They sang and danced with young Lao children, conducted reading, art and craft sessions, and organized games and musicals. They designed logos, produced musical videos and made various props from scrap materials.

For 21 students from Temasek Design School (TDS), the three-day Children’s Camp in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), was their first experience with very young children, and with working in Indo-China.Yet, they took to the task like fish to water, and emerged inspired and enlightened.

The students were selected for TDS’ first Overseas Community Project in Indo-China, which took place from 11 to 18 June 2010. Their chosen beneficiary was the Singapore Mission School in Lao (SMS Lao), Singapore’s first school in the country. The privately owned school, which commenced in January 2010, forms part of Singapore’s efforts to help in education in Lao PDR.

From Singapore’s Ambassador to Lao PDR, HE Jeyaraj Benjamin William, the TDS students learnt of Singapore’s efforts in education and private enterprise. Sherlene Seow from Diploma of Interior Architecture and Design (IAD), said: “The SMS Lao is really nice…the teachers are very passionate and they inspired me. There should be more people reaching out to these children in SMS Lao through funding and teaching.”

Her course mates, Leong Yingyao and Kosol Taerattanachai, echoed her views, when they said respectively, “For SMS Lao to do such a good job is commendable. We hope that more people will step forward to help,” and “this will certainly help to improve their (Lao people’s) lifestyles.”

On a visit to the Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE Lao), a rehabilitation centre for Lao people with disabilities, the students learnt that Lao PDR was the most bombed country in the world. Today, unexploded ordnance continue to kill or permanently maim thousands of innocent villagers in Lao PDR.

At the Lao Heritage Museum, the TDS team witnessed the tenacity of a Lao family in preserving Lao heritage and culture. They had the rare experiences of handling traditional weaving looms, musical instruments and cookery utensils.

The work continues for the team. The students are now preparing a photo-essay exhibition and the screening of an info-documentary, to raise awareness for Vientiane and the SMS Lao among the Singapore public. These events will showcase the results from the students’ photographic and video recordings during their week in Vientiane. The dates and venues will be announced soon.

About the SMS Lao
The SMS Lao has just started operations in January 2010. The school offers Singapore-model education in the English language to Lao children aged three to 18 years.

SMS Lao is owned and managed by a Singaporean couple, Lesley Yeow and Yeow Kok Liang. They went to Vientiane in 2005 to start the Inspire Centre for Higher Development, which offers training in English language communication to Lao and expatriate professionals.

Soon after starting Inspire, Kok Liang and Lesley realised that good schools are needed to help the Laotians develop, progress and contribute to their country’s economic development. Encouraged by their Lao students, friends, Lao and Singaporean government officials, the couple set about planning for the Singapore Mission School in Lao.

The SMS Lao’s mission is :
To provide holistic education in English and Lao for generations of Lao people who will possess the right moral, mental and educational upbringing to positively influence their community and country through excellent service in all sectors of society.(SMS Lao, 2010) This responds to the urgent need for excellent institutions of learning in Lao PDR, as the country is now undergoing unprecedented economic expansion.

Lao parents are already asking after full-day sessions and the primary level classes at SMS Lao. The SMS Lao urgently requires more Singapore-trained educators and funding to help the school grow and realise its vision. For all queries about assistance to SMS Lao, please contact Yeow Mei Sin at meisin@tp.edu.sg

The trip was co-organised between TDS and SMS Lao.

SMS Lao and TDS students and staff.

Paper mache session

Showtime!