Wednesday March 16, 2016<\/p>\n
Written by Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth,\u00a0Vientiane Times<\/p>\n
Children in poor families in\u00a0Sisattanak district, Vientiane,\u00a0are gradually receiving\u00a0improved healthcare, nutrition\u00a0and education, thanks to a\u00a0programme that is working\u00a0with selected primary schools.<\/p>\n
Currently, about 20 percent\u00a0of children in Sisattanak\u00a0district do not attend school\u00a0because their families are poor\u00a0and they lack public support to\u00a0obtain an education.\u00a0But their circumstances\u00a0have been improving since\u00a0the Dongsavath Children\u00a0and Youth Development\u00a0Association (DCYDA) based\u00a0in Dongsavath village was\u00a0founded in 2008.\u00a0The association is funded by\u00a0overseas agencies.<\/p>\n
The group works with four\u00a0primary schools in Vientiane,\u00a0namely Dongsavath Primary\u00a0School, Donkoi School, Nahay\u00a0School, and Udomphone\u00a0School.\u00a0A senior member of the\u00a0association said the group\u2019s\u00a0aim is to ensure that poor\u00a0children and adolescents have\u00a0access to education and after\u00a0school activities. They aim to\u00a0provide a fun environment to\u00a0discourage or avoid drug abuse\u00a0and drop outs, and encourage\u00a0children and young people\u00a0to participate in helping their\u00a0families and communities.<\/p>\n
She said the association\u00a0donated a small scholarship\u00a0fund of 30 million kip a year to\u00a035 children and young people\u00a0in very difficult circumstances\u00a0to cover educational materials\u00a0and term fees. Their families\u00a0are given emergency medical\u00a0assistance and counselling. A\u00a0programme of regular home\u00a0visits provides social support\u00a0and information for parents.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the handover\u00a0of the Dream Children\u2019s\u00a0Playground Garden at\u00a0Dongsavath Primary School\u00a0recently, DCYDA Head Mr\u00a0Phonexay Inthaleuxay said\u00a0the association was founded to\u00a0help children develop their full\u00a0potential and to protect them\u00a0from harm.\u00a0\u201cWe provide life-skills\u00a0training and an annual\u00a0summer camp. It is our aim\u00a0to give children a feeling of\u00a0security and being cared for.\u00a0Knowledge is the first step\u00a0towards this goal, to help poor\u00a0children and young people to\u00a0solve their problems and avoid\u00a0drug abuse by providing after\u00a0school activities.\u00a0We run children\u2019s\u00a0development centres at\u00a0four primary schools in the\u00a0Vientiane area where children\u00a0can gain life-skills, find advice,\u00a0inform contact persons, or get\u00a0any further assistance they\u00a0need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to the DCYDA,\u00a0the rural areas of Vientiane have\u00a0suffered a great deal in terms\u00a0of social problems including\u00a0dropping out of school, drug\u00a0abuse and neglected children.\u00a0In urban settings, the negative\u00a0impacts of \u201cwesternisation\u201d\u00a0have a greater effect on poorer\u00a0families.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"