Each year, a group of students from Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) set off to somewhere in ASEAN, to give back to the society beyond Singapore.
20 volunteers from WeeVolunteer (a volunteer programme of WKWSCI) embarked on a service learning journey from 8 to 20 December 2018 in Luang Prabang, Laos. They spent a week in Ban Houehin Village, building a relationship with the welcoming villagers and assisted with assembling a water filtration system for the village. The team then spent another five days in the city centre making use of their communication skills by collecting stories and capturing images. These stories will be published to help promote Luang Prabang as a sustainable and viable eco-tourism destination.
Villagers from both villages were grateful for the volunteers who spent their precious time and effort to bring joy and help them improve their quality of life.
“Above all, what made this trip much more meaningful and beyond just an eye-opening experience, are the people I’ve met. The villagers’ hospitality and willingness to form connections, their strength, and the kids’ genuine smiles and laughter have all touched and inspired me. The people we interviewed in the city had interesting and inspiring stories to share, and showed great thought and commitment to the things they do.” Charlotte Chong, Logistics Officer
Watch the video stories below, which were produced by the team.
TRASH IDOL
Established in 2014, Trash Idol is a group of volunteers supported by Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority to organise activities on waste management and other environmental issues.
A FRESH START
Water is the source of life. Watch how the team created a water filter from scratch, for the benefit of the villagers.
A SACRED TRADITION
It is always right to respect other people’s culture when you are visiting them. However, there are still tourists that seem to disrespect this.
THE BUFFALO DIARY
Laos Buffalo Dairy works with villages in the Luang Prabang region of Laos to produce buffalo cheese and a range of dairy products. This provides income and a sustainable future for the Lao people involved.
LUANG PRABANG’S ARCHITECTURE
What is unique about Luang Prabang’s architecture?
THE FRIENDSHIP BEHIND MYLAOHOME
Meet the people behind MyLaoHome, a UNESCO-protected hotel in Luang Prabang established by a Singaporean and his Lao partner.
About WeeVolunteer
The WKWSCI Volunteer Programme (WeeVolunteer) is a social work main committee that aims to benefit both local and overseas communities.
Made up of undergraduates from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI), WeeVolunteer is an ad-hoc committee formed under the Communication and Information Club, the official student club that represents and serves the student body of WKWSCI.
The WeeVolunteer committee aims to inspire a cohort of WeeKids to give back to society, by providing different, sustainable volunteer opportunities with a focus on communication.
