Located approximately 35 km outside of Luang Prabang in Pak Ou District, Pha Theung Village is home to about 650 people. Lao Loum, Hmong and Khmer villagers grow rice, corn, sesame on the banks of the Ou River. The villagers also raise buffalo, pigs, goats and chickens. Average annual income in the village is approximately $400 a year per family.
Pha Theung villagers and their leaders understand the importance of providing their children an education. The village did not have a preschool program in their village but knew a program would help their children get a head start on primary school.
Give Children A Choice was approached by a new nonprofit organization to Laos, Pencils of Promise, about building a preschool in Luang Prabang Province. After Pencils of Promise’s first visit to Pha Theung they were excited to fund a preschool for the children of the village.
We signed an MOU for construction of the preschool on March 20, 2009 and three days later we were breaking ground along side representatives from Pencils of Promise.