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BRINGING LOVE TO LAOS by Jailani Nathan Lives Enhanced through ITE’s Community and Social Entrepreneurship Project
Leaning back against the wall of a classroom in NongViengKham Primary School located within the outskirts of Laos, Lionel Seah heaved a contented sigh. The ceiling fan he helped install whirred above him. “It works!” he squealed. For several days, Lionel and his team mates had been toiling over some electrical installation work, just so their Laotian friends could study in comfort. The Higher Nitec in Mechanical Engineering student from ITE College East was among 33 ITE students on a mission to Laos. There for six days, they got to fulfill not only their roles as responsible world citizens, but they also got closer to earning the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Gold. The mission, carried out from 27 September to 3 October 2007, was undertaken by ITE College East and the NYAA. It focused on the twin objectives of providing community services to Laos’ underprivileged, as well as raising funds through entrepreneurial activities, to help the villagers and finance community projects in Laos. Making
Learning Conditions Better Their efforts did not go unnoticed. “The excited faces of the school children, as they enjoy the breeze from the fans, say it all. The classrooms and corridors are now brighter, too. We are happy to be able to improve their learning conditions,” added he. So inspired was Lionel by his first community deed that he vowed to return, with his team mates, to do more for the villagers. Lionel and team were not the only ones busy. While another team worked with the villagers to construct a games courtyard outside the school, yet another coached the local students English and Mathematics, using self-made teaching aids. Undeterred
by Language Barrier Explaining the involvement of ITE College East, Lecturer, Mr Goh Choon Kiat, said: “We want more young people to be involved in community action and social entrepreneurship, and to let them know that they, too, can make a difference to the global community. Who knows, through their participation, some of them may be inspired to become full-fledged social entrepreneurs.”
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Away
from the outskirts, the rest of the ITE College East team ventured into
the capital city of Laos, Vientiane. Touring its shopping district, they
pitched their handicraft at the tourists and locals to try to meet their
fund-raising target. Of his effort, Chua Wen Xin, 18, a Higher Nitec
in Integrated Logistics Management student, said: “We had to cross
the language barrier since most of the locals spoke either Thai or their
native language.” The students raised more than $4,000. 