Trip to the Plain of Jars Video

Here is a video of intern Dylan from Texas who has been on the project for 38 weeks! He is our longest staying volunteer ever and we will miss him immensely. This video was taken when Dylan, volunteer Kat from Denmark and Molly, the field staff accompanied 150 Lao students to the Plain of Jars. There was a lot of karaoke on the 12 hour bus ride, beautiful scenery and mysterious jar sites..

Trip to the Plain of Jars Video

Check out these links!

Please click the following link to see our Facebook updates about the 2013 Charitable Trust Challenge that started at 5am Monday and goes until 6am Friday!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/GVI-Laos-Luang-Prabang/314246395368176

Or go to the following site to donate and help send disadvantaged Lao students to school:

www.justgiving.com/CTChallenge-Laos2013/

Thank you,

GVI Laos Team

Check out these links!

Monthly Achievement Report May 2013

The 2012-2013 school year has come to an end at Wat Mano Primary School. Since September we have taught English to 26 young novice monks and 1 lay student “Mr. Johnny”. The students began the year with no prior English language knowledge but have as much eagerness to learn as we see in all of our other temple schools. These students are aged 10 to 14 years old and come from several temples throughout Luang Prabang.

This past year the students were lucky enough to have two renovated classrooms thanks to a former GVI construction volunteer. Shiny new whiteboards, enough textbooks to go around, 8 computers along with educational activities, brand new desks and benches make for happy teaching volunteers and happy students. On Mondays the students work on English based computer activities supervised by our Lao staff Mr. Sipheng. Mondays through Fridays, Mr. Sipheng, Molly, a GVI staff member and 4 volunteers teach English in the new classrooms.

The last day at Wat Mano was activity day so the novices practiced prepositions such as “in, on and under” with a wooden train set donated by a former volunteer. The novices and Lao teacher went wild over their first time playing with a train set. After the activities were finished Molly thanked the students for their hard work while the volunteers handed out soy milks to everyone. Special jelly drinks were given to the students who had completed their homework and attended class every day.

We are very proud of our young novices at Wat Mano Primary School and we are already looking forward to returning to teach after the summer holiday.

To read a blog entry about Wat Mano please follow this link- http://www.gvi.co.uk/blog/luang-prabang/teaching-wat-mano

To read about the construction project at Wat Mano- http://www.gviusa.com/news/gvi-laos-first-construction-volunteer

Monthly Achievement Report May 2013

Hmong Village Visit

As part of our leadership course here on the project, fellow intern Forest and I planned and led a trip to a local village. It was to a Hmong village called Ban Souang Luang, half an hour from town. The village is also the home of Lao teacher Mr Ni who teaches at the college here as well as teaching English to a small group of local students each weekend. We arrived by minivan in the little village just after 2pm and met his nine eager students as we entered his home. His house is two story, as Hmong houses usually are, so the lower level is used as a classroom on Saturdays and Sundays.

So we began with a lesson to the whole group, led by Forest and myself and then we broke up into three small groups, each led by a volunteer. The students seemed to love the activities and were keen to participate. One activity involved learning words such as throw, catch, up and down and took place outside, throwing a ball. After ten minutes or so, a crowd of local children and parents had gathered, eagerly watching and wanting to join in. We found another ball for the kids and they preceeded to attempt to echo the English words they heard which was very entertaining!

Next the students took us on a tour of their local market where we saw (and had to try!) a few interesting things! The students loved pointing out various foods at the market and learning the English words which they would quickly write in their notebooks. They also taught us the Lao words and I had quite a few locals laughing at my attempts at saying the words correctly! We then headed back to Mr Ni’s neighbour’s house which was an example of a very traditional Hmong house. A lovely little old lady lived there and with her permission, we squeezed ourselves into her small home. She chuckled the whole time we were there, looking around at us happily. Mr Ni explained some of the Hmong beliefs and the reason they have two doors in all Hmong houses. One is called the ‘spirit door’ and is only used during special ceremonies and celebrations. It was very interesting to learn as Hmong culture and Lao culture are very different.

We ended our visit with farewells back at Mr Ni's house and we left the students with some stationary gifts. It was a great day had by all and I hope to plan another visit there in the future.

- Written by Sian from Australia who is on the project for 6 months! Thank you Sian for all of your hard work :-)

Hmong Village Visit

Sponsored Monks return to Luang Prabang

The group of Lao Monks studying in Thailand, some of whom have been sponsored by GVI Laos, returned to Luang Prabang recently over their holiday leave. GVI assisted with the expenses involved in applying for passports as our contribution to these Monks' further education. Contact is still kept between GVI and Monk Joy (second from the left) who sent this photo.

Our Charitable Trust Challenge happening from 10th to 14th June when we are giving alms for 5 days, raises money to help our Buddhist communities in which we work and the community in general.

To support this challenge please donate by going to http://www.justgiving.com/ctchallenge-laos2013

Sponsored Monks return to Luang Prabang

Laos Charitable Trust Challenge

5 Days getting up at 5am to give alms to Novices and Monks? That's what we're doing for the Laos Charitable Trust Challenge June 10th-14th!
Head to http://www.justgiving.com/CTCHALLENGE-Laos2013 for more info and to donate.

Laos Charitable Trust Challenge

Plain of Jars Teacher-Student Trip

When GVI offered us volunteers to go on a fieldtrip with our Xayadeth students, I knew that it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass. The destination was Phonsavan, and the main attraction to be seen was The Plain of Jars.

We left an early Thursday morning, and it was clear that this trip was a big deal for the students. The bus trip there offered karaoke (with students and teachers singing), a beautiful view the entire way and a lot of excited students. Because of “Lao time” the bus trip ended up being 12 hours instead of 8, but the students didn’t care and stayed happy, so it was hard to get frustrated. After a stop at a pretty lake (and a lot of toilet breaks), we arrived in Phonsavan. After dinner and a much needed Beer Lao, we went to bed early. Phonsavan had such a different vibe, compared to ‘good old’ Luang Prabang, everything was so new and “big city” like.

After a good night sleep, we woke up early to start our big day. Besides Plain of Jars, a cave and a hot spring was also on the agenda. I loved Plain of Jars! We arrived there in the afternoon before sunset, and our 100 + students “invaded” the jar decorated hills. The students took a lot of pictures, during the entire trip and got so excited if us teachers wanted to be in the pictures with them. They clearly had a good time during the three days we were away – and so did we!

 

-Written by Kat from Denmark who was on the project for 84 days. We miss you Kat!

Plain of Jars Teacher-Student Trip