COVID-19 has changed everything : the way of working, studying, it prevented so many from travelling… It has been more than a year that I have not been to Laos.
Laos closed down tight its borders in March 2020 and after an initial lockdown, with hardly any cases, things went back to normal. At the beginning of 2021 supplied by Sino Pharm vaccine and initial delivery of Covishield from India (equivalent to Astra Zeneca) though Covax, Laos started a vaccination campaign. The guesthouse and restaurant owners took vaccinations in an early stage and very quickly everyone was invited to get injection…but that invitation reached the minority in the cities and those who get to a clinic so the rate of vaccinations is very low, below 7 % and supply of vaccine delayed by Indian crisis…
So now when the EU is progressing towards reopening, new wave of the pandemics spreads over Asia. The new national lockdown in Laos was announced and schools are closed till the end of May.
In the meantime the first year of “me4laos scholarship” is almost over. Pay and Thipi settled down in the Talent School in Pakse, studied hard, made new friends, became part of sport groups, and even took part in an environmental project “Zero Waste Laos”. They grew up, got stronger and broadened their horizons and now taking advantage that the schools are closed, went back home and are studying for the annual exams.
Little Girl keeps on studying hard to get the scholarship next year in the Talent School. As remote way of life became the new normal, I organised her English course with my former Thai teacher in Bangkok. Equipped with headphones with a microphone and better mobile data package, every Sunday morning she connected with Pin in Bangkok to learn English. hope this will allow her to excel in her entry exams to the Talent School.
The timing of the entry exams is still unknown and scheduled are being modified due to the lockdown, but I am determined to continue giving the kids from Don Khon island the opportunity to study in Pakse Talent School.
Laos closed down tight its borders in March 2020 and after an initial lockdown, with hardly any cases, things went back to normal. At the beginning of 2021 supplied by Sino Pharm vaccine and initial delivery of Covishield from India (equivalent to Astra Zeneca) though Covax, Laos started a vaccination campaign. The guesthouse and restaurant owners took vaccinations in an early stage and very quickly everyone was invited to get injection…but that invitation reached the minority in the cities and those who get to a clinic so the rate of vaccinations is very low, below 7 % and supply of vaccine delayed by Indian crisis…
So now when the EU is progressing towards reopening, new wave of the pandemics spreads over Asia. The new national lockdown in Laos was announced and schools are closed till the end of May.
In the meantime the first year of “me4laos scholarship” is almost over. Pay and Thipi settled down in the Talent School in Pakse, studied hard, made new friends, became part of sport groups, and even took part in an environmental project “Zero Waste Laos”. They grew up, got stronger and broadened their horizons and now taking advantage that the schools are closed, went back home and are studying for the annual exams.
Little Girl keeps on studying hard to get the scholarship next year in the Talent School. As remote way of life became the new normal, I organised her English course with my former Thai teacher in Bangkok. Equipped with headphones with a microphone and better mobile data package, every Sunday morning she connected with Pin in Bangkok to learn English. hope this will allow her to excel in her entry exams to the Talent School.
The timing of the entry exams is still unknown and scheduled are being modified due to the lockdown, but I am determined to continue giving the kids from Don Khon island the opportunity to study in Pakse Talent School.