Reflections

Concluding part of the article by SHREYA DUTTA The next week was extensively involved in wiring and solar panel installation (capacity: 3 KW). By the second day the guys’ and girls’ dorms (classrooms basically) had fans and lights working. There was no teaching but on interaction with the local children it was evident that they have been more exposed to English medium of education since lots of foreign trusts have visited and donated to the school in the past. On the third day, the villagers started preparing for the elaborate farewell ceremony which was to take place at night. Extra lights were connected in the playground, furniture set and the children rehearsed song and dance. The thread tying and blessing ceremony for this village was grander than the previous and this time even the children participated. The villagers performed for us and we performed for them. They thanked the team by offering us body parts of a barbequed pig which they had slaughtered in front of some of us i...

Continuing the account by Shreya Dutta of a Laos trip On 15th June, 2014 we started our journey. Michael, an engineer from Rezeca Renewables, a relatively fresh start-up engineering firm joined us as we boarded our flight at Changi International Airport to Wattay Airport, Vientiane. After a quick immigration, we made our way to Luang Prabang from the domestic terminal. The view during the hour long flight was breathtaking – with the first glimpse of the Mekong River, the valleys and the cloud-covered mountains and multiple rainbows. We were welcomed in Luang Prabang airport by the general manager (GM) of MyLaoHome, essentially a chain of hotels and villas in UNESCO World Heritage Site Luang Prabang. The GM, Mr. Ninthala also happens to be the education minister’s son. We had an authentic Laotian meal and called it a night in the New Daraphet Villa. Next day, some of the team members went along with Michael to purchase items required for electric wiring in the school in the first vi...