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Lao PDR
Minsai Center - Lao
Minsai Center - Japan
The Darunee Scholarship for Laos was launched in
1997 by Minsai Center Japan to extend the scholarship program to
regions in Lao PDR.
Lao PDR is one of the poorest countries in the
world and an estimated 50% of the ethnically diverse population
of approximately 5 million live below the poverty line. There are
significant socioeconomic changes now taking place as a result of
the growing economic and social integration of Lao PDR into the
Southeast Asian region and the wider global trading system after
decades of war and isolation.
Nonetheless, many students still cannot finish
even the 5-year primary education. In the two provinces,
Khammouane and Sekong, where scholarships are provided, the rate
of students who finish is less than 20% in some cases.
According to Lao Ministry of Education statistics, the highest
dropout rate occurs at grade three. Reasons include looking after
younger siblings and helping the family with farming. With this
in mind, it is here that the support for education is of crucial
importance to the Asiamerica Foundation / Darunee Fund, in
conjuction with Minsai Center in Japan and the Education for
Development Foundation in Laos provides scholarships for villages
to collectively encourage their students to complete primary
education.
As a pilot project, Education for Development Foundation and
Minsai Center have initially concentrated efforts in the
Khammouane and Sekong regions, where, with the help of the local
people, much volunteer effort and donated funds, two schools in
each of two provinces have been built. Already, 70 scholarships
in 1997 were provided, with an additional 397 scholarships in
1998.
The Minsai Center Darunee Scholarship in Lao PDR is divided
into three main parts:
The first part is for the student, who receives about 90% of
the allocated amount for such things as: notebook, pen and
pencil, eraser, ruler, drawing books, colored pencils, pencil
sharpener, student uniform, shoes, sandals, socks, belt, sweater,
student bag
The second part is about 6% of the allocation, for the school.
These funds will help the school obtain equipment and teaching
materials, such as notebooks, pens and pencils, writing paper,
colored paper, markers, scissors, clock, ruler, equipment for
arithmetic, filing cabinet, scale, maps, globes, athletic
equipment such as volleyball, football, badmitton, rattan ball
and nets.
The third part is a stipend for a special class for the
teachers of the school. The teachers receive about 4% of the
allocation, an amount that will multiply by the number of
scholarships provided to each classroom. The teachers can
organize supplementary classes where students are weak, and also
special lessons in local culture, handicrafts to keep traditions
alive. Additional expenses may be available for other school
activities.
The school year for Lao students begins in September of each
year.
At the present time, Darunee Fund / Asiamerica Foundation
offers the option of contributing to a special Lao Fund that has
been established to provide future educational support to the
schools and the programs that have been begun through the
donations of Minsai Center - Japan. We plan in the near future to
provide support for the children of the rural areas of Laos with
a donation-scholarship based program similar to that currently in
place for the children of Northeast Thailand.
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