Although tourism has picked up in Laos over recent years, it is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Our project is based in Luang Prabang where we collaborate on sustainable projects that aim to have a long-term impact on the lives of local community members. With projects focusing on SDG4 Quality Education, we work with local partners to improve English literacy, opportunities for women, and preventative health practices.
In Laos, there is a lack of access to quality education. This is especially exasperated in rural communities where there are limited school facilities, with some students having to travel miles in order to access an education. Teachers have a limited capacity, there are challenges in multi-grade teaching, and teaching resources are limited, meaning students' learning outcomes are low.
We will conduct workshops targeting skill development for women and are led by local community members. We will work with local stakeholders to enable them to support English programs in schools, NGOs, and small businesses. Local stakeholders will also be able to run environmental programs in schools, and a community garden will be established and maintained by the local community. We will also support partner schools and local businesses to have effective health, safety, and hygiene practice
Local schools will have a curriculum implemented with a focus on English, and there will be an increase in learning opportunities for women. Community members will have an increased awareness of preventative health practices, and health and safety practices in schools and learning centers will have been developed. The overall goal is to hand the full scope of our projects over to the community and the collaborative partners, once they feel prepared to continue independently.
