in Luang Prabang, Laos. The Solidarity Food Canteen was started in 2020 during COVID-19. Volunteers prepare food that is donated by local suppliers or purchased with donated funds. They serve 120 meals every weekday. I arranged […]
Anouluck Xang – Protect our Elephants
Laos has been known as Lan Xang, the Land of a Million Elephants, since it was a remote, reclusive, ancient kingdom. Elephants are part of Lao peoples’ blood, bones and essential beings – as important as roots are to trees. It is with the understanding and respect for this connection that we share with you […]
From Cambodia to Laos: A Journey of Inspiration and Purpose
Over a decade ago, a transformative trip to Cambodia ignited a flame within me, setting me on an unexpected path of discovery. It was a journey that forever altered my perspective and led me to the enchanting country of Laos. here I reflect on the profound impact of my travels, the loss of a dear […]
Education, Featured, Food, Health, Laos, Luang Prabang, Poverty, School, Travel, UXO, Volunteering
Blessings from a scholarship student
Monk Sivone was a LEOT students and was successful in getting a scholarship to continue his study. He is one of the most motivated students I have met. He is completing his studies this year and had this to say: My name is Phra Sivone Keovilaipunya who was born and raised in the countryside at […]
LEOT School opens after Lao COVID lockdown
Laos locked down in March and a country-wide lockdown was enforced on 1 April for 6 weeks. The entire country had to stay at home and only go out for food. With only 19 COVID-19 cases in Laos the lockdown was effective with no community transmission for over 100 days. LEOT, the only English and […]
A love of reading
Mr Outhiphon is studying at Law College but also comes at 9am to study in our Elementary 1 class. He is enjoying borrowing and reading books from the library. If he has a problem with difficult words, he uses his dictionary to find out the meaning. He keeps his library book in his bag and […]
Novice Monks paint Wat Mano
As I passed, Wat Mano, this morning on the way to work, I noticed a swarm of Novices up bamboo scaffolding busy painting the temple. Wat Manorom, known as Wat Mano, was built to inter the ashes of King Samsenthai (1373-1416) so it is one of the oldest sites in town and quite a large […]
Education, French, Laos, Monks, Painting, School, Temple, Travel
Students painting for exhibition
LEOT School students have been learning to paint from a volunteer who has kindly been coming 3 times a week. The French Institute has allowed us to use their building in the heritage area of Luang Prabang to display the artwork. It’s an opportunity for students to publicly showcase their work and artwork sold is […]
Education, Exhibition, Follow-your-dream, French, Laos, Luang Prabang, Painting, School, Volunteering
5 computer topics taught in Laos
Computer education in Laos is limited. It is not taught in many schools and experienced teachers are unavailable. Students are increasingly needing to have computer skills to compete with others to secure jobs. English and computing and becoming vital skills to gain employment which is why I helped establish computing lessons in 2015 so 16-22 year […]
Community Development, Education, Employment, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Volunteering
Uplifting a local village school in Laos
I visited a village with colleagues near the famous Kuangsi waterfall as we’d been told their classrooms were in need of repair. It is a typical school in a village serving the families from that village. There were 8 classrooms split among two buildings. One was wooden and would be very hot much of the […]
Community Development, Donation, Education, Health, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
Fundraising concert a hit
LEOT and the Music School, both not-for-profits providing education opportunities to Lao youth held a fundraising concert on Sunday night at the beautiful Heuan Chan Heritage center in Luang Prabang, just off the main street. It took some organising and a big thank you to all those who gave us prized for the raffle. I […]
Education, Festival, Follow-your-dream, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
New students learning computer skills in Luang Prabang
The fourth year of teaching computer skills to students began a few weeks ago. Students learn during weekdays Monday to Friday and extra classes are held on Saturdays allowing other students to attend. A small fee is asked in order to get some commitment to come each week if things are free people tend to […]
Community Development, Education, Follow-your-dream, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
Napao Primary School,Laos get painted
Last month, Jeannette school staff, a Government education official and myself surveyed Napao primary school as we were told it needed supplies and a good paint. Painting a school not only instills pride in teachers and students but makes the rooms lighter as many rooms do not have good lighting. We found donors for the […]
Community Development, Education, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Volunteering
A dream comes true to study in France
Alounny Thammavongsavanh is a student studying at LEOT and she has written this short story. I’m 17 years old and I live in PhanLuang village. I’m a student in my final year at Pasathipatay school. It’s a bilingual school. I have been studying French for 10 years at primary and secondary school and then I […]
Making Change in the Mekong
Film for Change Aotearoa New Zealand produced this short film about my volunteer work in Laos establishing computer education programs to raise awareness of opportunities to support sustainable, grass-roots education efforts in Laos to help improve people’s lives a little. I volunteer with Lao teachers to provide free education, scholarships and hardship support for impoverished […]
Community Development, Development, Education, Featured, Follow-your-dream, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Poverty, School, Video, Volunteering
Rural villages need more books
