After spending a week with a Lao family in Thapene village we have been touched by one man's effort to improve the lives of children from disadvantaged communities.

This man is Sai. He gives FREE English classes to children ranging from 6-17 at his home. He also helps students practise arithmetic and Lao writing. Every weekday from 17:00-20:00 enthusiastic children arrive for an hour's English lesson, some from neighbouring villages. Saturdays and school holidays also see various classes on offer.

Sai knows first hand that learning English is especially important in Laos today as jobs in the growing tourist industry help to lift families out of the poverty line.

During our stay we helped Sai practise the pronunciation of commonly used words and phrases with his students. Sai welcomes volunteers to help teach English. He also invites guests to visit his organic garden (Fasay's garden) offering delicious local food in return for donations.

In Fasay's garden Sai grows various fruit and vegetables which act as a staple for his family. He also provides fruit and vegetables to those in the village who cannot afford to feed their families.

We are hoping to raise an initial £500 to help Sai with a few projects which will benefit his family and his community.

Sai aims to increase the help received from foreign volunteers for both the garden and English classes. This would be aided by the building of basic cooking and camping facilities in the garden.

In the dry season, all the water for the garden is carried 300 metres in buckets! The dry season is starting. Some funds will be used to buy a water tank.

Sai also took us to visit a secondary school in a neighbouring village. Here we donated much needed school supplies (pens and paper) and food for children living in the dormitories. The school director informed us they are in great need of wall fans with the coming of the dry season. All funds above the £500 target will go towards ceiling fans/school supplies.

In ONE week we will return to Thapene village. We hope to present him (and the local school) with a life changing gift!