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Media Release - 26 August 2008
Australian Embassy helps school in Champasak
In May, the Australian Embassy in Vientiane provided direct aid to Phalai Primary School, in the Phatoumphone District, Champasak Province, after a savage storm hit the small rural village tearing off the majority of the school’s roof panels.
Before the onset of the wet season, the Australian Embassy wasted no time in approving an application to its Direct Aid Program, enabling the purchase of 258 new roof panels. Reconstruction efforts were facilitated by Phalai Village leaders and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) who currently have three projects working in the area. Additional support was also provided by the District Governor and the Global Association for People and the Environment (GAPE).
“Getting the roof on now means that the building will be protected from further damage and students can return to school on time after the holidays” said Mr Ohlahan from the District Education Department.
Phalai villagers held a handover ceremony when the panels were delivered to the school which was attended by the Deputy District Governor, Mr Somphone Komsaysana, representatives from the District Education Department, school teachers, villagers and staff from WWF. The school director, Mr. Khammouk Inthavong, expressed his deep appreciation for the assistance, with Paul Eshoo from the WWF Xe Pian Ecotourism Project, responding on behalf of the Australian Embassy and WWF.
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small-scale grants program managed by the Australian Embassy in Vientiane. The purpose is to support projects that address basic humanitarian hardship and reduce poverty by directly assisting poor and disadvantaged groups in the areas of community health, schools and education, small-scale infrastructure, rural development and the environment.
For more information on the Direct Aid Program please visit the Australian Embassy website at www.laos.embassy.gov.au or call 021 413 600.