Laos country boys dreams of college
Donation protected
My name is Christopher Robins and I am raising money for an underprivileged student in Laos that I have know for 7 years now from annual trips to Laos. Yeng or Felix as he is known is one of the kindest and biggest hearted people I have ever known. He is intelligent, hardworking and very motivated to improve his life and that of his family and community.
He already pays for his younger siblings school and regularly visits poor villages bringing books, toothbrushes and other needs to the impoverished citizens. Please read his extraordinary story of raising himself up, and consider helping him achieve his dreams. I have pledged to pay the tuition. Please join me in helping him meet the rest of his needs… here is his story....
When I was six years old I wanted to go to school but I couldn’t because I failed the 'ear test'. Back then, in order for a child to be able to attend school he must be able to put his right hand over his head and reach for his left ear. If he fails, he had to wait another year. My brother was two years older so he could reach and touch his ear so he went to school I can’t reach mine so I have to wait another year.
My name is Yeng Cha but you can call me Felix I am 23 years old however I don’t know the exact date of my birth. I was born in a small village in the country side of Laos.
When I was about five my family moved to the Luang Prabang town. We are six people in my family including my parents, my older brother, my younger sister and my younger brother.
My Dad was a Tuk-tuk driver in the Luang Prabang but he didn’t make enough money to help his family, so he sold drugs to make more money. In order to sell drugs and not have a problem with his clients he needed to make sure the drugs were real. His way of checking was just smoke it. One night the police came to our house to arrest him. My Dad escaped and we did not know where he went or whether he was safe. All we could do was wait.
My Mom didn’t have a job or food to feed us without the help of my Dad. Many months later we found out my Dad was hiding away in a faraway village in the mountains. My Mom decided to move there to live with him. There, my parents worked in a farm growing vegetables, rice and corn.
Not long after that, I started going to school but there was no school in the village so my brother, our friends and I had to walk an hour to school in another village. My friends and I are from the Hmong tribe but the village with the school belong to a tribe called Khmu, and the teachers were all from the Lao tribe because they were the more educated group. Every morning, we had to get up early eat breakfast prepare lunch and get to school on time. I studied in the school for half a year when my dad decided to move to a different Village. This time, it took us two days by foot to get there.
A few months after my family moved to the new village my Dad got married to a woman who had two daughters. At that time, in the Hmong culture, a man could have many wives at the same time. My Mom was very upset and disappointed. She didn’t know what to do and so we all lived in the same house together.
After his second wife, Dad started treating my Mom differently. He would not care for my Mom even when she was sick right after giving birth to a new baby. My Mom had to walk two days to get a tuk-tuk to Luang Prabang to get medicine. Moreover, my Dad started yelling and hitting my Mom. He accused her of sleeping with another man. He said that she went to the Luang Prabang to cheat on him not to get medicine. My Dad was abusive towards my Mom because he was addicted to opium and he had a new wife and didn’t love my Mom anymore.
My Mom never cheated on him but he did not believe her. He kept telling her to leave the house, never to return. My Mom was really hurt and sad so she left us to live with her parents. My siblings and I did not know my Mom had left us. For many days I didn’t see my Mom at home and villagers said that my Mom had gone to town and would never come back to us again. My Dad didn’t care, but I was only eight so I missed my Mom a lot and cried every day.
One day, my Dad told us that he was going to bring my Mom home and we were all so happy and excited to see her again. A few days later, my Father came home but my Mom didn’t - they were divorced. My mom never came back again. My Dad was brutal and abusive to my Mom so my Mom‘s parents didn’t let her come visit us. They were afraid my Dad would hit my Mom. All of my siblings and I didn’t know what to do even though we missed our Mom so much. All I could do was cry, especially my younger sister and I.
Fortunately, my Mom figured out a way to visit us without my Dad knowing. We would sneak out to go to see her. Then, for some reason my Mom stopped coming and I didn’t see her for a few years, and we do not hear news from her. One day, someone heard from the radio that she was getting married and she wanted to send words to us through the radio to us to let her know that she could not visit again. She wished us to be healthy and strong, to work and study hard at school and for us to take care of ourselves well.
