A Teacher's Journey to Empower Families in Rural Laos
Ms Phet travels for kilometers to deliver the parenting programme, ‘Love and Care for Every Child’
A teacher's dedication is transforming the lives of hundreds of families in the remote parts of Pha Oudom district of Bokeo Province. Every month, she travels for kilometers to the village center to deliver the parenting programme, ‘Love and Care for Every Child’.
The teacher is Ms. Phet, who is also a member of the Love and Care for Every Child programme. For the past year, she has dedicated her time making arduous journey to deliver the parenting package to numerous families in the district.
"I believe that every child deserves a healthy and happy start in life," she Ms. Phet. " I'm committed to doing my part to make it happen," she adds.
The Love and Care for Every Child programme provide antenatal care, immunization services, and early childhood care to the families. It influences rural communities and transforms social and parenting behaviours via interpersonal channels of communication, such as home visits, group discussions, and community information sessions. The programme is implemented in 252 villages of 4 districts in 2 provinces by the Government of Lao PDR in partnership with UNICEF and with financial support from the Government of Australia.
In Pha Oudom district, over 300 families have benefited from this programme. The new parents receive information on antenatal care to mothers and children. But the teacher's commitment to spreading the message of early childhood development is having a profound impact on the community.
Through the programme, Ms. Phet has been able to support families in the district with by providing information and refer families to regular antenatal care, immunization services, and nutritional support. Not just to mothers, but her passion lies in extending the message of early childhood development also to the fathers.
"I've witnessed the impact made by supportive father on a child's life firsthand," she says. "And I want to educate fathers in my community to play an active role in their children's lives."
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Families in the district have seen positive changes in their children's health and development, and many credit her with their newfound knowledge and skills.
"Ms. Phet has taught us so much about caring for our children," says one mother. "We are grateful for her dedication and commitment to our community."
For Ms. Phet, the Love and Care for Every Child programme has not only allowed her to support families in need but also empowered her to be a part of community development programme.
"I've learned so much through this programme," she says. "And I feel proud to be able to share my knowledge with my community."
The Love and Care for Every Child programme has been life changing for Khampha and her family, as well as thousands of other families in the province. Thanks to the support of UNICEF and the Government of Australia, the programme has made a difference in the lives of over 40,000 families.
Thanks to the dedication of teachers like Ms. Phet, the programme continues to make a positive impact on the lives of families in rural Laos.
This program is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and UNICEF Thematic Pool fund.
