Little things make a BIG difference!
When I am not in Laos, I think about Laos, I study Lao, I try to stay in touch with the island and work on the project from far, far away. One could think that people around will get tired of me constantly talking about Don Khon, that not being able to travel there, I will not manage to continue supporting the island...
On the contrary, more and more colleagues and friends get involved, their support exceeds my imagination, things get more professional, I speak better and better Lao and communicate easier with people from the island. It simply became possible to combine the reality here and there and continue even from far.
During the summer drink, I shared the results of the last visit: pictures of newly built sinks, new benches, a fence and .. of course snapshots from English classes. I also told everyone about the tiny, tiny school which needs water, electricity and a bathroom. A small event, couple of pictures and movies brought many supporters of big hearts. I could transfer the initial amount to Tan - my Thai friend photographer, who brought the money to Sang - the foreman. The next batch was sent to Mr Vong who lives in Pakse and is always ready to help. He gave the money to Sang's wife, who travelled 140 km from Don Khon to meet him. Like this the works could start right after the rainy season finished. The first phase of construction is complete: walls are built, a toilet is set up and pipes are connected. But we still need to install a water tank, add a sink and bring electricity to the school's building - it's for that reason that the Halloween Charity Sales was organised in Brussels! (Photos below courtesy of Tan, Sang and Mr Vong)
On the contrary, more and more colleagues and friends get involved, their support exceeds my imagination, things get more professional, I speak better and better Lao and communicate easier with people from the island. It simply became possible to combine the reality here and there and continue even from far.
During the summer drink, I shared the results of the last visit: pictures of newly built sinks, new benches, a fence and .. of course snapshots from English classes. I also told everyone about the tiny, tiny school which needs water, electricity and a bathroom. A small event, couple of pictures and movies brought many supporters of big hearts. I could transfer the initial amount to Tan - my Thai friend photographer, who brought the money to Sang - the foreman. The next batch was sent to Mr Vong who lives in Pakse and is always ready to help. He gave the money to Sang's wife, who travelled 140 km from Don Khon to meet him. Like this the works could start right after the rainy season finished. The first phase of construction is complete: walls are built, a toilet is set up and pipes are connected. But we still need to install a water tank, add a sink and bring electricity to the school's building - it's for that reason that the Halloween Charity Sales was organised in Brussels! (Photos below courtesy of Tan, Sang and Mr Vong)
The Halloween Charity Sale brought together many people of big hearts! The results will allow to do that all what had been planned and even much more! I am now in touch with my Thai and Lao friends to develop plans how to best invest the proceeds to ensure the sustainable development of the island, which will bring the best for its inhabitants. And meanwhile life in Don Khon continues (photos below courtesy of Sornnarong Tungjai - talented young photographer, student of Piyavit Thongsa-Ard)
Time of another visit to Laos is approaching. Every journey needs a thorough preparation, not only here in Europe but also there… Given the limited time I have, I try to make the best of it and arrange as much as possible ahead. One month in advance I sent another batch of money to Mr Vong, who called the foreman. Sang travelled 140km to pick up the funds, buy missing materials to bring them back to the island. Now the bathroom is almost finished. It will only need the final installment to put the pump into motion and another mural painting to make the kids smile when washing the hands. The second part of money was for the carpenter to buy wood. I ordered 20 new benches, so hopefully by the time I arrive the majority will be ready.
What is even more heart-warming is that the construction of the bathroom, the order placed for new benches and a promise to bring electricity made the chief of the island decide to rebuild the leftovers of a tiny school. I guess it is the best example of an amazing butterfly effect! For the moment kids learn in a nearby replacement cottage, but soon what was once a tiny school in deplorable state will become a proper place for education!!!
2015 is the European Year for Development. With generous funding, upcoming time-off, stubbornness and hope, it makes me feel that I can perform miracles! And these are needed. Couple of days ago a main bridge linking two parts of the island collapsed... It may be time to invest in a critical infrastructure!
The EU is the biggest donor of the official development assistance in the world. “Me4Loas” project is completely unofficial, truly personal, put together by my colleagues and friends who care. The EU website continues: “the European Year of Development will be a key opportunity to raise awareness of development across Europe, and to show Europeans that every euro spent on development benefits both people living in some of the world's poorest countries, and EU citizens themselves.” I am proud to contribute on a microscopic scale to this goal. (Photos below courtesy of Mr Vong and Sang).
