World Links: Laos - A rural community's hope and pride

Asia Policy Forum on ICT in Education

“From Policy to Practice and from Practice to Policy:
Finding concrete solutions to real problems”
19 to 20 September 2007
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Quezon City, Philippines

"Vision without action is a daydream.
Action without vision is a nightmare."
- 啓発 Japanese Proverb

Making a Difference In Laos

“I have learned about a new technology and now I have access to any place in the world” Arisone Thipparavanh, 16 year old boy from Laos.

Leuanglith Souvanlasy's Story from Laos

“After World Links, we have more communications with each other,” said Souvanlasy. As a training exercise, “I encourage teachers to e-mail each other, exchange pictures and just say, ‘hello.’”

A Rural Lao Community’s Pride and Hope

For Mai and the hundreds living in this agricultural village, the computer lab is a source of community pride and hope made possible through the World Links program in Laos.

A Story from Phonsavad Village in Laos

“I want my children to learn how to use a computer,” Sangchanh Phomsavath said. “I’m just waiting for the electricity to come.”

World Links: Laos - A rural community's hope and pride

Home

Phonsavad does not have electricity. World Links worked with local partners so the school's computers run on 12 solar-powered batteries plus a satellite dish for the Internet connection.

Phonsavad Secondary's 11 computers are the only ones in the whole town. The school computer lab is almost always full of students and teachers wanting to learn more about the technology.