I joined in a visit to a remote village school to take them books. The Luang Prabang libary runs a book bag program at the library on the night market street. People can purchase books and put them in a bag and when there are enough they are taken to a village. The books are […]
Community Development, Donation, Education, Laos, Luang Prabang, Poverty, School
Special guests in Luang Prabang
I was very lucky to recently have my mother and brother travel to Luang Prabang to visit me. The week was wonderful and we saw some of the spectacular sites Luang Prabang has to offer as well as spending time helping at school. We also visited the famous Pak Ou caves and the Luang […]
Novice Bountay and his village school
Novice Bountay is an inspiring person. He has been a student at LEOT (a free charity school) for 2 years now and excels in our computer class. Like other Novices, he goes to Buddhist high school each day and somehow manages to find time to study English, photography and a number of other interests. Read […]
Donation, Education, Festival, Laos, Luang Prabang, Monks, Poverty, School
What’s David doing in the office
A teacher snapped this photo of me sitting at my ‘new’ recycled desk one of a few pieces of furniture donated to us that we needed. I am very much focused on getting the computer lessons ready for the new teaching term starting soon. We teach Microsoft Office and general computer skills such as safety, […]
Education, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
Everyone likes a free lunch in Laos
With school opening very soon we have been busy in recent months revising and updating teaching materials and running a host of teacher training. With an increasing number of visitors popping into school, from seeing the small sign on the street, we did a role play one lunch time with each teacher introducing the school […]
Two bikes donated to school
Helen and Dan came to Laos on their bikes from England and didn’t fancy taking them home. They were looking for a good cause and came across our school website so I met them on Saturday afternoon to gladly accept their generous donation on behalf of the school. We have 300 students and nearly 30 […]
Donation, Education, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Volunteering
Students register and muck in for the new term
Students have come from around Luang Prabang this past week to register for English and Computer classes for the new term starting in a few weeks. The school has been closed to students this last term as we await the signing to renew our license. During this time we have been developing the computer teaching […]
Developing computer lessons in Laos
These past few months the teachers and I have been busy working on refining the lessons and teachers guide for the coming year. The Introduction course is entering its third year of teaching now and the Elementary Computing course its second. It will be the first year it is taught to all students at that […]
Community Development, Education, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School, Volunteering
A Happy Life – a story by a Lao teacher
Chanh is an inspiring teacher at LEOT school where I volunteer. Here is his story of finding the opportunities LEOT brings. My given name is Bounchanh Sengdala, but Chanh for short. I was born in a poor family from a remote area. Fortunately, my family gave me a great opportunity to pursue my dream in […]
Education, Follow-your-dream, Information Technology, Laos, Luang Prabang, School
See what happens to this little girl
I love this three-minute video that reminds us of the pleasures in life. It always brings a wee tear as I see the impact this mans simple generosity has had on people’s lives – especially the little girl who was finally able to go to school. Too many people live in these harsh situations and […]
School awards day 2017, Luang Prabang, Laos
On a hot Saturday morning students, teachers, volunteers, and officials flocked to school for the annual awards day where students receive their much-admired certificates for their achievements from the prior year. The school year starts in September each year in Laos. The day started off with some fun games which everyone always enjoys and this […]
Lao teenagers beating poverty as novice monks
Many of the students at the school I work at in Luang Prabang are novice monks. It is certainly a sight to behold – a classroom bathed in bright saffron robes beneath a sea of shaved heads (and eyebrows). People outside Laos find it interesting as to why so many novice monks come to school without […]
Helping English students at a local school – Luang Prabang, Laos
I helped out a small class of eager high school students with their English lessons last week. During the high school break, these students are taking a holiday class to improve their English skills. They go a small school set up in someone’s home in the center of Luang Prabang where two small classes of […]
Student visit to Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden
The Pha Tad Ke Botanical Gardens had an open day and we took some students across the Mekong River and downstream a little to these wonderful gardens that were opened about 2 years ago. You can see a diverse range of Lao flora and how people use plants in everyday life. They have a wonder […]
Students completed computer exams with good results
This past week students have completed the end of year computer exams with very pleasing results. The exam consisted of a multiple choice test followed by a practical exercise where they had to create a Word document utilising the skills they had learned this past school year. The elementary computing classes who come to school […]
Chasing your dreams
This year school implemented a new mentor programme to support and inspire students in their life and work ambitions. A key aim is to provide extra support for those interested in helping students get better jobs. The Dream Catcher Mentor program meets each week during lunchtime. This week we had Teacher Mai come and share her […]
Female Pilots breaking barriers
Way to go girls! I hope your story inspires other Lao girls.