What is even more heart-warming is that the construction of the bathroom, the order placed for new benches and a promise to bring electricity made the chief of the island decide to rebuild the leftovers of a tiny school. I guess it is the best example of an amazing butterfly effect! For the moment kids learn in a nearby replacement cottage, but soon what was once a tiny school in deplorable state will become a proper place for education!!!
2015 is the European Year for Development. With generous funding, upcoming time-off, stubbornness and hope, it makes me feel that I can perform miracles! And these are needed. Couple of days ago a main bridge linking two parts of the island collapsed... It may be time to invest in a critical infrastructure!
The EU is the biggest donor of the official development assistance in the world. “Me4Loas” project is completely unofficial, truly personal, put together by my colleagues and friends who care. The EU website continues: “the European Year of Development will be a key opportunity to raise awareness of development across Europe, and to show Europeans that every euro spent on development benefits both people living in some of the world's poorest countries, and EU citizens themselves.” I am proud to contribute on a microscopic scale to this goal. (Photos below courtesy of Mr Vong and Sang).
The more difficult things are, the more happiness it brings when they work out. The simple thought of buying English-Lao dictionaries and other books, which I could use to teach in Don Khon, looked like a mission impossible.
The idea came from Toshiko - a Japanese woman who since couple of years has in a similar way to mine helped surrounding islands. Somebody put us in touch and we started to share experiences. Once Toshiko ordered through a friend in Vientiane Lao books for youngsters. Knowing that I teach small kids, she drew my attention to Big Brother Mouse - a publishing project started by a retired American publisher working with young Laotians preparing and bringing books to villages, where people have never seen a book. The benefit is twofold: young people learn new skills such as writing, editing, translating, computer use the project also develops ways to distribute books in a country where currently, there's no good system for that. Some are just in Lao, others are in both Lao and English, making them excellent material for my classes. I immediately found couple of great books that I could use. The problem was that Big Brother Mouse is based in Luang Prabang and it is impossible to order books online, neither ship them even within Laos…
But as everything till now, coincidences, luck and people make this project magical. I talked over Christmas to a very good friend from university and remembered that Ania was going to Laos. Unfortunately we will just miss each other in Bangkok, but knowing that Ania will be in Luang Prabang gave me hope I could get the books.
And so the operation “books” started. All happened when I was trapped in endless meetings in Geneva, far from easy access to e-mail or phone, making things even more difficult. But Ania managed to get to the Big Brother Mouse, bought 180 books, which I had requested and thanks to a boy working in a guesthouse she stayed in, she brought them to a bus company recommended by Mr Vong. It turned out that there is no direct bus to Pakse, so the books had to change buses in Vientiane. Meanwhile Ania did not have Mr Vong’s telephone number and I was offline, so the hotel boy got the number of the first driver, of which picture Ania could send by e-mail. Next day in the morning, she found another paper stuck at the door of her room with new numbers of drivers who overtook the books in Vientiane. Two nights and two days after, Mr Vong picked up the books in Pakse and so they are waiting there for me, so I can drag them further to the island…
Something that seemed impossible, thanks to involvement of amazing people, who care and are ready to help, was possible. It again proved that everything can happen if one really wants it and is stubborn enough to pursue the dreams. (Photos below courtesy of Ania Wojciuk – who made it all happen!)
The idea came from Toshiko - a Japanese woman who since couple of years has in a similar way to mine helped surrounding islands. Somebody put us in touch and we started to share experiences. Once Toshiko ordered through a friend in Vientiane Lao books for youngsters. Knowing that I teach small kids, she drew my attention to Big Brother Mouse - a publishing project started by a retired American publisher working with young Laotians preparing and bringing books to villages, where people have never seen a book. The benefit is twofold: young people learn new skills such as writing, editing, translating, computer use the project also develops ways to distribute books in a country where currently, there's no good system for that. Some are just in Lao, others are in both Lao and English, making them excellent material for my classes. I immediately found couple of great books that I could use. The problem was that Big Brother Mouse is based in Luang Prabang and it is impossible to order books online, neither ship them even within Laos…
But as everything till now, coincidences, luck and people make this project magical. I talked over Christmas to a very good friend from university and remembered that Ania was going to Laos. Unfortunately we will just miss each other in Bangkok, but knowing that Ania will be in Luang Prabang gave me hope I could get the books.
