PROJECT ENLIGHTEN INC wrote -
The Ban Navangtai New School Project in Laos will greatly improve the quality of life in the Navangtai Village by providing youth with greater education opportunities and stimulating sustainable economic opportunities for local villagers. This school restoration project will serve as another model for future school projects identified within Navangtai Village.
At Project Enlighten we strongly recognize that the value of a school is the learning that happens in the classrooms. Though our key focus is improving the quality of education in rural areas through education programs and teacher training, Project Enlighten has also endeavored to improve access to education by constructing permanent, safe classrooms.
Project Enlighten is working with the local Navangtai Villagers in the construction of three classroom buildings. These pre-existing government schools are in states of complete disrepair, with students unable to study during the rainy season or during times of strong wind. These old falling down, wooden structures pose a safety risk to the teachers and students that study there. Students study in two temporary thatch palm structures outside for lack of classroom space. After a needs assessment in collaboration with the District Office, Project Enlighten worked with the community to choose contractors through a participatory bidding process led by village leaders. Construction is participatory, with local labor, oversight and monitoring as part of the building process.
The first classroom to be built is for the kindergarten students and the beginning stages of construction is already underway! Please help us improve the quality of education in this rural community in Laos and get involved in the meaningful project!