The date is set! 20 – 24 August. The biggest event of the year, at least for our Charitable Trust (CT) Challenge beneficiaries it will be. GVI Laos raises money for disadvantaged students, especially novice monks, to receive sponsored English tuition and other scholarships to access educational opportunities. (See http://www.gvi.org/sponsorships-scholarships-and-support-for-lao-students)

Volunteers undertaking a project during the week starting 20 August will take part in our CT Challenge.

So...what’s it all about? This year GVI Laos staff have settled on an interesting and unique challenge for our volunteers which gets to the heart and soul of Buddhist Lao culture and Luang Prabang ritual practice. For 5 days (teaching days Monday – Friday), in-country volunteers and staff will give alms to monks and novices. Although this is something many volunteers elect to observe or take part in at least once during their project, our commitment to a 5 day alms-giving stint is inline with local traditions; most locals, especially women, give food to the procession of passing Buddhist temple inhabitants every single day, with starts at early as 5am!

We hope to drum up BIG-TIME support for our Challenge Volunteers. Those 5am starts are tough with a full day of teaching and lesson planning ahead of them! They need as much support for their earnest efforts as they can get.

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So please dig deep and donate now.