Sponsor's update from Vientiane
21/12/2007
Vientiane, 30th October 2007.
Dear Friends, Dear Sponsors,
It is our great pleasure to send you our deepest thanks and great gratitude for your generous support to our SOS Children’s Village Vientiane/ Lao P.D.R. May we take this opportunity to present our progress report during the second half of year 2007 to you.
The total number of children is at moment 198 including 20 boys staying at youth house and 43 at boarding schools and hostels. 06 of them were newly admitted into village: in February 3 siblings into family house No 05, 1 girl into family house No 14; in June 1 girl into family house No 09 and in September 1 boy into family house No 11.
In August we moved 8 boys from village to youth house and 8 eldest boys from youth house to boarding schools and hostels. This year, 8 children finished their studies such as 5 girls : “Oun” from Family House No 05 got bachelor degree in French subject and working now at one company; “Ped” from Family House No 06 got diploma in bank-accounting subject and working as a teacher at one college; “Ai” from Family House No 12 got diploma in English teacher and working at one primary school; “Vanh” from Family house No 07 and “Chanh” from Family house No 08 become both as Kindergarten teachers; 3 boys : “Nouy” from Family House No 03 and “Lang” from Family House No 09 just obtained their diploma in accounting subject; “Souk” from Family House No 06 got the diploma in Agricultural subject and 3 of them are trying to find a job now.
The academic year 2007-08 started since 3rd September 2007; there are 187 children enrolling in various schools: 9 in kindergarten, 47 in primary school, 26 in lower secondary level, 41 in upper secondary school, 29 in Colleges, 13 boys in Vocational Schools, 22 in University.
As usually many programs of activities were arranged both inside and outside the village for our children during their school vacation from June to August: tuition courses for the children on weak learning, sport and music games, the computer course and some excursions; swimming which is the most popular thing for them when they went to visit the waterfall; almost of our children are strong and healthy; they are growing up with love and warmth in the family.
The village mothers and aunts took care of their children with love and respect to each other. Mothers-aunts participated regularly in the monthly meeting. They joined a refreshing training with other mothers and aunts from other villages to exchange the working experiences on their duties.
On behalf of children, village mothers-aunts and all of us here, may we take this opportunity to send you our deepest thanks and warmest regards. Your generous support and your kind help mean so much for our children. We pray in every evening for you to have a good health and peaceful life.
We would like to send you our very special wishes for the soon coming greetings seasons.
“ MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008”
Yours Sincerely,
M. Boonmee SEEPELOM
Village Director
Child sponsorship letter from Pakse
SOS CV Pakse, October 25th 2007.
Dear Friends, Dear Sponsors
Pakse is the furthest big city in the south of Laos. It lies on the hub of all routes and is the gateway to the south leading to such places as Watphou (Rocket temple, founded at 9th century, the second word heritage in Laos) and Khone Papheng water fall ( it’s a famous water fall in Laos). Pakse founded at the beginning of 20th century by the French and still retains its old French town charm. Unfortunately, the old houses are gradually disappearing to make way for modern buildings, many of which lack attraction. Along the Mekong riverbank is a delightful and enjoyable esplanade. Thailand is very close. From the check point border of Chongmek you can reach Ubon Rachathani.
Grateful thanks for your kind help and generous support, we were able to provide the new home in our SOS Children’s Village for many children in need. We always convince that your kind support enables us to work for our dear children here. Please let us now to present our brief progress report what was going in second half of year 2007 to you.
There are 169 children (95 boys, 74 girls) in total including 20 at youth house, 24 at state dormitories (10 boys,14 girls), 17 at hostels ( 15 boys, 2 girls) and 108 living in the village ( 50 boys, 58 girls) . All of them are in good health. On this grand vacation we moved 8 young boys from village to youth house and 6 from youth house to hostel.
12 SOS Mothers, 04 aunts and 03 acting aunts are healthy and active to take care of their beloved children.
In academic year 2006-07 almost of our children are enrolled in different levels at our SOS School and they could pass the annual examination with the satisfied result. Especially our 21 children in final year of upper secondary level had the problems on learning before. We arranged them the additional classes (Math’s and Chemic) leaded by the teachers from outside to prepare the leaving examination in June and the entrance to University or to Vocational School in August 2007; finally 9 of them could attend to University, 12 to High Technical Vocational School, 2 boys in lower secondary level with ability on weak learning continue to Technical Vocational School.
The new academic year 2007-08 started since 3rd September, there are our 5 children in Kindergarten, 34 in primary level, 34 in lower secondary level, 59 in upper secondary level (31 boys, 28 girls), 24 at High Technical Vocational School and College and 13 in National and Provincial Universities.
To improve the village life in our SOS Children’s Village, we arranged some activities such as: cooking demonstrations for our older girls, orienting some young boys to practice in help from our village master and gardener, organizing the village sport teams (football, volley ball, table tennis and rattan ball) and the competition between them, creating the atmosphere more meaningful and joyful.
Our football team won the 1st prize of the whole province in the opportunity of celebration on International Children’s Day. Besides that we celebrated on 1st June the International Children’s Day, held the meeting for celebration on SOS Day. This celebration was honorably presented by a Vice-Governor of Champasack Province, as President of SOS Provincial Committee pursued with all members and mass people about 550 persons. At the end of ceremony our young girls and boys showed their folklore song and dance performance.
On grand vacation our 14 young boys attended the priesthood at some Buddhist temples for 3 weeks to learn the Meditation, the concentration, to have a good behavior and good help to each others. By our tradition we allowed all children and mothers to offer some things to monks on Buddhist Lent.
Together with their education and activities, we followed closely also their health and habit. We try to bring up them to be good manners and to become good children in the society. In addition on grand vacation our children here were happy with the village life such as the excursion outside at natural sources and water falls nearest of our village.
On this graceful occasion we would like to express our deepest thanks and great gratitude to all of you. Dear Friends and sponsors, on behalf of all children, SOS mothers and everyone here, we wish you have a good health, long life and success in your works.
“ MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008”
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Bouakhay KEOPHOXAY
Village Director
Relevant Countries: Laos.