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| Phosy Preschool, Xieng Khouang Province, Lao PDR |
Give Children A
Choice (GCAC) is a non-profit organization with the mission of providing
sustainable education programs for underprivileged children as means of
escaping poverty. As the organization’s name suggests, successful education
from an early age provides children with the luxury of choice, something many impoverished children are denied. By
building and filling preschools predominately in Laos, GCAC is empowering youth
since it’s launch in 2002 by providing education in the most formative years of
their lives.
With
aid from donors, government officials, partner organizations, and the villages
where GCAC operates, the project begins with the construction of preschools
from the ground up. Once the education infrastructure is in place, GCAC provides
funds to train effective teachers, materials emphasizing the importance of
hygiene and nutrition, and an environment to thrive.
In
only 70 to 90 days, GCAC establishes effective preschools that will educate
youth for generations. School provides confidence among youth and fortifies
success in higher levels of education. Positive social skills and emotional
development are nurtured by attending preschool. Additionally,
participation in preschool results in greater high school graduation rates and
university attendance.
“Nothing makes
us smile more than the opportunity to give children choices by offering them a
better life via an education.”
But
the children are not the only ones who directly benefit from GCAC’s projects.
Villagers, parents of students, and the local community are involved in every
step of the process, and ultimately feel a sense of ownership and pride in
their success. A core concept of GCAC is the empowerment of villagers to create
and sustain education programs.
Featured
on their website, www.givechildrenachoice.org, are a myriad of completed, successful
projects. On such project was the construction of a preschool in the Laotian
village of Pak Nga. Upon arrival in March 2005, GCAC was the first foreign
visitor to set foot in the village. But just six months and many new
friendships later, the first preschool was finished and ready to be utilized.
Since the school’s completion, GCAC has been pleasantly notified that many
other villages have asked for preschools of their own. Currently, the school
and students are thriving and eager to learn.
Like Give Children A Choice, Friendship Tours World Travel (FTWT)
values education because of the empowerment and opportunity it supplies. We partnered
with GCAC because we believe in their mission and have complimentary values.
Our educational
travel programs promote sustainability, local connections, and peace to evolve
students into global citizens.
FTWT also offers socially-conscious travel that incorporates many levels
of community service and social-entrepreneurship. Students are invited to
contribute their skills and talents toward advancing a project; such as
shooting, producing, and editing a promotional video for an NGO. Additionally,
fundraising and supplies-collection generate resources for organization
addressing a community problem. To increase awareness of social problems,
students engage in letter-writing campaigns, interviews, and press conferences.
Each trip involves direct cultural-exchange activities with local children.
Please
explore GCAC’s website to learn more about their mission, completed projects,
or to donate. Anything helps in the mission to construct preschools, secure
supplies, and ultimately change the lives of whole communities forever.
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