Update from BHW Partnership Facilitator Following Visit in late 2016

Recent Events

Vocational Training

When BHW's partnership facilitator visited Lao Vida at the end of November 2016 the bakery was humming in the early hours of the morning as the apprentices confidently prepared delicious items for the café shelves. This group has come a long way in their time at Lao Vida, not only in their mastery of many skills in the making of bread, pastry and pies, but also in confidence and capacity. In this supportive environment they have been nurtured, encouraged and challenged. For some this journey has been one of moving from pre-literacy beginnings, to competent bakers who can read recipes, work out quantities, bake a wide variety of items and order ingredients. A drug addiction has been fought and defeated by one and they have become a dependable and highly competent group. Many of them have also found a new beginning and have become part of a wonderful new family. 

On the 20th December 2016 all eight students graduated after successfully completing their 2½ year bakery apprenticeship at Lao Vida. This is testament not only to their perseverance and determination, but also to the love, care, and dedication of the team at Lao Vida who have poured themselves into these young people in an effort to see them grow in all areas of their lives. 

Earlier in October and November these students had been given the opportunity to travel to Vientiane for a month of work experience in a restaurant and managed admirably. Paul has done an outstanding job of training them and it was just so wonderful to see how far they have all come since I first met them at the beginning of 2015.  The next round of the bakery apprenticeships will commence in September 2017.

The housekeeping students all graduated from their course earlier in the year and have joined the Lao Vida staff. Nikone helps with general office work, teaches a Lao language class and does some cleaning work for an aid agency. Petsamone works in the café and cooks evening meals for the staff. S works in café administration and helps with cleaning. All three are also involved in the wider activities of Lao Vida and are growing in skills and confidence. There are also three new Khmu students from the Bolaven Plateau in the housekeeping training course that began in September.  

Personal Stories

Karen, who oversees the Vocational Training program, shares;

“In September 2014, eight students began the second bakery training program.  At Lao Vida, we are not surprised when students drop out of a course, as there is a high drop out rate in all tertiary institutions as life takes over and the reality of study kicks in.  However, 2 years and 4 months later, all eight students graduated!  During their time at Lao Vida, these students learned a work skill that will get them good, stable jobs in Pakse, the southern city of Laos, in Vientiane the capital, and even a visa to cross over to Thailand to work.  Two students have chosen to return to their villages and work with their family; three students have taken up positions at Lao Vida; one has taken work in another company in Pakse; and two are still looking for suitable work.  Our prayer for those who have returned home is that they will be able to invest what they have learned and experienced back into their communities and families.”

Partnership's Influence within the Community

Lao Vida continues to flourish. The core business of English language training continues to grow and the new year in September saw all classes full with some prospective students turned away. The café continues to develop with a delicious and changing menu that attract locals and thrives during the tourist season and the vocational training programs are turning out successful graduates. Lao Vida also makes the most of the opportunities to build relationships in the community and with a number of villages in the surrounding area where the vocational students come from.   

Prayer and Praise Points

Praise

1) Full English classes and great teachers
2) The successful completion of all eight bakery apprenticeships
3) Three house keeping graduates making a valuable contribution on staff with Lao Vida
4) S getting the necessary papers for his passport to allow him to drive to Ubon for supplies

Prayer Points

1) The provision of volunteer English teachers to ensure the language school continues to flourish
2) The continued growth and development of the staff team

Comments

Lao Vida is going from strength to strength. The language school absolutely buzzes at night with all the language students studying and enjoying the café before or after class.  It is also a joy to see a growing group of trained, confident young men and women graduating from the vocational training program and impacting the wider community. There is a strong team under excellent leadership and the strategic nature of the wider work is significant.