Scholarship for the Poors and Girls

LWF supplies children in Laos with school equipment

(LWF) – "This is my first time seeing this,” Ms Silong exclaims. Her seven-year-old daughter Mone has just received a bag of school supplies. “My daughter is very happy about these things and I told her to keep them in good condition so she can use them for a long time,” the mother adds.

The distribution of school material is part of a project by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF Laos) in Viengphoukha district, Luangnamtha province in northern Laos. One of the activities is to promote access to quality education for children, particularly those from the poorest families in remote and indigenous areas.

The region around Viengphouka is very isolated, bordering the mountains and covered in forest. Mone and her mother are ethnic Khmu, an indigenous community which constitutes the largest minority in Laos but lives very isolated. Many Khmu villages are only slowly receiving electricity. In their traditional lifestyle, largely depending on agriculture, hunting and fishing, a girl’s education is often not high on the agenda. They often drop out early because the family needs their work force, cannot afford to send them to school or does not give high priority to education.

Mone ready for school

LWF has been giving books, textbooks, pencils, pens, carry bags, shoes and school uniforms to improve the quality of the children’s education and to support the families who cannot afford these items themselves. Like Mone, the children come from the poorest districts and families in the region, belonging to ethnic minority groups like the Khmu, Akha and Lue.

For many of them school is far away, which also does not encourage attendance. LWF therefore also has distributed bicycles to the students. In addition, LWF conducted a village campaign on education to enhance children’s school participation, and supports the teachers with workshops and monitoring in the villages.

Since 2013 more than 600 school children from the poorest families in 26 villages in Viengphoukha district have received school supplies, uniforms and bicycles. In 2017, LWF Laos plans to expand the support to 40 villages in Nalae district until 2020.

Thirteen-year-old Chanset exemplifies the success of LWF’s continued work in education. Like Mone, she lives in an isolated Khmu village, and received educational materials and a bicycle two years ago when she was in her second high school year. The simple donation of a few schoolbooks and means of transport has significantly improved her attendance and learning. “Before, she and her friends had to walk to school for an hour each day,” her mother says. “Having her own textbooks has helped her to do her homework more easily.”

The success of their well-performing daughters has engaged the entire community by now. “Our village contributed empty land to build the LWF school in 2013,” Chanset’s mother says proudly. “Now we have a beautiful school for our children.’’

Mone’s family is now taking great care to support their daughter in her academic ambitions. ‘‘I expect my daughter to complete the highest possible education; I know illiteracy makes us poor,’’ her mother Si Long says.

Contribution by Alounsavath Thongphanith/LWF Laos. Edited by LWF communications.