Khan Hommany, an only child, is in the second grade at Bounghhuana North Primary School in Khammuane, Laos. Khan is from the Salui minority group, which has its own language. She has applied for a Darunee Scholarship for next year.
Khan's father passed away from an infection in his wounded leg. Her mother cannot read or write, as she has not had the opportunity to get an education. “I don’t have enough money for Khan’s school, but I am hoping that Khan graduates from her school, gets an opportunity to get a job, and stays with me forever, because she is my only daughter,” said her mother.
Khan’s family does not own a field or any livestock. They have only three chickens in their garden. To get rice for food, Khan’s mother does field work for her neighbor everyday. Her work does not bring in much though; she receives only 30 kilograms of rice for a year of fieldwork. To help support her family, Khan digs and sells bamboo shoots at the market on the national route, but she makes only 30 yen, or 30 cents. That is enough to buy only 500 grams of rice.
Khan does not have a school uniform, notebook, or even a bag, and does not have time to study outside of school hours. When she is at home, her life is busy with fetching water and wood, reaping rice, and digging bamboo shoots. She does everything she can to help her mother.
Even though Khan has little opportunity for study, she has a strong desire to make her dream come true. “I want to be a teacher,” she said.
Bounlaeb Vongsavanthong, or Laeb, was born in May 5, 1996 and lives with her mother and three younger brothers in Bounghuanakang village, in Xebangfai county, Khammuan, Laos. This year, she applied for a Darunee scholarship so she can become a third grade student at her primary school. Laeb said that she likes all the subjects at her school and wants to be a teacher.
Laeb’s father died from an unknown cause two years ago when he was 42 years old. Laeb’s mother tearfully said that she found him dying sitting inside the house. After that, she said, her oldest son dropped out of junior high school to help with fieldwork, because the family has been trapped by poverty. That is why she wants Laeb to continue her schooling. She hopes Laeb will get a scholarship and go on to become a doctor in the future so she can help her family when they get sick.
Laeb’s family is also from the Salui ethnic minority group. Her family has almost 600 kilograms if rice, but children eat a lot, so 600 kilograms is enough to feed the family for only five months. When Laeb’s family runs out of their rice, they go to the woods and dig bamboo shoots and other plants to trade for rice. Sometimes, they work for their relative’s households. From two days of work, they can get 12 kilograms of rice. However, these types of work are not always available.
Laeb’s mother said that she wants Laeb to continue her study, but she does not have any other way to make money to buy Laeb’s school supplies or uniform. Laeb’s mother is already in debt to her relative, whom she must pay 2,400 yen, or 24 dollars, for rice.
So, Laeb doesn't have a school uniform, or even shoes.When we visited, she was wearing her new shirt-the first present from her mother in a long time. Laeb likes studying and gets good grades at school. But, she is busy helping her mother with fetching water, working in the field, and caring for her brothers when she tries to study during the week. On the weekend, she goes to collect wood and dig bamboo shoots in the woods. Laeb believes that she can get scholarship assistance so she can continue her studies.
Note: In the poor farm area, the average daily consumption of rice is 0.25 kilograms per person.
