By Leyla Isin | GVI Laos, Base Manager
Dear Supporters,
In Laos, we are working towards reducing gender inequalities and supporting girls to get an education!
The GVI Laos Women’ Empowerment Project focuses on reducing gender inequalities in Laos, particularly those that exist in education. For the last year, GVI Laos has been providing English classes to a group of 35 girls aged between 9-18 years old. In April 2016, GVI Laos also introduced health and life skills workshops to this program.
The girls’ progress has been exceptional. Their English curriculum is based on the Face to Face textbooks which were purchased using The GVI Trust funds in 2015. The young women in our program have made incredible academic progress and improve every day, with our highest level class beginning to speak in full sentences in front of their peers with confidence.
Literacy workshops, using reading books purchased with donations made to The GVI Trust, have helped build confidence while increasing opportunities to practice and understand the English language. They have also participated in the following health and life-skills workshops which increase their knowledge, skills, analytical thinking and overall health and wellbeing; self- esteem, body image, puberty, menstruation, conflict resolution, nutrition and fitness, dance, business, baking, road safety and environmental awareness.
All of the above is made possible by funds donated to this project, which has been providing funds for classroom and building rental since the programme’s inception. By doing so, The GVI Trust is helping to empower these girls to gain increased access to English, health and life skills education free of cost which positively impacts their future employment opportunities. In addition, The GVI Trust also facilitated a silent auction hosted by a generous donor in the United States to raise the funds necessary to purchase 35 bicycles, helmets, and locks for the girls in our program. The bicycles and equipment purchased for the girls has allowed them to commute from their homes to school more safely and efficiently. What once was a 45- minute-1 hour walk to school is now merely a 15-20-minute bike ride.
On behalf of GVI Laos and the students, thank you to The GVI Trust for partnering with us to increase girls’ access to knowledge and education. We'd also like to thank you, our donors who support this programme!
We look forward to continuing and expanding our WEP this year!
With Gratitude,
GVI Laos
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