Communiqué

The Humpty Dumpty Institute

Monthly Communiqué from Laos

January 2008

The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) is continuing its progress on its UXO clearance and school feeding and rehabilitation project in Laos.  During the month of December, 2007, 128,385 daily snacks were distributed, bringing the total number of snacks served to date to 726,319.  Moreover, take home rations were provided to 5,992 girls and 6,122 boys (for a total of 12,114) during the same month bringing the total number to 28,207.   For the first time, all 110 targeted schools in the program reported that all students attended at least 80% of classes.  In the school improvement portion of the program, 61 projects (latrines, building improvements, and water supply systems) are in various stages of development and 35 school gardens have been planted with 33 already producing food to supplement the snacks provided through HDI’s program. 

During January, 2008, teacher training was conducted for 100 teachers in 31 schools. The 5-day sessions were conducted by the District Education Office with support from the Provincial Education Office.  Training focused on child-centred teaching, including child rights, participatory learning techniques, and preparation of effective lesson plans.  Health promotion using the Blue Box (a kit designed by UNICEF for participatory learning both in and outside of the classroom using games and stories) took place in 23 schools covering 4,418 students.

On the UXO side of the project, clearance activities were carried out in 10 new school sites, 6 of which also received additional clearance for school improvement activities such as gardens and playing fields. In addition, 3 other schools which were previously cleared by HDI-funded teams received additional school ground clearance to complete the task site. Five schools which were previously cleared by other MAG teams received clearance for school improvement activities. A total of 84,597m2 was cleared with 72 UXO destroyed in January.  Overall, the project has surpassed its clearance target of 600,000m2 for agricultural land by clearing a total of 670,184m2. In addition, the teams have cleared a total of 632,289m2 in 91 schools. The total amount of land cleared for agriculture and school grounds is 1,306,473m2 (over 320 acres) with 1,124 UXO removed or destroyed.  A total of 2,479 UXO has been removed or destroyed since the start of the project.

Staff Profile of the Month: Sivilay CHANTHAPHOUMY

This month’s communiqué profiles 27-year-old Sivilay CHANTHAPHOUMY. He is from Vientiane Municipality, Laos’s capital.  Originally an interpreter in the MAG field office at Gnommalath, he is currently the Office Manager. 

Sivilay completed his Bachelor of Arts in English at National University of Laos. In 2003 he completed a course on Business English and Administration. 

Prior to his work at MAG, Mr. Chanthhaphoumy worked for the Lao Insurance Company as an insurance agent and also for the Participatory Development Center as a volunteer trainer. In 2001-2003 he taught English at the Thavixay English Center and in early 2004 worked for Navintus Management Pte Ltd, for the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Lao PDR.  From 2004 to 2006 he worked with United Nations Volunteers (UNV) as a Community Development Facilitator in District Planning Officer. Sivilay has been working with MAG since March 2006 as an interpreter, tasked with translating reports and others documents from provincial and district governments and coordinating with provincial and district officers. He was promoted by MAG to Office Manager in January 2007. His main tasks are human resources, following up with technicians, and other MAG field staff tasks. He also writes the monthly report to the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and conducts monthly meetings with other NGOs for planning UXO clearance.

 Sivilay CHANTHAPHOUMY in the MAG office in Gnommalath.

Sivilay says he is very happy working with MAG because he has been learning a good deal and it is challenging working in UXO clearance.

For more information on HDI's work in Laos, please contact Dr. Robert Keeley, the HDI Laos Country Director, at Bob.Keeley@thehdi.org