Laos

While Cambodia’s poverty is well-documented, Laos faces even greater challenges. According to the UNDP, a third of Laos' population lives below the poverty line, and UNICEF reports that over a third of women aged 20-24 were married by 18. Marie Cammal, driven by these grim statistics, is committed to improving the lives of girls and entire communities in remote Laos.

Key Initiatives:

· Scholarships for Education: In 2010, the girls from the Akha indigenous hill tribe in the northern part of Laos could were allowed to attend school. Prior to this, they were not permitted to school. In 2014, Sok Sabay Association granted 46 female students from the Akha indigenous hill scholarships, thanks to a partnership with Norway Church Aid (NCA). This initiative was groundbreaking for the minority group, allowing girls to attend secondary school from Grade 6 to 12. Marie highlights the harsh realities these girls face: child labour, carrying heavy loads, and working in harsh conditions, making them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

· Geographic Risks: Scholarships offer a safe alternative, enabling education in bigger towns. Sok Sabay Laos is similar to Sok Sabay Cambodia’s Vision to give education to young, dedicated girls an opportunity to change their Future through Education and thereby breaking the cycle of poverty.

· Selection Process: To select the girls for scholarships, the NCA organization partners with Sok Sabay Association to gain permission from the local authorities from the Ministry of Education (from the uang Luang Nantha and Long Districts.) With their families' consent, the girls committed to full-time study and agreed to delay marriage for seven years. This project is gradually changing village attitudes toward girls' education and positively impacting neighbouring communities as well.

· Safe Housing: With our partner, Ms. Lanoy, Sok Sabay Association built a sturdy dormitory for the Lao Leu, Hmong, and Kamu minority girls. Also with their World Relief Partner, they constructed additional dormitories for Lao Sound Group and Lahu minority girls. These secure facilities replaced flimsy bamboo huts, protecting the girls from environmental hazards and abuse, thus ensuring they can complete their education.

· Long-Term Goals: Our long-term goal is to continue supporting Akha girls through sponsorships for secondary and university education. We have succeeded, as our students are now in their third year of university or college, studying fields such as English Education, Management, IT, Forestry, and Teacher Training. They aspire to further their studies in Finance, Management, and Education in Vientiane.

· Project Update: In 2016, NCA (Norway Church Aid) left Laos after over two decades of developmental work, primarily in education. NCA Laos was rebranded as Nanjai Community Association (http://www.ncalaos.org/) 

Nanjai Community Association has updated its actions in Laos: They are committed to developing basic education, promoting gender equity, and protecting children and women from all forms of trafficking. They also support the Pong ethnic minority group. Currently, they are in the feasibility study phase and have not yet implemented the livelihood activities for the Pong ethnic group in Bolikhamxay province. 

Marie’s efforts in Laos underscore the transformative power of education. By providing scholarships and safe accommodations, she aims to give these children a chance at a better life, echoing the well-known principle that education is a passport to a brighter future.