The British Embassy visits an Education Project supporting children reach secondary school with World Vision

Wednesday, 2nd February 2022

This week, Mr Cashel Gleeson, Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) at the British Embassy in Vientiane, along with Mr Ashis Kumar from World Vision, visited the ‘Funding Advancement and Secondary Transition (FAST) Project’ in Luang Prabang province.

This UK-funded education project, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, aims to support vulnerable adolescents, especially girls, to complete school learning and to transition from primary to lower secondary school. The project is currently implemented by the child-focused organisation World Vision in Pakou District.

Mr Cashel Gleeson and the donor delegation received a welcome by Pakou Vice District Governor and attended the cash transfer event in one of the eleven schools supported by the FAST Project. This was the second cash transfer event in the project, where students received the second half of LAK 1,350,000, which will cover their education fees for attending lower secondary school.

A total of 120 children from vulnerable families have benefitted from the project. Beneficiaries have received financial support to cover transportation and dormitory costs which are particularly costly for rural residents as secondary schools are situated far from their homes. In addition, individual self-care kits, including blankets, school uniforms, study materials, and hygiene kits, including reusable menstrual pads, were distributed by World Vision in the programme to help girls stay in school. Children also received a Safeguarding card on how to report abuse, as well as helpline numbers to call.

The donor delegation met with children and teachers from participating schools to learn about the positive impacts achieved through the project despite many challenges faced during the pandemic, particularly from all the children who can now continue learning through secondary school.

“The UK has been delighted to be able to support World Vision with this extremely important project. All children should have equal access to education and also be able to concentrate on their studies while at school, and this project allows them to do that. I am really pleased to have been able to see in person, the positive impact that this project and the work of World Vision is having on these students” - said Mr Cashel Gleeson.

“Every single child should have the opportunity and access to Quality Education, which is key in breaking the cycle of poverty and provides lifelong opportunities. As we are committed to Quality Education of children in Laos, we have a bigger responsibility” - said Mr Ashis Kumar.

The British Embassy and World Vision are committed to helping all Lao children build a brighter future through education and are supporting the Lao Government to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 by delivering inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong opportunities for all.