• Through the first five years of HPP’s work in Laos 30,000 people in 19 villages have been reached.

  • Facts: 800 toilets built, 38 community wells constructed and community water supply in 4 villages reestablished

Child Aid | Income generation

“Working together, supporting each other - we can earn good money on new production”

HPP Laos regards promotion of income generating activities as an important part of its programmes. Even a small extra income can make a difference when saved up for covering school fees or unforeseen expenses caused by illnesses or natural disasters. As families become more skilled and experienced in cash generating activities, some will use their savings to invest in extending their production, and thus set themselves up to further increase their communities' wellbeing.

It is not easy for a family with limited resources to start a micro business and to earn an income from it. Knowledge and courage are needed. The Child Aid projects have thus encouraged families to take up one of several income generating activities, for instance to increase production of vegetables above their subsistence needs, or to raise ducks, rabbits, fish, frogs and goats for sale. Participants have received practical and theoretical training, and HPP Laos Project Leaders established Village Action Groups for people to better support each other and to share their experience and learnings.

Participants learn how to use their new sewing machines

Participants learn how to use their new sewing machines

Breeding goats is a great source of income and improves a family's nutrition

Breeding goats is a great source of income and improves a family's nutrition

The achievements

  • A group of women received sewing machines, were trained in sewing techniques and established their own micro businesses in the community.
  • Families were trained in commercial animal husbandry. Some of them who participated in the goat pass-on project, received goats and training on how to look after them for income generation and improved nutrition. To multiply and share the benefits of this project, participants passed on the first weaned kids of their goats to other families who in turn could start up their own goat production. In this way, villagers managed to double the number of participating families within the first year, and triple it within the first two years.
  • In terms of cash crops, families obtained the capacity to grow a variety of crops on a small-scale, such as mushrooms, rattan, mango, papaya, moringa, pineapple, cassava, among others. 
  • The families sell their home-produced meats and crops at local markets, thereby contributing to a more varied offer of food for their own and neighbouring communities. 
  • To complement their micro business activities, all participating families were trained in financial literacy and numeracy. They learnt how to make a budget and how to track their cashflow, how to bargain more effectively for cheaper prices from suppliers, and how to get access to markets.

Child Aid | School gardens

As part of the two Child Aid projects, 10 primary schools in Bolikhamxay Province participated in the school garden programme. The aim of the school garden concept is to encourage students and teachers to produce food for their own in-school lunch meals which are well-balanced in terms of nutrients. HPPL staff worked with school classes throughout the entire process of establishing and running the school gardens, and children were democratically involved in all decisions and activities: The layout was planned together, and the children planted vegetables and built shelters for small animals such as ducks and chickens themselves. Once everything had been set up, children and teachers regularly devoted time to tend to their gardens. These practical activities outside the classroom were complemented by theoretical lessons on organic agriculture, animal raising, nutrition, health, environmental education, and mathematics (constructing and budgeting). 

This kind of pedagogy is still uncommon in Lao PDR where traditional lecture-style schooling is the norm, with little stimulation of the students. Through the school gardens, children have the opportunity to be physically active, implement theoretical knowledge in practice, and receive one guaranteed nutritious meal per day. This also takes pressure off the parents, and the children are encouraged to take their learnings home and spread it in their families and communities.

Children are proud of their school garden

Children are proud of their school garden

Students receive their ducklings which they will now raise themselves

Students receive their ducklings which they will now raise themselves

PowerPoint Presentation

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School Gardens 9.40 MB Preview

Projects within Child Aid

  • Child Aid | Income generation

    “Working together, supporting each other - we can earn good money on new production” HPP Laos regards promotion of income generating activities as an important part of its programmes. Even a small extra income can make a difference when saved up for covering…
  • Child Aid | School gardens

    As part of the two Child Aid projects, 10 primary schools in Bolikhamxay Province participated in the school garden programme. The aim of the school garden concept is to encourage students and teachers to produce food for their own in-school lunch meals which…

Federation Humana People to People

Humana People to People Laos and Humana Fundación Pueblo para Pueblo are members of the Federation Humana People to People.

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HPP Laos & Humana FPP

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Contact us

Inger Damkjaer
p: +856 20 5408 1512
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Gitte Hector
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