Pencils of Promise

Pha Theung Primary School and Library (Laos)

Broke Ground: October 2011

Two and half years ago PoP built its first ever school in Pha Theung village. Now, with many more projects under our belt, we are returning to this community to provide a space for its oldest students and a library.

Ban Pha Theung is Pencils of Promise’s first ever school and village partnership, and it continues to be at the heart of our organization. We have a very close working relationship with the community and educators, and it allows us to pilot our programming in a place we know well.

Pha Theung is right off the main road out of Lunag Prabang, yet, aside from PoP, it has never received any outside aid. And with families making an average of below $300 per year, it sits well below the poverty line.

The 5th graders in Pha Theung go to school under a bamboo roof with no walls, preventing them from attending school during adverse weather conditions. However, they are a dedicated bunch of students. On weekend visits we often find them outside practicing their writing on chalkboards and reading to one another; their commitment to continued learning is profound.

In addition to a 5th grade classroom, we are excited to be building a library for the community. The educators and villagers in Pha Theung have made a makeshift library that sits between existing classrooms; it is open-air and lacking in materials but has worked to provide a space for learning. When we first saw this structure, we couldn’t have been happier. The effort and thought behind it shows just how devoted the village is to their commitment to learning. It’s why we are excited to be a continued partner with them, not only with this project, but for years to come.

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