And so the operation “books” started. All happened when I was trapped in endless meetings in Geneva, far from easy access to e-mail or phone, making things even more difficult. But Ania managed to get to the Big Brother Mouse, bought 180 books, which I had requested and thanks to a boy working in a guesthouse she stayed in, she brought them to a bus company recommended by Mr Vong. It turned out that there is no direct bus to Pakse, so the books had to change buses in Vientiane. Meanwhile Ania did not have Mr Vong’s telephone number and I was offline, so the hotel boy got the number of the first driver, of which picture Ania could send by e-mail. Next day in the morning, she found another paper stuck at the door of her room with new numbers of drivers who overtook the books in Vientiane. Two nights and two days after, Mr Vong picked up the books in Pakse and so they are waiting there for me, so I can drag them further to the island…
Something that seemed impossible, thanks to involvement of amazing people, who care and are ready to help, was possible. It again proved that everything can happen if one really wants it and is stubborn enough to pursue the dreams. (Photos below courtesy of Ania Wojciuk – who made it all happen!)
When I arrived in Laos, the box with books was indeed waiting for me
in Pakse. Mr Vong put a paper on it with a Lao inscription “please help to carry”, loaded me on a
van and here I departed towards the island. Arriving at the harbour, a fellow
traveller helped me moving the box to the boat and 45 minutes later, 180 books
from Luang Prabang landed on Don Khon.
It was great teaching assistance and the kids were thrilled to get each of them their own colourful Lao-English book. In Laos there is no culture of reading books, not to mention owning them. Usually in the classrooms there are couple of copies, which the school owns and which the kids share between each other during classes. Getting their own books meant a lot to them, they proudly signed their copies and carried their books every day. In contrast to common books, which are often in a very bad state, the children took a lot of care of their own copies. And we had lot of fun learning that snakes slither, birds fly and that 2 buffaloes and 3 buffaloes together make 5.
Given that kids grow up, some got mixed in different classes and moved to a secondary school. To continue my lessons with all, I ended up teaching an hour per day more. Next to my old students, I also noticed some new faces in the classrooms, but with surprise I realised that these kids were listening through the bamboo walls over these last years and quickly caught up with all the material. This time we advanced a lot and I was happy to hear from met tourists that the kids start to speak English with them. I hope that English will open them door to a better life, so that they can face difficult upcoming times, when the main source of income of their parents – fish – will soon disappear when the construction of the nearby dam is finished.
It was great teaching assistance and the kids were thrilled to get each of them their own colourful Lao-English book. In Laos there is no culture of reading books, not to mention owning them. Usually in the classrooms there are couple of copies, which the school owns and which the kids share between each other during classes. Getting their own books meant a lot to them, they proudly signed their copies and carried their books every day. In contrast to common books, which are often in a very bad state, the children took a lot of care of their own copies. And we had lot of fun learning that snakes slither, birds fly and that 2 buffaloes and 3 buffaloes together make 5.
Given that kids grow up, some got mixed in different classes and moved to a secondary school. To continue my lessons with all, I ended up teaching an hour per day more. Next to my old students, I also noticed some new faces in the classrooms, but with surprise I realised that these kids were listening through the bamboo walls over these last years and quickly caught up with all the material. This time we advanced a lot and I was happy to hear from met tourists that the kids start to speak English with them. I hope that English will open them door to a better life, so that they can face difficult upcoming times, when the main source of income of their parents – fish – will soon disappear when the construction of the nearby dam is finished.
In the same time, I also overlooked the finalisation of construction
of the bathroom in a tiny school in Banghankhone, which I had started managing
already from Brussels after first funds had appeared.
The main building was already constructed, the water tank was set as well. What was missing, was a sink and a stronger pump, given that the tiny school in Banghankhone lies much higher up above the Mekong, so it is not easy to bring the water up. With the last payment, it took Sang one full day to finalise the bathroom. It was then time for me to make it kids’ friendly.
