Help us to make a major difference to a young person’s life and career

Lao Educational Opportunities Trust

• Student Support - It’s not just a case of paying college fees and living expenses! We listen to problems - academic and personal - and try to assist where we can.  We aim to maintain a role as guardian to the students by keeping in close contact with them and where possible, to cultivate friendships and a spirit of mutual assistance.

New Students - We get numerous applications made to us for support (see below).  They are all deserving of attention and we do what we can. Wherever possible we visit potential students at their homes to see how they live, meet their parents and assess their case for support.  Not an easy job....  

 We have no regard to ethnicity or religion, and whilst we aim for a balance between male and female students, we have to recognize that  opportunities for female students are more limited.

The academic year starts in September, so we produce a short-list of students we are prepared to support in July/August and then it is down to the students to pass the necessary entry exam to the college of their choice.

• Administration - Apart from the day to day book keeping, preparing budgets and forecasts, filing returns for the UK and Lao authorities and maintaining the web site, we have meetings to discuss the students and affairs of the charity, and lots of e-mails to write!    

• Fund Raising - We do not employ professional fund raisers like the main charities.  We spend our own recreational time trying to raise money. We want to spend as little money as possible raising funds and as much as possible on the students themselves.    

and finally....

• Marketing - We think that raising awareness of LEOT and the disadvantaged in Laos is an important part of our work, not only in the UK, where a lot of people do not know anything about Laos or its people, but also in Laos itself.  Taking a stall at a fair or fete and handing out leaflets or giving talks at Rotary, Lions and Women’s Institute meetings all helps to spread the word.  In Laos, we have supported literary day events.      

Please help us...

Our main aim is to raise and administer funds to provide disadvantaged young people (generally between the ages of 18 and 27) in Laos with educational opportunities. Funds may be used to pay for secondary, high school or university education and cover school fees, travel costs, books and other learning requirements, school meals and uniforms.  Living expenses may also be provided.

Meeting applicant for support

Meeting applicant for support

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Meeting officials at Children’s Cultural Centre, Luang Prabang

Meeting faculty heads at Souphanaouvong University, Luang Prabang

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For details of two applicants on our list of potential students follow the link.