Scholarships and Sponsorships for Laos Students

Do you remember when you discovered the joy of reading? The power of a book to open doors to another world?

A proud achievement of GVI Laos for December 2012 was the installation of a small library in one of our classrooms at Wat Pasa Viet. A plan made between Satu Porgi, the late and respected Abbot of Wat Pasa Viet and the Manager of Laos GVI to establish a library at the temple has been fulfilled on a small scale at this stage. Whilst starting off small with one cane bookshelf stocked with reference, non-fiction and fiction books kindly donated by GVI volunteers, this small beginning sets the scene of things to come. Novice Jailee, a conscientious student and Novice holds the position of Head Librarian with Novice Jasmin being the assistant librarian.Most students in Laos learn to read from a teacher with a blackboard. The school may have some shared textbooks, but many children have never seen a book. Certainly they've never owned one, and they've never had a chance to discover the fun and power of reading. Wat Pasa Viet Novices are now the custodians of over 80 books. GVI Laos is proud of this achievement that increases the capacity for success in expanding the future opportunities of our students.

Links:

• GVI Charitable Trust website
• Follow us on twitter
• Volunteer on this project with GVI

Donations received from the Charitable Trust has been sent to several of the temples where GVI volunteers teach English.

One of the temples that was a recipient was Wat Pha-O. This temple is outside Luang Prabang in a rural environment. It is a large and important temple that is home to over 270 Novices. The donation was presented to Monk Ongeo, the Abbot of the temple. Monk Ongeo stated that this donation would be put to the use of digging a bore to access water. The photos show Monk Ongeo with the donation and the work that has already commenced in digging the bore.

Other smaller donations included whiteboards for 2 other temples – Wat Na Luang and Wat Mano, and a third whiteboard was given to one of our Lao teaching partners, Mr Nii who conducts English classes in his home village in a traditional Hmong house.

A further donation was given to one of our favourite temples, Wat Pasa Viet, for the purchase of a wheelbarrow and cement for the Novices to firstly make the bricks and secondly build a fence on a section of the temple’s property.

The remainder of the Charitable Trust Challenge money will be held in reserve for future needs of sponsorships and scholarships to students and general support for the temples. Sincere thanks to all the volunteers, friends and families that donated to our Charitable Trust Challenge. Your money is doing good work to benefit others