LAOS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

March 17, 2009

PROGRAM SUSPENDED JANUARY 25, 2010

Indigo Threads is proud to announce our Volunteer Program beginning April 22, 2009.   Participation in the Program is by reservation throughout the year with a simple application. This will include accommodations at Villa Indigo (our office house) in Sanamsay Village, Pakse City, Laos.  As we are located 3 Km. from the center, there is amble local transportation available. The comfortable bedrooms are located upstairs in the traditional part of the house with a western toilet, shower and warm water.  The Program will accommodate 3 people with separate bedrooms, 2 with air conditioning and all 3 with fans.  There is a private outside entrance and/or an interior entrance.  A daily meal allocation will be provided at a neighborhood restaurant or you are welcome to have lunch with the students and teachers during our School Lunch Program at our assisted rural schools.  

This is a great opportunity to get involved in helping to provide educational needs for desperately poor rural children in Southern Laos with Indigo Threads small ‘hands on’ humanitarian Organization.  The rewards are immeasurable.  When those grateful little faces look up at you and say “thank you ‘falong’ for lunch” in ENGLISH, you know you are making a difference in their difficult lives.  Your heart could burst.  While interacting with the friendly gently people of Southern Laos, you will discover and experience ‘authentic’ Laotian life.  A donation of  $350.00 a week is suggested to participate in Indigo Threads Volunteer Program-a life changing experience not easily forgotten.

 Volunteer Activities:

---Experience living in a Laotian city village (Ban) with Laotian families

---Work side-by-side with Laotians on all of Indigo Threads Programs.

---Participate in our School Lunch Program from start to finish—

   daily marketing at the local market, food preparation,

   transporting the School Lunch Program to 4 rural schools

   and one poor rural village, serve the students their lunch and

   return to the office to clean-up.  Help prepare the daily menu within  

   the allocated budget.

---Participate in our Reading/Recreation Program at IndigoThreads

   supported rural Primary Schools.  Help organize students with 

   activities such as reading, acting out stories, crafts, exercise, 

   discuss hygiene and environments issues and science

   illustrations.   Prepare itinerary  and gather supplies needed

   to present the Program.  Meet the teachers and supervisor.

---Visit Indigo Threads newly built schools-1 primary, 1 secondary.

---Discuss poverty reduction and rural  village development from Indigo

   Thread experiences in the schools and villages we support.

   For example, clean water sources, sanitation, environment,

   nutrition, lack of health care verses traditional medicine, state of

   Southern Laos, future projections and suggestions.

---Practice English with students studying English at the Pakse

   Teacher’s Training College.

---Visit Indigo Threads assisted villages meeting with village

   Chiefs, villagers and interact with the children.  In order to help 

   the children overcome their shyness, we bring balls to play with

   them.

---Help maintain the landscaped grounds at Indigo Thread office.

---Help maintain the office/house.

---A vegetable garden to provide some of our own vegetables for

   our School Lunch Program is anticipated.  Help with our small

   garden.

Photo:  Indigo Threads School Lunch Program serving 150 student at Phout Samphone Primary School.  As you can see, children all over the world do not like to eat their vegetables.  Our Program strives to provide a nutritious health lunch addressing the lack of vitamins and protein.

Everyday brings new challenges and emergency requests which we deal with on a daily bases.  Because we are a small Organization, we are able to help with most needs immediately.  Whatever events happen during the week, you are invited to join.

Additional photos and a description of Villa Indigo are posted on our 'blog' INDIGO THREADS OFFICE HAS MOVED/November 25, 2008.

I am looking forward to hearing from you. Your generous heart is needed.

Southern Laos Greetings from

Mary D. Meyer

Indigo Threads/President-Executive Director

Laos Education Support and Village Development

A Non-Profit (501-3-C) Humanitarian Organization

www.indigothreads.org

mdmeyer@indigothreads.org

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