I stored the paints from last year at Sang’s place, so now only I had to buy a new brush and half a litre of gasoline to substitute a dissolvent, which is nowhere to be found on the island. In the Sun the paint was drying quickly so in two hours, I managed to make even two mural paintings. The kids in the nearby temporary school were pointing their fingers and shouting “a dolphin!”, “a fish!” , perfectly motivating me to continue.
In the meantime kids were running to the nearby bushes … It took me quite some effort to convince them to use their brand new toilet instead. Some children would be scared and preferred what they are used to. But finally three brave girls locked themselves up and used the bathroom :) I was very happy, as at least they won’t risk anymore snake or spiders bites. Plus, they can also clean their hands afterwards.
Kids were thrilled to see running water and started to splash it around. When I bought a soap, the happiness was impossible to describe – kids started soaping their hands, arms and faces. And at the end all proudly showed their clean hands! What a beautiful view it was, nothing more than wonderful knowing that “washing hands saves lives”!
The main building was already constructed, the water tank was set as well. What was missing, was a sink and a stronger pump, given that the tiny school in Banghankhone lies much higher up above the Mekong, so it is not easy to bring the water up. With the last payment, it took Sang one full day to finalise the bathroom. It was then time for me to make it kids’ friendly.
I stored the paints from last year at Sang’s place, so now only I had to buy a new brush and half a litre of gasoline to substitute a dissolvent, which is nowhere to be found on the island. In the Sun the paint was drying quickly so in two hours, I managed to make even two mural paintings. The kids in the nearby temporary school were pointing their fingers and shouting “a dolphin!”, “a fish!” , perfectly motivating me to continue.
In the meantime kids were running to the nearby bushes … It took me quite some effort to convince them to use their brand new toilet instead. Some children would be scared and preferred what they are used to. But finally three brave girls locked themselves up and used the bathroom :) I was very happy, as at least they won’t risk anymore snake or spiders bites. Plus, they can also clean their hands afterwards.
Kids were thrilled to see running water and started to splash it around. When I bought a soap, the happiness was impossible to describe – kids started soaping their hands, arms and faces. And at the end all proudly showed their clean hands! What a beautiful view it was, nothing more than wonderful knowing that “washing hands saves lives”!
Since the last year I have also started to invest in tables and benches in the schools. There is no lack of wood around, but it is expensive and nobody sees the need to replace tables, which are falling apart. Meanwhile, accidents happen, kids get hurt, so having enough funds also this time I ordered set of new benches and tables. During the weekend I was taken to the mainland to meet a carpenter and to see his workshop. Looking at the ducks running around, I was happy that I also can support local economy.
And finally also the ventilation systems are extremely needed at schools. At the end of March through April and May the hottest days will come making it almost impossible to breathe, not to mention studying in the classrooms where there is hardly any breeze coming in. Already now the drops of sweat pop up on tiny foreheads making it difficult to focus.
In Laos fans are not produced, so they need to be imported from China or Thailand blowing up prices and hence local authorities do not find it cost efficient to install them. Therefore I decided to use some funds to replace one broken fan in the first school and buy two new one for a tiny school. Noticing that Sang installed them over the weekend I went to the tiny school to run them. Kids were so amazed that they couldn’t believe that there is a cool breeze coming down on them. They shouted happily in Lao: “it’s cold, it’s cold!”. It was wonderful to see them enjoying it so much.
And finally also the ventilation systems are extremely needed at schools. At the end of March through April and May the hottest days will come making it almost impossible to breathe, not to mention studying in the classrooms where there is hardly any breeze coming in. Already now the drops of sweat pop up on tiny foreheads making it difficult to focus.
In Laos fans are not produced, so they need to be imported from China or Thailand blowing up prices and hence local authorities do not find it cost efficient to install them. Therefore I decided to use some funds to replace one broken fan in the first school and buy two new one for a tiny school. Noticing that Sang installed them over the weekend I went to the tiny school to run them. Kids were so amazed that they couldn’t believe that there is a cool breeze coming down on them. They shouted happily in Lao: “it’s cold, it’s cold!”. It was wonderful to see them enjoying it so much.
