Scholarships and Sponsorships for Laos Students

Dear Supporters, 

We had an incredible 2016 in Laos. Our Scholarships Program for students in Luang Prabang raised an incredible £19 000 and we were able to offer support to over 90 student.

Over the course of the next few months, we are going to introduce you to some of the inspiring, hardworking and determined students that we get to interact with!

Meet Sing

Sing is a Hmong student who began studying English with GVI Laos as a Novice Monk in 2010. Sing was a quiet achiever; shy but intelligent and dedicated. He attended our free Novice English classes made possible through donations to The GVI Trust and GVI Laos’ partnership with a local library. He was so dedicated to his studies that even when he left the temple, he continued coming to class!

Sing now speaks 6 languages; Hmong, Lao, English, Mandarin, Thai and French. In August 2015, Sing joined the GVI Staff team as a translator, using English, Lao and Hmong on a daily basis. In addition to translating for GVI at Luang Prabang’s largest temple school with 500 Novice students, Sing also received the GVI Introduction to TEFL training, taught countless Lao lessons to volunteers, was the GVI field staff’s Lao teacher, gave culture talks on Buddhism, life as a Novice Monk and Hmong culture, was featured on the GVI Laos blog and successfully and respectfully liaised with local partner and community members on behalf of GVI.

Sing says that “I enjoy working as a translator with GVI so far. I had been studying with them for four years as a Buddhist Novice Monk student. I feel this organisation is really helpful especially sponsoring Buddhist Novice Monks and lay people who come from the rural areas or come from poor families who can’t even afford their education. I found this is a really good way of improving Lao students to be able to communicate with foreigners and this has progressed a lot and it even can help their future as well. I am very happy that I can be a part of GVI and that I have the chance to help others in my community. I consider myself very fortunate for having a chance to work with GVI. Working with you guys was a great learning experience for me. I really value the knowledge and insight you have, and your willingness to share it with me.”

Last month, as a result of his diligence and experience, Sing received a scholarship to study a 6-year integrated course at a university in China. For the first year, he will go through an intensive university-level Mandarin course before beginning a degree at the university. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to seeing where the future takes him!

Thank you for your support and donations, we are humbled to have been able to help Sing on his journey!

With Gratitude, 
GVI Laos