Two students get 100% in recent computer test
We teach Saturday IT classes and two students who come to classes to learn more advanced Microsoft Office skills have achieved 100% in their recent test. David put together the programme in 2016 after consultation with local businesses in Luang Prabang. The course focuses on Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and other topics such as anti-virus, safety […]
Lao students enjoy computer studies
Well the last few months has flown by. My main task has been to write the stage 2 curriculum in computing and train the Lao teachers. The reality has seen me also fixing many computers for students and teachers, and even other schools. I visited local businesses to discuss what IT skills they need of […]
Weekend trip to village to give donated items
On Saturday volunteers and teachers travelled to Nam Nga village 90 mins north of Luang Prabang to see how we can help with their water supply, leaking roof and toilets at their village school. We also gave out the clothes, toothbrushes, books and stationery we collected. We had lunch with the headman and school director […]
This past month helping Orphanages and School in Laos
Time has passed quickly since late August when I stopped in Saigon, Vietnam. I joined Love Shines from Singapore on a mission to orphanages looking after youth with hydrocephalus, also called Water on the Brain. It causes enlargement of the head and is fatal. I visited two orphanages and we purchased supplies at local stores for these programmes. […]
Skill gap hurdle as Laos attracts Southeast Asia’s spotlight
This article posted this week highlights the importance of Lao people getting the right education and opportunities for advancement – the very goal of my work in Laos. Article taken from the Financial Express, 6 August 2016 The chance to tap into the promise of increasing prosperity and spending power among the 600 plus million […]
Laos implementing UN Education goals
Efforts to escape being a Least Developed Country The Lao government takes graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as its key long-term objective, a high-ranking Lao official said, according to local daily Vientiane Times on Wednesday. Graduation from LDC status has been a key long-term objective of the Lao government since the early 2000s. The […]
Gearing up for another Laos assignment
It is amazing to have been given so many clothes to take to Laos. They will go to a village and hopefully all the kids will get something. I have already paid for two suitcases from Wellington, Auckland, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok Luang Prabang. It is never easy getting to Laos. I wish to acknowledge […]
Project update Sept 2016
In late 2015 I setup a computer teaching facility at the charity school in Luang Prabang. 280 students now get one computer lesson and 4 English lessons each week. With some assistance, I developed an ‘Introduction to Computing’ programme. GOALS for 2016 up-skill local Lao teachers in Information Technology, train a new Lao teacher as the […]
A computer centre is born in Laos
A project is made of many parts. We send our thanks to the many people that have made it possible. We would like to record our very special thanks to David Allan for his endless work and spirit in giving the project life. Reposted from article written by Peter. The School Centre is a story of […]
Free English Resource Centres in Luang Prabang
MyLibrary and Big Brother Mouse are two projects in Luang Prabang where students can go for free to learn and practice English. Big Brother Mouse has many foreigners who drop in and speak with the students. MyLibrary runs other training such as photography and has computers and books available to students. Unfortunately so many people […]
Establishing permanent computer classes in Laos
I received a phone call in July from Peter Banwell a Trustee at LEOT School. Recently the school received 20 computers from the World Bank to set up a computer classroom. With no local resources to set up computers, networking, software on such a scale and establishing systems to allow the ongoing maintenance and availability of the systems, […]
Educating eager youth in Laos
I have been volunteering at a charity school in Luang Prabang, Laos since 2013 providing IT equipment and training to teachers and students. This supplements their main courses of English. The students come from poor families and are hungry for knowledge! Laos remains one of the poorest world economies. The majority of families are subsistence farmers […]
Students eagerly stay behind at computer classes
Earlier this year I taught 4 classes a day from 10am to 8pm, using the 10 laptops in the library. They were initially full of viruses and spyware which took some time to clean up before classes could begin. This year I taught the beginner stream – students who understood basic English. Luckily their usual Lao teacher was […]
Laos Statistics
Thailand promotes itself as amazing, Vietnam can well be described as bustling, Cambodia’s Khmer temples are awe-inspiring… but the adjective that was most often applied to Laos is forgotten. I know stats are not usually exciting, however I am often reminder how little people know about Laos and some stats may put the country and the […]
A local Lao classroom
Alan, a fellow volunteer visited a local home in 2014 where Mr Say has set up a classroom for local children. Alan was their first foreign visitor and it was the first time many of the students had used a computer. Alan got them to type their name and age. Most are between 8 and 22 […]