Visiting our projects

Is it possible to visit the LLL projects?

Yes, this is possible depending on the season we can show you some of our projects. All our volunteers will automatically be introduced to our current projects.

Why do I have to stay at the homestay?

Our projects are not a tourist attraction. Our staff put a lot of energy into you visiting our projects but also facilitating these projects. We expect a fair contribution from all possible visitors. Other accomodations are also not providing support to our projects. In the past we have had visitors not showing at the expected meeting point and we were left with the transportation costs.

Are there any costs involved in visiting our projects?

We ask a flat fee of 80.000 Kip to cover costs related to your visit including preperation and guidance. Some of the areas where our projects are based are not always allowed to be visited, which means we have some preperation that need to be done. Besides this you are responsible to cover transportation costs for yourself and our team. Transport can be anything from scooter to pick-up truck. Be aware that some areas are not always easy to reach. You have to follow advice from our local team for your and their safety.

Can I take presents with me?

Yes you can, but we do not allow you to provide these presents personally to the students. We do not want to create third-party dependency. We have a "present bank" with gifts where students can choose something upon completion of achieving something.

We actually encourage you to organize a fundraising event within your network and provide this as a donation to run our training center. This not only helps our center financially but also creates awareness within your network and spreads our story.

Do I need to let you know in advance if I want to visit?

Some parts of the year we just do not have capacity or time to show our projects. So maybe best to let us know in advance,

Can I take pictures?

 Yes you can, but only from outside. Sometimes we have a look inside the classroom, but we do not allow visitors to take pictures inside the classroom from students, teachers or volunteers.

Questions about volunteering abroad with us

What’s the difference between LLL and a regular volunteer organization?

You just cannot compare us with a volunteer organization. We are a genuinene non-profit and want to help the local children. We are only concerned about the education of the local children. We not only look for volunteers in our projects in Laos but are also actively looking for funding to develop more projects, have a look at our project page. In short we are not a volunteer provider for third parties but only concerned about our own projects.
 
While tourism and volunteer companies offer overpriced “voluntourism of volunteering” opportunities, we believe that’s not right, we are concerned about our projects and the local people involved.  And, while tourism companies or volunteer organizations may speak of the “volunteer travel industry”, authentic volunteering has nothing to do with an industry. For us, volunteering is about people coming together for positive change – there is no space for these companies & organizations.

If I volunteer, is the work paid?

You will not be paid for your work, but you will gain extraordinary work experience and discover skills you never knew you had - oh, and you'll have a great time! Our schools and other partner organizations can often barely afford to pay their own staff, so volunteering has to be voluntary and self-funded. Similarly, we get great work experience placements for volunteers because we don't ask the Lao organizations to pay you. Please read our transparency page for details about the costs.

How come I can pay my housing on site?

Many volunteer companies claiming to be “nonprofit” or “social” but get away charging very high prices and the housing fee that they charge does not make it to the local community. With LLL we provide the opportunity to pay on site so you are sure that your housing contribution makes it to where it belongs, in Laos and not at an international bank account of a “voluntourism” company.

Will I be the only volunteer? 

You will usually be living and working with other volunteers. However, it is important to consider that certain times of the year are less busy than others because of holidays, university schedules, etc.

What with the project of my choice?

When you apply, you can choose which role you prefer. All tasks are within the same team, a team in which you as a volunteer fit to accomplish something great. Therefore, we hope that you will be flexible in order to achieve this goal. We try to take your wishes into account, but in Laos everything can suddenly change (spontaneous local celebrations, holiday, ...). Our local team doesn’t have the power to control this, so we might ask you to change your focus and be open minded and help where we need you.

Can I extend my placement once I am in the field?

In most cases this is not a problem. Simply let us know and we will arrange it. Be aware though that in the past we had to disappoint volunteers because we had no housing for them.

Is volunteering in Laos easy?

We believe everybody has something to offer by volunteering abroad in Laos – this is why we started our volunteer abroad project.

But you must expect challenges. There is no typical day or script to follow, and in Laos conditions can change quickly. You must be flexible and ready for anything. Some days will be frustrating and not what you expected. But the lifestyle is still relaxed and calm, just adapt to a different pace of life than many western countries.
 
However, the challenge of volunteering is also what makes it so special. You will push yourself and step out of your comfort zone. You may develop relationships you would never have ever imagined. Or, in making an impact on those around you, find yourself growing immensely. And when it is all said and done, you may realize you gained even more from volunteering abroad than what you put in.

Will I make an impact?

As long as you take your volunteering seriously and approach your experience with an open and proactive mindset, absolutely. Your impact will be specific to you – every person experiences life differently. And while you will not “save the world”, as a LLL Volunteer you will be part of a wonderful community of like minded individuals who, together, are making a significant positive impact.

Do I also have free time during my volunteering period?

We will normally try to give you half of the day free if teaching. Remember you are only a volunteer and working days are not very long. During the weekend most volunteers undertake different activities together such as kayaking, rock climbing, caving, mountaibiking, hiking, having a beer together ...

Is it possible to receive a reference letter from Let Laos Learn when my volunteering is finished?

Yes, many volunteers ask us for a reference letter. This is an extra asset when applying for a job or even a university placement. Just let us know and we will write a personal letter for you.

Why do I have to stay at the volunteer house during my placement?

In the past we allowed volunteers to stay at different places. Unfortunately we had some negative results, volunteers did not show on time or not at all. We also want to create an amazing Lao atmosphere in our team and this is also possible by staying at the volunteer house where you live and eat with the other volunteers and our local team.

When and where will I teach?

From Monday to Friday we teach different ages from Primary school to College students but it is difficult to tell your exact schedule in advance. We cooperate with different education institutes and they sometimes change class times. Besides this your schedule will also depend on how many volunteers are active during your placement.
You also have the opportunity to participate in an open speech policy and we have weekly team meetings where we make next week’s schedule.