Culture

Covid-19 feeds child labour in Laos

19 Jun , 2021  

The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the poverty level of Laotian families and denied the right to education of a growing number of children, pushing them into the arms of those who exploit child labour. Most of them are employed in the fields and farmland by their parents and, in the worst cases, some of the little ones start working before they even go to elementary school.

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Culture, Travel

From Cambodia to Laos: A Journey of Inspiration and Purpose

22 Sep , 2020   Gallery

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 […]

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Food, Travel

Helping victims of bomb accidents

5 Jun , 2019  

Up to a third of the bombs dropped did not explode. In 2008, 300 people a year were injured or killed and today that figure is closer to 50. Uncleared land still poses a threat to farmers and villages and sadly people still suffer injuries today, often lost limbs or eyesight.

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Education

Making Change in the Mekong

3 Apr , 2018   Video

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 […]

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Education

Rural villages need more books

2 Apr , 2018  

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 […]

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Culture, Education

Novice Bountay and his village school

31 Mar , 2018  

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 […]

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Education, Travel

See what happens to this little girl

18 Oct , 2017   Video

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 […]

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Culture, Education

Lao teenagers beating poverty as novice monks

19 Aug , 2017   Gallery

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 […]

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Travel

Beware the voluntourists intent on doing good

3 Mar , 2017   Video

The term voluntourism refers to the growing phenomenon of individuals travelling to developing countries to carry out volunteer work.  They go for a week or two for a “project” — a temporary medical clinic, an orphanage visit or a school construction. Many go to teach English during high school, college vacations or during an OE/gap year. […]

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Culture, Education

Weekend trip to village to give donated items

6 Oct , 2016   Video

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 […]

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Education

Skill gap hurdle as Laos attracts Southeast Asia’s spotlight

11 Aug , 2016  

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 […]

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Education

If the world was 100 people

16 Mar , 2016  

When you shrink the world’s population down to 100 people, this is what you get.

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Culture, Education

Death of a school student

21 Jan , 2016  

Today has been a very sad day with the news of the death of one of the school students. We all realise that life can be snatched away very quickly in the developing world yet we still reel against its unfairness. Novice Luk celebrated his 21st Birthday just a few days ago. He was a […]

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Education

Making change in Laos through video

22 May , 2015  

It is great to ready about Any who after growing up in California has moved to Laos and bit by bit effective change through sharing her stories. She began by making films, and soon realised that storytelling in all its forms would be the key to change. Amy focuses on on how non-profit organisations and the […]