Books Bring Hope

By Wang Fengjuan

Smiling children at Donkoy Primary School take a moment to pose for a photo during a class break.

Chinese charity program aimed at benefiting Lao children’s growth

“Sabaidee!” (Hello!)

On the campus of Donkoy Primary School in Sisattanak District of Vientiane, Laos, a total of 128 students wearing red scarves around their necks as part of their school uniforms joyfully accepted gifts from China while singing in chorus their school song. Afterwards,they put their palms together devoutly and expressed heartfelt gratitude to their Chinese guests in Lao language.

Gifts from China

On the morning of Nov. 10,2017, as the bright sun shone down on the Lao campus, more than 100 children received a new schoolbag each before excitedly showing us what was inside each bag.

“I love this schoolbag,especially the adorable Mickey Mouse on it, as well as the books inside, which will bring me knowledge,” a girl told this reporter, smiling with dimples on her cheeks. She was also thrilled to see a solar desk lamp in the schoolbag, which she said would allow her to read in the evening.

These gifts from China were intended to enable Lao children to enjoy reading in brightness brought by solar desk lamps.“We are grateful to our Chinese friends for their donation of schoolbags, children’s readings in Lao language and desk lamps, which will no doubt benefit their future growth,”said Khamchan, the school’s principal. “We expect more help and support from China,so that our students will have a bright tomorrow.”

Co-sponsored by Beijing MW Foundation and China Southern Power Grid,the “Brightness&Books”philanthropic project was aimed at presenting books and school supplies to five selected primary schools in Laos.

Lending a Hand to Laos’Education Development

Addressing the launch of the charity project, Guo Weimin,vice minister of the Chinese State Council Information Office, stressed that education plays a fundamental role in achieving the national vision for a prosperous future.

In the future, the Chinese government, as well as non-governmental organizations, will continue to provide assistance for our Lao friends and carry out education cooperation and charity programs to achieve common growth.

“China and Laos are connected by mountains and rivers, and our traditional friendship enjoys a long history,” he said. “The Chinese people empathize with our Lao friends who are struggling to address unbalanced development, including unbalanced education, as we are also facing the same challenge and mission.In the future, the Chinese government, as well as nongovernmental organizations,will continue to provide assistance for our Lao friends and carry out education cooperation and charity programs to achieve common growth. We hope that such people-to-people exchanges will attract participation from even more organizations and companies, so as to allow brightness to illuminate the path of growth for Lao children and consolidate the friendship that exists between our two peoples.”

Lao Vice Minister of Education and Sports Khamphet Sisavan said he appreciates China’s aid to Laosin its education development.“The Chinese government has cultivated a number of talented professionals for Laos, who are contributing to the country’s development by serving various fields,” he noted. “I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and the Lao government,to express my sincerest thanks to the Chinese people for all the help and assistance you have provided us.”

The “Brightness& Books” charity program in Laos is launched at Donkoy Primary School in the suburbs of Vientiane on Nov. 10, 2017.

Representing Chinese companies participating in the program, Si Shuming,chairman of the Yunnan International Co., Ltd. of China Southern Power Grid,emphasized that while implementing a series of cooperation programs in Laos,his company will continue to fulfill its international corporate social responsibility with tangible actions. “As our construction and cooperation programs proceed in Laos, we have funded establishment of elementary schools and sponsored various activities for poverty relief and other philanthropic purposes,” he explained. “We plan to launch new charity programs each year in the future, including an Overseas Study Program,an Enterprise Management Consulting Program and a Grid Stability Analysis Program.”

“Brightness& Books”is a children-oriented international relief program initiated by the Beijing MW Foundation. It aims to help support countries in need of primary education development through donations of school supplies.The program debuted in Cambodia on Oct. 11, 2016, as it brought schoolbags, books and solar desk lamps to pupils studying at Norodom Primary School in Phnom Penh.