A DREAM … IN PROGRESS

From 20 students in a temple classroom to a school with 370 students

“ I strongly believe that the most sustainable way of developing the young people of Laos and helping them break out of the poverty cycle, is by improving their English. In today’s world, English is essential. It opens doors to new opportunities for the Laos people … ”

2013: English Club Laos was created by Mr. Somsouk

“After spending 9 years working in the tourism industry and earning for my family, I wanted to do something to help the young people around me … help them to get a better life and do the same for their family.”

Mr. Somsouk began with a small operation, teaching English, with the help of English-speaking volunteers.  Classes were held in the morning, noon and evenings, in the local Buddhist temples, schools and libraries. The program was so successful among the young Laotians that Mr. Somsouk had to run classes full-time.

2015: Creation of the English Club Laos website

In July 2015, Mr. Somsouk launched a website for English Club Laos to encourage volunteers to join and contribute to the English teaching program. Since launching in 2015, English Club Laos has had more than 400 volunteers participating in the project from around the world.

2017: Renting classrooms from the Buddhist school building at Wat Siphoutthabhat temple.

In June 2017, the school counted approximately 200 students coming regularly for learning English.  Mr. Somsouk rented classrooms from the monk school at Wat Siphoutthabhat, a Buddhist temple in the centre of Luang Prabang and recruited 2 full-time Lao teachers to assist him.

Today: English Club Laos runs English classes full-time from 08:30 to 19:10 at   Siphoutthabhat Temple.

The quality and popularity of the English classes generated word-of-mouth, and Today, over 300 students enrolled for classes, most of them coming from the poor villages and monks of the surrounding Luangprabang, to learn English during the school holidays.  The school currently runs full-time with 7 Lao teachers.  The teachers are assisted by English-speaking volunteers and at times, walk-in tourists, who are happy to help and contribute for a short while to improving the life of the young Laotians by teaching English.

English club Laos community is running by volunteers, We receive no funding from government and outside sources to support school.