(CLO) More and more student groups from Singapore are coming to Laos to participate in community activities. According to CNA, this has made Laos a more popular destination than Cambodia and the Philippines for young Singaporeans.
The attraction of cultural and historical heritage
Despite not knowing much about Laos, student Erwin Soh was determined to make a breakthrough, traveling to Laos for 17 days to help a local school.
From May to June this year, second-year computing students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) taught and built infrastructure at Sanot Primary School in a village on the outskirts of the capital Vientiane.
NUS student volunteers (in black) and Lao friends interact with students at Sanot Primary School in Sanot Village, Vientiane. Photo: CNA
The 22-year-old is among a number of young Singaporeans who have recently chosen Southeast Asia's only landlocked country as a volunteer destination.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong remarked during his visit to Vientiane earlier this month that the many student groups from Singapore coming to Laos to participate in community activities have become part of the "people-to-people exchange relationship, strengthening the friendship" between the two countries.
“There is a growing interest in volunteering in Laos, as it is one of the most popular destinations for Singaporean youth, even more popular than Cambodia and the Philippines,” said Ms Joyce Yu, head of international programmes at non-profit YMCA of Singapore.
According to Ms Joyce Yu, Laos is considered a “fascinating and mysterious” destination by young Singaporeans because it is relatively unknown. “At the same time, schools also see it as a safe destination for volunteering,” Ms Yu added.
Ms Yu's organisation runs projects across Southeast Asia, China and Nepal. The programme began in Laos in 2011. This year, the country accounted for a third of YMCA Singapore's overseas trips, with more than 200 young people travelling there a total of 10 times.
For Riley Kang, an electrical and electronic engineering student at Singapore Polytechnic, Laos' appeal lies in its rich cultural heritage and tumultuous history.
“As one of the most heavily bombed countries in history, Laos still struggles with limited infrastructure and the danger of unexploded ordnance in rural areas.”
Singapore Polytechnic student Riley Kang interacts with local students during a science class at Phuanmit School in Oudomxay Province, Laos. Photo: CNA
Last month, the 19-year-old spent two weeks at Phuanmit School in Oudomxay, a province in the country's northwest, where she taught students and helped improve the school's facilities.
National University of Singapore (NUS) student Erwin Soh also described Laos as “an opportunity for cultural exchange”, as many people are unfamiliar with the country.
Focus on supporting education and environment
Singaporean youth volunteer activities in Laos often include trying to improve the quality of education and infrastructure in local schools, while raising awareness about environmental sustainability.
Under the Sabaidee Project of the NUS King Edward VII Hall Centre, where student Erwin Soh is involved, construction work was carried out to improve the safety and hygiene of Sanot Primary School in the outskirts of Vientiane. This included the construction of toilets, handwashing facilities and fencing.
Volunteers also distribute educational materials and teach English, maths and environmental topics as part of the project, now in its fifth year.
Joyce Yu, head of international programs at YMCA Singapore, said the non-profit also supports environmental education for primary and secondary school students in the northern Lao city of Luang Prabang.
However, the Singaporean volunteers initially had difficulty communicating with the Lao students because they were very enthusiastic but did not speak English fluently.
Soh's team also hosted Lao colleagues when they visited Singapore. Meanwhile, Riley Kang also used social media to update the lives of Lao students.
Quang Anh (according to CNA)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ngay-cang-nhieu-sinh-vien-singapore-den-kham-pha-cuoc-song-o-lao-post318089.html
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