Pencils of Promise

PoP Staff Profile (Laos) – Ya Laoxayda

This week our PoP staff profile comes to us from Northern Loas! Ya Laoxayda is currently responsible for developing and implementing PoP’s SHINE curriculum in Luang Prabang. S.H.I.N.E is an acronym for Sanitation, Hygiene, Identity, Nutrition, and Enviornment – This is a pivotal part of PoP’s mission, since we know that to create truly sustainable schools, we must help foster long-term and community-wide practices that support the health of its citizens and environment. So let’s take a few minutes to appreciate Ya’s dedication to helping make the world a better place, and in doing so hopefully you get inspired to do the same!

Name: Ya Laoxayda

Position at PoP: SHINE Manager

Location: Luang Prabang, Northern Laos

Interesting facts about Ya:

- Moved away from his village when he was 12 years old for secondary school

- Has 6 siblings, 2 step brothers, and 3 step sisters

- His village is an hour’s drive from Luang Prabang

- Grew up working on the rice fields

- Started learning English in secondary school, but took additional English classes in 2007

- In 2009, he started teaching English

- Will complete his college career this coming school year, which will mean he will be certified as a secondary school English teacher

Fun facts about Ya working at Pencils of Promise:

- Met Leslie Engle (Laos Country Director) in 2008 and started working with PoP in 2010

- Volunteered at PoP  as a translator for 8 months and then was hired on as a SHINE coordinator

-  Started writing the SHINE curriculum in the Fall of 2010

A moment with PoP that Ya will never forget:

The first time he went to Phayong (4 hours north of Luang Prabang) was also the first time he went into the field with PoP. Philip (the PoP videographer), Brad Haugen (Chairman of the PoP Board), Leslie Engle (Laos Country Director), and Ya went up with a van but, unfortunately, the van decided to turn around 15 minutes before it arrived at their destination. This meant that the PoP group had to walk an hour to reach Phayong. Mind you, they were carrying camera equipment, and heavy packs. Once they arrived, they interviewed various Phayong residents to be able to capture life in this rural village.

His responsibilities at PoP include:

- Create the SHINE curriculum

- Send the SHINE coordinators into the field to implement the curriculum

His lifelong goal:

Help as many people as he can.

Do not hesitate to write in the blog comments area if you have any questions or comments for Ya!