“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” 1

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Who We’re Helping

While visiting Luang Prabang, Laos on our honeymoon, my wife Lauren and I met students that we were deeply inspired by. Children, young adults, monks — all so eager to learn and grateful for anything we could offer them: A moment to practice their English skills, a donated book, or some help fixing their email accounts.

We also met two wonderful people whose groups are helping those students every day: Justin Spelman and Carol Kresge. Both Justin’s group (Village Science) and Carol’s (The Language Project) are 501(c)(3), non-profit organizations which promote education in the Lao Republic.

Click here to read more about how Village Science and The Language Project are each helping students.

After leaving Laos, we couldn’t stop thinking of ways that we could support their efforts. So since returning home, I’ve begun an ongoing effort to raise money, find equipment, develop partnerships, and raise awareness for the students of Luang Prabang.

The good news? They need help with the technology-based, knowledge-driven things that Veritrope.com readers are naturally good at!

How We’re Helping:

1. Providing fast, reliable internet connections.

   Every student we met was interested in something related to computers and the internet. At the Library we visited, there were a half-dozen computers — all sharing the equivalent of a 56k dial-up connection.

   Providing faster internet service for a student computer lab is expensive in Laos (about USD$150/month), but it is a key to opening up new opportunities for these students: Not only does it give access to a wider world of information and mentoring but, reciprocally, it helps that wider world learn about these remarkable students and what they are doing as well.

   Click here to help them get online!

2. Providing equipment which is too expensive/not easily obtained.

   These students need your used digital cameras to continue learning photography (just look at what they’re doing already!). Their staff needs your old smartphones to help organize and facilitate their work in remote places.

   Why not donate your older, used gadgets instead of sticking them in a drawer? Or maybe you could pitch in to help them buy something needed for a classroom?

   If you don’t have any used items to donate — don’t worry! You can pitch in and help buy new equipment as well. Their computer rooms need better equipment and software and their science labs need the supplies and tools for students to run experiments and build things.

   Click here to find out how to donate equipment!

3. Putting them together with smart, talented people who can help.

   With a fast internet connection in place, it allows talented people all over the world to share their skills and provide mentoring to students in a whole host of ways — and without having to fly around the world to do so! At the same time, it lets people outside of Laos see what these students need and offer creative help and necessary partnerships.

   Want to be a “Virtual Volunteer”? Know of a group that would be an excellent partner? Click here to find out more!

1. Tim Cahill [↩]