2 October 2008
Australia funds new schools in Paktha, Bokeo Province
With funding from the Australian Government, two new school buildings were handed over to the people of Phakoy and Phousathene villages, in the eastern province of Bokeo this week.
Phakoy and Phousathene villages are of the Hmong ethnic group, and located in a mountainous area south-east of Paktha township. The schools, each with two classrooms have replaced bamboo structures that previously existed. The Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) provided funding of $9,805 USD for the construction, and in a community effort, local villagers contributed their labour to collect sand and gravel, carry timber and build tables and chairs.
Mr Somchit Keoamphone, of the District Education Office in Paktha District presided over the two handover ceremonies that were also attended by the project manager, Mr Stuart Ling of the VECO Sustainable Agriculture Project and the village management committee members, school teachers and students.
Mr Ling said, “The new schools have already attracted an increased number of students compared to last year. We hope that more girls will be able to complete school as result of having these better teaching facilities. In addition, the new schools will be used for a non-formal education program with adults that we hope will reduce illiteracy rates in the village”.
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small-scale grants program managed by the Australian Embassy in Vientiane. The purpose is to support community projects that address basic humanitarian hardship and reduce poverty by directly assisting poor and disadvantaged groups in the areas of community health, schools/ education, small-scale infrastructure; rural development; and the environment.
The Australian Embassy in Vientiane is currently receiving applications for good small scale community development projects in Lao PDR. For further information about DAP visit http://www.laos.embassy.gov.au/vtan/cooperation.html or telephone 021 353 800.