Update from BHW Laos Partnership Facilitator

In February 2012 BHW's Field Director heard about Lao Vida when in Pakse investigating the possibility of another new partnership opportunity.  After meeting with Karen and Andrew and hearing about the ministry, he recommended BHW begin by funding four or five students in the vocational program.  For the past three years, BHW has provided funding for six vocational students. I have visited in 2014 and 2015 and been impressed by what they are doing. 

Recent Events

Current Situation

The ministry has continued to grow. Alongside a highly successful English Language School (approx. 100 students), there are 12 vocational students coming to the end of their second year. Eight are in the Bakery (including their first female bakery apprentice) and four housekeeping students who will graduate in seven weeks time. I met these students this time last year. It is a testament to the quality of the training and investment in these young people that they are able to commit to and complete a two year program (equivalent to level 5/first year university) when many enter the program with minimal literacy and only basic education. The live-in, all of life discipleship that runs alongside this formal training results in a high proportion of graduates having made a profession of faith and continuing to be actively involved in ministry in the surrounding areas of Pakse, or in their home village.

The wider ministry includes English language classes, literacy classes, a café, summer school, youth group, and trips into other areas to build connections for the purpose of sharing the good news.  

Income Generation

The Lao Vida leaders work hard to cover the costs of their ministry. The purpose of having English language students is to subsidise other aspects of the ministry.  

A successful café has been trialled and further developed onsite in the past 18 months to sell bakery products and offset costs of the apprentice’s ingredients and training. It is going well and has received a number of great reviews on Trip Advisor.

English teaching staff come as volunteers for 6–12 months, live in basic shared accommodation and provide much of their own funding to reduce costs for this aspect of the ministry. Three Kiwi girls have volunteered to teach for 2016 and arrived recently.

Current Issues and Challenges

Lao Vida operates in a challenging context, often without clear pathways forward, but there is real ground breaking work for the kingdom happening. There is a strong group of committed teachers and staff in place for the year.

There is still not any strong or consistent funding support coming from any other source for the ministry.  This has been and continues to be something that stretches the faith of the team. 

Comments

Lao Vida is a strategic and successful ministry in a spiritually dark place. Although we are only three years into seeing outcomes for the vocational students being supported by BHW, all indications point to this being an effective long term strategy both for the spreading of the good news amongst the unreached and training and developing young people from remote and poor rural villages to support themselves and their families.  

BHW has recently committed to continuing to fund six students for another three years.  I intend to visit Lao Vida again later this year.