We are a rainbow of possibilities...
When I visited Pakse Talent school for the first time back in November 2019 to discuss possibility of scholarship programme for children from the remote island of Don Khon, I had not imagined it would have take me 3 years to go back. While pandemics challenged the World, through support of so many and the determination of students, teachers and my contacts in Laos, the project went on.
Due to complicated circumstances, I only had a week, but I managed to go back and finally see the six students supported by “me4laos scholarship”. It was amazing to enter the school again, look at the girls walking proudly and with confidence across the school courtyard, seeing the shining eyes of those who left the island with hopes and emotions to study far away from their families. The visit in the school reassured me. I saw the dormitories, where the students sleep, the classrooms where they study. I listened to To* playing guitar, I delivered the scholarships, we discussed COVD-19 , exams, plans for the future and the inflation, which in Laos reached 34% and I learnt that as food became too expensive , the school stop providing food.
Thip* since the pandemic is connected remotely with Lou* - the same age girl, who I connected from Brussels to teach her English. I brought even few presents from Lou. Thip’s dream is to continue studying. She is the one who keeps in touch, who strives for the best. While talking with students in the Pakse Talent school from more privileged background, I learnt that some of them go to international school for afternoon English classes. It was middle of the semester and things looked complicated but still we went to try to explore possibilities for Thip to join international English classes. The international school seemed to be yet another level, modern classrooms with teachers really speaking English… I insisted that she joins as of next semester. And so Thip sat an exam , was admitted to intermediate level and will start afternoon classes as of mid December. With this new skill, I hope that rainbow of possibilities for the future will indeed open for her!
*the real names were changed to protect children’s identities
Due to complicated circumstances, I only had a week, but I managed to go back and finally see the six students supported by “me4laos scholarship”. It was amazing to enter the school again, look at the girls walking proudly and with confidence across the school courtyard, seeing the shining eyes of those who left the island with hopes and emotions to study far away from their families. The visit in the school reassured me. I saw the dormitories, where the students sleep, the classrooms where they study. I listened to To* playing guitar, I delivered the scholarships, we discussed COVD-19 , exams, plans for the future and the inflation, which in Laos reached 34% and I learnt that as food became too expensive , the school stop providing food.
Thip* since the pandemic is connected remotely with Lou* - the same age girl, who I connected from Brussels to teach her English. I brought even few presents from Lou. Thip’s dream is to continue studying. She is the one who keeps in touch, who strives for the best. While talking with students in the Pakse Talent school from more privileged background, I learnt that some of them go to international school for afternoon English classes. It was middle of the semester and things looked complicated but still we went to try to explore possibilities for Thip to join international English classes. The international school seemed to be yet another level, modern classrooms with teachers really speaking English… I insisted that she joins as of next semester. And so Thip sat an exam , was admitted to intermediate level and will start afternoon classes as of mid December. With this new skill, I hope that rainbow of possibilities for the future will indeed open for her!
*the real names were changed to protect children’s identities
Back to the island!
It takes four days, three flights, two minivan and a boat ride to get to Don Khon, one of the most remote places on the planet, an island where I left my heart. It has been three years that I have not been there… the youngest children would not know me anymore, my students who I got to know so long time ago are now young adults … some of them have families. During COVID-19 times, many business got bankrupt, others survived, the authorities constructed the first ever concrete road around the island… this allowed me to cycle smoothly and do a proper needs assessment.
I visited the befriended families, peeked into all the schools, checked several bathrooms I constructed over all these years, some of which need urgent reparations. Thanks to global efforts to eradicate COVID-19*, Lao people got up to four jabs and can continue to live their lives as before. It was the harvest time, with an impressive efforts of people working in the fields. Parents of the Little Girl spend all their days in the fields, while her younger brother stay at home knowing their older sister is studying for a better future.
But Maisi** is not studying. Neither she is working. I got to know her when she was around 10. She was special, because one of her eyes is half closed. I learnt it is because when long time ago she played with a slingshot with her younger brother, the string hit her eye. As there are no doctors on the inland, no one did anything. She was an excellent student and helped me a lot along these years in integrating to the society and delivering water filters, I spent so much time at her place discussing life of the island and studying Lao.
Now Maisi is 21. She dreams to become a tailor. Due to her disability she doesn’t have prospects to have immediately a family. There is a sewing technical school in Pakse that gives 3 months technical courses, but Maisi cannot go. Her parents want her to stay home and take care of them and her younger siblings. Her mother recently had stomach tumor removed. I spent quite some time trying to convince her family that Maisi should have a chance, that I can help finding a carer when she is studying … They promised to reflect.
Empowerment of young girls trapped by social norms, family chains and conservative traditional framework so common in Laos, deserves a full attention. I hope that I will be able to offer a rainbow of possibilities to Maisi soon…
*Laos received several shipments of vaccines from Covax, and under the UCPM Poland delivered requested 658,610 vaccines doses as well.
**the real name was changed to protect the girl’s identity
I visited the befriended families, peeked into all the schools, checked several bathrooms I constructed over all these years, some of which need urgent reparations. Thanks to global efforts to eradicate COVID-19*, Lao people got up to four jabs and can continue to live their lives as before. It was the harvest time, with an impressive efforts of people working in the fields. Parents of the Little Girl spend all their days in the fields, while her younger brother stay at home knowing their older sister is studying for a better future.
But Maisi** is not studying. Neither she is working. I got to know her when she was around 10. She was special, because one of her eyes is half closed. I learnt it is because when long time ago she played with a slingshot with her younger brother, the string hit her eye. As there are no doctors on the inland, no one did anything. She was an excellent student and helped me a lot along these years in integrating to the society and delivering water filters, I spent so much time at her place discussing life of the island and studying Lao.
Now Maisi is 21. She dreams to become a tailor. Due to her disability she doesn’t have prospects to have immediately a family. There is a sewing technical school in Pakse that gives 3 months technical courses, but Maisi cannot go. Her parents want her to stay home and take care of them and her younger siblings. Her mother recently had stomach tumor removed. I spent quite some time trying to convince her family that Maisi should have a chance, that I can help finding a carer when she is studying … They promised to reflect.
Empowerment of young girls trapped by social norms, family chains and conservative traditional framework so common in Laos, deserves a full attention. I hope that I will be able to offer a rainbow of possibilities to Maisi soon…
*Laos received several shipments of vaccines from Covax, and under the UCPM Poland delivered requested 658,610 vaccines doses as well.
**the real name was changed to protect the girl’s identity