Article 3 Nam Gha Village

It was a very special day for me when I went to Nam Gha village on a field trip with the Volun Tour Laos
team. In December 2013, I myself participated in one of VTLs project tours through a school trip
organized by World Challenge. The project my school group was involved in was the construction of
classrooms for the upper secondary school. This education project commenced in November 2013 and
was completed in April 2014.

Returning to Nam Gha three and a half years after my school group reluctantly departed was really
moving. I was so excited to have the opportunity to return there. As I walked down the path into the
village so many memories came flooding back. It was just the same as I remembered; but what surprised
me was how vastly the school had grown! We walked over to the classrooms that my team hand a hand
in building and I was amazed. In my memory, the site was a pile of dirt that was in its earliest stages of
construction. What stood before me was a large complex of five classrooms and an office. The classes
were full of eager students working hard to complete their final years of high school. The school seems
to be organized a lot more effectively now that before. It is divided into two sections primary and
secondary school. Connected to the primary school is also a classroom for pre-school. Its quite rare to
come across a village in such a remote location that offers quality education from pre-school all the way
up to the final year of high school. The primary school has an area where every available bit of space is
filled with bicycles that the kids get to school with. The high school has dozens of motorbikes parked out
the front of the classrooms that the older students use to go to and from school.

(From left): the

high school site
2013, the
completed high
school in 2017

In total, almost 800 students from twenty-two different villages all attend school in Nam Gha. Before the
project, the students were about half of that number. Back in 2013, VTLs vision was for the project to
transform Nam Gha into a central hub of education in the area. Fast forward 3.5 years and that vision
has well and truly become a reality. Every classroom is full, there are some dormitory rooms for teachers
and students, and there are even waiting lists to get into the school. In fact, the school leader spoke to
VTLs executive director, proposing that VTL assist them to build another extension to cater for even
more students. The huge school has becoming the defining feature of the village. Nam Ghas reputation
of becoming a place of excellent education is growing. The village is flocked with smiling students in
their school uniforms.
 The changes I personally witnessed and the extent of the growth of the community is simply fantastic;
and a credit to VTL and Nam Ghas ongoing work to create what is there today. It is evident that the
caliber of education has improved along with the facilities. I had the opportunity to speak with some of
the high school students. I surprised by the fluency of their English, it was clear that many of them make
the most of the educational opportunities offered and fully commit themselves to their studies. They
expressed how the school had improved so much over the years and felt fortunate to attend such a
good school. One young man told me of his future aspirations to become completely fluent in English
and work in the tourism industry in tours and hotels in Luang Prabang. A few years ago, perhaps such
dreams would be quite out of reach for someone from a remote village. But with his educational
opportunities and clear perseverance with his studies, its definitely a realist career.

(From left): a
primary school
class, discussions
with some high
school students

From the perspective of a VTL volunteer, I was really happy that my money and the work of my on two
hands all those years ago had played a very small part in creating the setting I observed in Nam Gha in
2017. Many, many hands and donations all helped to build the infrastructure needed to propel Nam Gha
forward. As I walked past the classrooms that I taught my very first TEFL classes in, past the high school
that used to be a pile of dirt, I felt so grateful that I had the opportunity to volunteer with VTL during
school. Even more so that I was able to return and see with my own eyes the growth and development
we were told would happen. A wave of nostalgia rolled over me, and my mind was flicking through long-
lost memories from Nam Gha in 2013. The welcoming ceremony upon our arrival, teaching ESL classes
for the first time, shoveling gravel to make cement under the boiling sun, bathing in the Nam Ou river,
getting involved with the community and playing with the kids.

(From left):
working on the
project site 2013,
standing at the
high school with
VTLs executive
director 2017

I would highly recommend VTLs voluntourism programs. It truly is an authentic, unique and
unforgettable experience that makes a lasting difference to communities and volunteers alike. Although
volunteers spend just 5-6 days personally volunteering in the community, the money contributed and
the work they do really does make a difference to these communities. Unlike other voluntourism
services, VTLs first priority is the development and benefit to the villages. Any projects being done are
genuinely required to assist with the development of the communities; the experience of the volunteers
is secondary to this. Which means the experience is more authentic. VTL hopes and encourages its
volunteers to get involved in the community, and make the most of their time living a life that is worlds
away from the comforts of home for a few days. Ultimately the volunteer will get out what they put into
the experience. If they are independent, engage with the villagers, go into the experience with an open
mind and wholly embrace whatever happens, the will have a more powerful experience than others
who choose to hold back and are more hesitant.

It is clear that the work of VTL has hugely helped Nam Gha village to develop. Always thinking of the
future, VTL envisioned that by renovating the primary school and expanding the high school, Nam Gha
had potential to really become a place of educational importance. In terms of sustainability and self-
sufficiency, Nam Gha is excelling. Although VTL and Nam Gha have continued to collaborate over the
years; essentially Nam Gha is completely independent in terms of project maintenance. The school
buildings are all internally run and maintained, which is a key priority for VTL. It is clear that VTL played a
role in helping transform Nam Gha into the thriving educational hubbub we see today; and the gratitude
and happiness of the villagers and students makes this very apparent. Volun Tour Laos really is a unique
company that helps people help themselves and a worthy cause to donate to or volunteer with.

Danielle Tzivakis

14/09/17