Korean visitors help create lasting change in Bolikhan

A group of visitors from South Korea recently visited Bolikhamxay province to learn more about Lao PDR and the development work being done there to help children in the community.

In cooperation with Bolikhamxay Provincial Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, World Vision Lao PDR welcomed the donors to our Bolikhan programme area.

The donors met and spoke with local authorities, plus family and children who have benefited from World Vision’s work. In addition, the Koreans also discussed the needs of the community with district and village authorities.

“We are impressed with Lao culture, Lao food, and the Lao traditional dance performance by the children,” says Mr. Kim Junghyun, a Korean sponsor. “In last 50 years, Korea has experience the poverty same as Lao. I believe education was a key factor that helped Korea be released from poverty.”

“In last 50 years, Korea has experience the poverty same as Lao. I believe education was a key factor that helped Korea be released from poverty.”

During the last week of May, the group visited a school that required improvements to its water and sanitation facilities, a library that needed text books, teaching and other reading materials for students, and training for teachers in order to meet quality of education standards. 

World Vision, which focuses on child well-being, sees education as not only a powerful tool to improve future income opportunities. It can also play an important role in improving the health and social well-being of children.

With support from World Vision, parents learn to take ownership of their children’s education. Vulnerable families have participated in livelihood programs that promote model organic farms or raising goats so they can earn enough income to send their children to school.

Mr. Bounsone Khounxaylida, the Vice District Governor of Bolikhan district, proudly shared some of the accomplishments made in the community with World Vision’s support.

“We identify World Vision as a close partner,” he said. “In the last few years we were able to help families gain more income through model family and livelihood activities. More children were able to access quality education after teacher training, school construction, and renovation activities.

“We were also able to provide more healthcare services to mothers and children,” he added. “Through child development activities, children and youth have learned life skills and able to protect themselves from child labour, migration and human trafficking. In addition, our village development committees are able to support the activities implemented in their village and report to our district committee.”

In addition to seeing the work done in the community, this group of Korean sponsors were also pleased to visit sponsored children.

“In the last three days the group of sponsors were impressed with the warm welcome and hospitality from the community, parents and children,” says Suyong Part, the World Vision Korea staff who lead the sponsor visit. “We all fell in love with the smiles of the community children. They have generous hearts and warm smiles.”

World Vision Lao PDR works in 25 districts across five provinces of the country to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty. Through the cooperation with local partners, World Vision is able introduce long-term, sustainable development, focusing on areas such as education, health, water and sanitation, food security, and child protection.