Laos: a landlocked country in the ASEAN less visited compared to its well-known neighbours like Thailand and Cambodia. With a population approximately similar to that of Singapore but a land area more than 300 times as big, there are new experiences and memories to behold for all the venture into this land.
The first Overseas Exposure Programme’s community service project to Lao PDR was in July 2008. Members of the NTU Welfare Services Club Overseas Volunteering Expedition were involved in the construction of two libraries in Xaysettha High School, Vientiane, and in Pong Song Village, HinHueb District. To date, NTU Overseas Exchange Programme (OEP) has supported 76 teams of 1,700 NTU volunteers to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) for community service projects. NTU students have contributed in many ways, from laying pipes and constructing water tanks to deliver fresh water to remote villages, building school facilities and community halls, to teaching English and Math to school children.
One such project is the construction of the Friendship Hall in Na Phong village, a multi-purpose hall in the community opened in 2015. Over a period of three years starting in 2012, 161 students collaborated with villagers to build this hall, which now serve as a venue for various events like weddings and ceremonies.
This year (2018) marks the tenth anniversary of NTU’s partnership with Hin Heub District, located in the Northeastern part of Laos, a 3-hour drive away from Vientiane, the capital of Laos. In addition, it also marks the completion of the Nong Luang Village School Annex Project by 11 teams from Halls of Residences and Student Clubs over a period of two years. This project aims to enhance the conditions of Nong Luang Village School by building a school annex, comprising of six classrooms with electrical works and furniture, and a 2-metre wide corridor.
To mark this momentous occasion, a handover ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the construction project as well as the continual partnership between Laos and Singapore.
It was a buzz of excitement as the villagers and NTU students geared up for the handover ceremony. While NTU student performers perfected their rendition of Country Road on their guitar and cajón, Laos’s student performers donned the meticulously designed Lao traditional costume which they danced in later on. Word spreads far and the ceremony attracted the attention of many curious onlookers.
The construction of the new school building and furnishing of facilities has brought many benefits to the village community. Electrical works and furniture has provided an optimal environment for students to study in, and even children from other schools wanted to study in the new school! This was the first modern school in the district, and new facilities like chairs, tables, boards, fans and lights were the key attraction at the new premises.
The soul of a country lies in the heart of its people, and NTU students were treated to a great dose of warmth from the Laotian people.
While the students were welcomed with great hospitality by the villagers, it was a role reversal during cluster cooking—instead of having the villagers prepare the meals for the visitors, the 24-member strong team from NTU cooked up dishes for more than 100 villagers in one of the evenings.
Another team that has visited Nong Luang Village was WeeTrip 2017, comprising students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI). “Living in the village has certainly taught our students to adapt to different living conditions and being willing to step outside of their comfort zones in order to interact and benefit the people they were serving,” said Adrien Chee from WKWSCI, Leader of WeeTrip 2017.
While the Nong Luang Village School Project draws to a close, the impact the students’ work certainly doesn’t end here. On top of the trip to Laos, they also plan to make use of the educational programmes crafted to run a small art workshop for children with special needs in Singapore.
As the sun sets on the horizon and the sky dims, the students pack up their belongings and bade their final farewells to the children and villagers gathered at the new school premises. With the last night in the village approaching, the atmosphere was poignant and wistful. While the villagers were certainly delightful for the upgrade in village facilities, the cordial interactions with NTU students is something that will be missed as the next day approaches. Concluding yet another milestone by the students in serving the global community, the lessons they take home stays as they embark on the next endeavour to improve the livelihood of others.
“The kids we interacted with [last year] actually remembered us…They prepared gifts and plants for [those of us] who are still in Singapore. The adults also remembered us, and they kept the photos we gave them even till today. It was certainly very touching for the villagers to remember the names and faces of student participants, an evidence of the lasting impact of the work they contributed in.”Abdul Hakim bin Abdul Ranie, Co-Leader of Hall 4 OEP Project
“I would be willing to go back and give my time to the villagers as long as it helps them in any way. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, but gave me so many takeaways that I will treasure and continue to work on.”Joanne Tan, Financial Controller of WeeTrip 2017
About Overseas Exposure Programme
Participants of Overseas Exposure Programme community service projects bring light and warmth to the communities they serve, creating sustainable impact through small but consistent efforts.
