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

Video by Edward Khoo

This video was made 2 years ago by a former volunteer named Edward Khoo. Edward is from Malaysia and taught English to novice monks at Wat Pasaviet Temple:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mByirfuNqJM

Video by Edward Khoo

Monthly Achievement Report 15th April 2013

We celebrate our Charitable Trust Sponsorship and Scholarship Project for this monthly achievement report.

GVI Laos has 10 Novices on sponsorships and 1 student on a Scholarship to complete his Secondary School education. Six of the Novices continue for a second year of sponsorship for 2013. The value of learning English to a proficiency level enables them to have far greater opportunities for their future lives and consequently for their families.

The funding for the Scholarships and Sponsorships comes from the GVI Charitable Trust, a registered charity which allows supporters of the Laos Projects the opportunity to further their support of the education of financially disadvantaged Lao students. The GVI Charitable Trust was set up in 2005 to help with disaster relief following the devastation caused by Hurricane Stan in Guatemala. After an overwhelming response from past volunteers the GVI Charitable Trust has gone on to manage and fundraise projects with many of GVI's partners overseas.

 

What are the goals of The GVI Charitable Trust?

 

. To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment

. To advance education and research for the benefit of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment

. To relieve sickness and preserve and promote the good health of persons

. To relieve poverty, financial hardship and distress

In addition to the Charitable Trust, GVI Laos holds an annual CT Challenge to provide an injection of much needed funds to support the Lao community and temples with which we work. In 2012, we held our first Challenge of giving morning alms for 5 days to the Monks and Novices. We are repeating this same challenge in June. The practice of giving food to the temples gets to the heart and soul of Buddhist Lao culture.

Visit our Charitable Trust Web site at https://www.justgiving.com/ctchallenge-laos2013/

Monthly Achievement Report 15th April 2013

Village Visit with Lay Students

Recently, GVI staff, volunteers and interns drove 2 hours to the small town of Nam Bac to donate sports equipment to the local school. The director of one of our schools (Xayadeth College) grew up in this town so we accompanied him and our lay students first to a lunch at his family home then to the school itself. When we arrived hundreds of Lao students piled out of the classrooms to watch the “Falang” (Foreign Friend) play football and volleyball. There was an intense football game with only students involved then the second game was our staff members versus the local school’s staff members! The local school won both times.. The Lao people know how to have a good time so those who were not playing any sport were entertaining us by playing drums, singing, cheering and of course practicing their English. In the evening the school held a dinner, along with Lao music and traditional dancing. What a fun day we had with our Xayadeth students, Nam Bac students, teachers, volunteers, GVI family and more!

Village Visit with Lay Students

Happy Earth Day!

The GVI Laos team would like to wish everyone and this beautiful world a Happy Earth Day!

~ Molly (USA), Greg (New Zealand) , Tricia (Australia), Xay (Laos), Sipheng (Laos), Dylan (USA), Matt (England), Kat (Denmark), Sam (England), Rebecca (England), Jane (Australia), Emil and Line(Denmark), Anja (Switzerland), Alastair (Scotland), Forest (Canada), Sian (Australia), Sarah (England)~

Happy Earth Day!

Check out our amazing stats!

Click the following links to see our stats from 2012 and the first quarter in 2013. Greg, one of the field staff here in Luang Prabang is great at making websites, loves to work with technology and made our latest stats fascinating to read:

http://infogr.am/GVI-Laos-Qtr-1-2013/

http://infogr.am/2c2c9e9d7863-1517/

Check out our amazing stats!