Quite regularly, prospective voluntourists approach North by North East to find volunteer opportunities to incorporate into their travel itineraries. We handle their travel plans as well as the volunteering portion and create a fantastic memorable adventure. Voluntourists feel good about helping in much needed projects while the locals enjoy making new friends from abroad – a definite win-win situation.

Students are in need of basics such as pencils and notebooks

A new opportunity has just popped up on our radars to assist in a poorly funded boarding school for orphans of Luang Prabang province. The school is home to 350 verified orphans from grade 1 to grade 9. The government of Lao PDR is trying to meet the needs of the school, but as there is no other external help, much of the infrastructure needs improvement.

school ground and classroom buildings

In the complex there are 5 toilet and shower blocks. Currently only 2 are working. It will be only a matter of time before these also breakdown under the strain of use by 350 children. The headmaster is seeking assistance in repairing and renovating the broken toilets, but so far to no avail.

Another cause for concern is the poor nutrition afforded to these forgotten children. The current budgets provide a meager 9 USD per month for each child. If you work the math, that equates to 10 cents per meal! To supplement their paltry diet, the children plant vegetables in every available square inch of the school’s grounds. The headmaster also mentioned that the children never get to eat meat, eggs or dairy. Nutrition does affect learning ability. A steady diet of only rice and vegetables will leave their minds stunted and deficient as they graduate and look for work in the outside world.

vegetable gardens provide much needed food

The school has requested North by North East's help to find voluntourist manpower for the following:

1. Renovate and repair the broken toilet blocks
2. Provide books, pens, paper, blankets and coats (it gets chilly here)
3. New soccer goalposts to replace the current makeshift bamboo frames
4. Funds for the purchase of meat and eggs to complete the children’s diets

Students' dormitory

Laos is a wonderful country to travel in and Luang Prabang as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is exceptional! If you would like to visit this special place and help the school as part of your travel plans we wold love to hear from you. Even if you are not traveling to Laos this year and you would like to assist, please contact:

North by North-East Travel
Tel: +66 (0) 4251 3572
Fax:+66 (0) 4251 3573
e-mail: info@ north-by-north-east.com
Web site: www.north-by-north-east.com