I usually also bring presents. This is the most difficult part as it is not easy to find the right balance between giving but not making the kids think that just because they are poor they deserve to get things with no effort, which may lead them to beg. It is always hard work to explain that they should not beg (as some do) and bring gifts as a token of friendship and trust - nothing else. Therefore I chose families with whom I developed closer friendship or students, who are good at school to reward their efforts and work. They get gifts in presence of parents to allow a supervision of their use. I also try to teach the kids to share the things and play together.
This time, I brought bag of clothes and some educational games donated by different colleagues of mine. In particular a memory game with glittering pink cards in the shape of hearts with Disney pictures on made the girls incredibly happy!
This time, I brought bag of clothes and some educational games donated by different colleagues of mine. In particular a memory game with glittering pink cards in the shape of hearts with Disney pictures on made the girls incredibly happy!
Given that the proceeds of the last year’s Halloween Charity Sale exceeded all my expectations, I came to the island with additional funds looking for the best way to use it. First I thought of investing in a broken bridge, but the costs estimates as well conflicting interests of chiefs of different villages put me off.
I decided to continue with the “washing hands saves lives” project. Given that now all schools on Don Khon are equipped with bathrooms, I went to visit a school in Don Som, a small island just to the east of Don Khon.
Foreigners are not allowed to stay on other islands, without an authorisation. Further they need to pay for visiting the villages. However Sang and the chief of Don Khon arranged for me all permissions. We took a raft and got to the other side of the Mekong. I visited a small school, where the construction of a bathroom had started years ago but - due to lack of money -was stopped. The building is made, but there are no door, no water tank, no sink, no electricity neither a pump. Given however, that the well is very near, the small pump which was left from Banhangkhone school, where we had to buy a bigger one, could be used, so eventually with relatively little input, the bathroom could be operational very soon.
I also noted that walls and tables are falling apart so here as well some improvements are possible. After visiting the school, I met a chief of the Don Som island and the school director and ….. it is all put in motion!
I decided to continue with the “washing hands saves lives” project. Given that now all schools on Don Khon are equipped with bathrooms, I went to visit a school in Don Som, a small island just to the east of Don Khon.
Foreigners are not allowed to stay on other islands, without an authorisation. Further they need to pay for visiting the villages. However Sang and the chief of Don Khon arranged for me all permissions. We took a raft and got to the other side of the Mekong. I visited a small school, where the construction of a bathroom had started years ago but - due to lack of money -was stopped. The building is made, but there are no door, no water tank, no sink, no electricity neither a pump. Given however, that the well is very near, the small pump which was left from Banhangkhone school, where we had to buy a bigger one, could be used, so eventually with relatively little input, the bathroom could be operational very soon.
I also noted that walls and tables are falling apart so here as well some improvements are possible. After visiting the school, I met a chief of the Don Som island and the school director and ….. it is all put in motion!
Just before leaving I had a farewell dinner at Sang’s place. Among others, we discussed the needs of the school in Don Som. Sang prepared cost estimates and I was happy to see that I had all the cash needed. I left him the money knowing that he will take care and ensure a proper follow up.
Few weeks later, I got amazing pictures proving that everything was done as planned. The toilet is finished, door installed, fresh water is running through the pipes and new benches arrived! It is all fully in use. The only thing missing is the mural painting, but that is my part for which I will need to go back to the islands ;)
So this time things went incredibly better then expected. I went to Laos to help a tiny school in Banghankhone, but because of amazing involvement of so many people around me, I managed to help yet another even tinier school on a microscopic island Don Som. Maybe it is not even noticeable on the map, but for those kids, having an operational bathroom is a huge change and if it means that because of the running water even only one of them avoids disease, that is as big as all the universe!
Few weeks later, I got amazing pictures proving that everything was done as planned. The toilet is finished, door installed, fresh water is running through the pipes and new benches arrived! It is all fully in use. The only thing missing is the mural painting, but that is my part for which I will need to go back to the islands ;)
So this time things went incredibly better then expected. I went to Laos to help a tiny school in Banghankhone, but because of amazing involvement of so many people around me, I managed to help yet another even tinier school on a microscopic island Don Som. Maybe it is not even noticeable on the map, but for those kids, having an operational bathroom is a huge change and if it means that because of the running water even only one of them avoids disease, that is as big as all the universe!