Dream camp
Bounseng is a 27 year old from Xamneua District, Huaphanh province. She has aspired to be a teacher to develop the children’s level of education in her local village/district since she finished high school. Since then, she has studied at the National University of Laos for 4 years from 2013, and upon graduation, she came back to her home town with the hope that she can provide the children in her local village/district have a better education.
Her chance came when ChildFund Laos Reading Camp arrived to her village. When the village chief announced to find volunteers for Reading Camp, she didn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity.
“I’m so happy that Reading Camp came to my village, because the children will have books to read”, she said.
Reading Camp is an activity that helps children love to read, do activities with friends and helps them gain physical skills. “Since Reading Camp has been implemented in our village, I saw the children get up early and help volunteer teachers to prepare the camp. They are excited every time when coming to Reading Camp. It seems like the books in this camp is the things that they had been waiting for in life. Children are harmonious and help each other.”
During the activities, Bounseng took care of the children and she supported the children to learn.
“Being a volunteer, I did not just help them to read or do activities, I taught them how to have good hygiene that started from washing hands, cutting nails and brushing hair before the activities”.
There are many activities in “Reading Camp” such as reading books, singing, dancing, drawing and playing games. Among them, their favorite activity is reading, because of the variety of books such as story books, cartoon books, Lao-English letter books and more. “Children are excited when they hear I say ‘it’s time to read.’ They choose the books they like and read them with friends, some children choose new books when they complete the old book and some children draw pictures that they see in the book. The other volunteers and I are facilitators for them. When we see their excitement we are so proud and happy”.
Reading Camp provided Bounseng experience in developing skills through doing activities with children, such as, teaching, communicating with children and importantly, presenting stories.
“Because the activities [are designed so that] children have a lot to learn, they have prepared me to teach the children”
There are many activities in “Reading Camp” such as reading books, singing, dancing, drawing and playing games. Among them, their favorite activity is reading, because of the variety of books such as story books, cartoon books, Lao-English letter books and more. “Children are excited when they hear I say ‘it’s time to read.’ They choose the books they like and read them with friends, some children choose new books when they complete the old book and some children draw pictures that they see in the book. The other volunteers and I are facilitators for them. When we see their excitement we are so proud and happy”.
Reading Camp provided Bounseng experience in developing skills through doing activities with children, such as, teaching, communicating with children and importantly, presenting stories.