When I heard those words tears ran down my face and my heart stopped beating for a little while. I was still a child so I didn’t know if I would ever see my Mom again. I listened to her words and kept studying hard at school every day. I always wanted to be a good student and a good person.
After I finish primary school in the countryside I had to come to Luang Prabang because there is no middle, nor high school in my village. My Dad had to sell a dog and a pig to get some money to send me to school. I moved to the Luang Prabang to live with my uncle and his family. Life in Luang Prabang and the countryside are very different. In the countryside, we did not have electricity and it was very dark at night. It was very busy and lots of traffic in the city and many people studied English at different English centers. I wanted to also study English but did not have the money.
Luckily, there was a free Japanese class near where I live. It was a great opportunity for me to learn a foreign language. I was so happy and excited that I could learn Japanese for free. Every day after I finish school at 4 PM I went to study Japanese. Then I found out there was a library for us to learn computer for free too. So, after Japanese class I went to learn computer and typed on the keyboard for the first time. I was so happy because I was learning a lot of things at the library. The library even let students borrow books for free.
I studied Japanese for half a year until they stop teaching. Even though there is no more classes I still want to learn so every evening I went to the library to study Japanese and to listen to Japanese conversation on the computer. I did that every evening. One day Carol, the owner of the library asked me 'Do you want to study English?’ And I said 'yes, but I don’t have the money'. She told me she would pay for classes for three months. She gave me the money and I registered for a class. I couldn’t believe it! I was super lucky and happy that I could study English like other students.
I was delighted because I could speak English a little. After the term ended and I didn’t have the money to continue, my friend told me about Big Brother Mouse. Big Brother Mouse was a book shop that offered a space for the students to practice English with foreigners for free. I started going there and tourist sites to practice speaking English. I did that for a year and my English improved a lot. I felt so alive.
I was the first one in my family to speak English and have an education. Therefore, I had to get a job in a hotel to earn money to help my family. I bought rice and vegetables for everyone to eat. I also paid for my younger siblings school fees, uniforms, and school materials. I’ve been helping my family for five years now.
I realize that in order for me to help my family and myself I need an education. My heart strongly believe that English is the way for me to get out of the cycle of poverty. English will enable me to help other underprivileged children like me to break the cycle of poverty.
Therefore, I really want to study English at an English college. I don’t want to work at night anymore. I want to focus on education right now. In the past five years I’ve been working at guest houses and hotels taking night shift only to realize that I had less time to study, stay healthy and get proper sleep.
I want to change my life by going to College. I want to be a successful person so I can help the people I love and my community. I believe that is not over until my dream comes true. I believe in me.
My dream is to go to the Lao–American College in the capital of Laos, Vientiane. I want to go there because this is a four-year English school and it is one of the top Colleges in Laos. I plan to major in English and Business Management because I also want to understand the business world and hopefully someday I can start my own business that helps my community.
Being from Laos, English is the key for me to open my world, my dream and my way to a successful life. I have made friends from different countries I communicate with foreigners. If I didn’t know English, my life would not change. I would not be who I am today without English. In fact, I would be like my Dad if I had not learned English. That is why I want to continue improving my English and use it to expand my knowledge in other fields, so I can teach my siblings and other people. I want to make a difference for my family, myself and my community. Here is an overview of my budget.
College tuition $780 per year paid by Christopher
Rent including electricity and water - shared with friends $650. per year
Food $12 per day (three meals per day)
School uniform $65.– two pants two shirts/ per year
School supplies $12 per year
Other unexpected expenses $85 per year
Total per year without tuition = $5192.00
Total for 4 years $20,768.00
He already pays for his younger siblings school and regularly visits poor villages bringing books, toothbrushes and other needs to the impoverished citizens. Please read his extraordinary story of raising himself up, and consider helping him achieve his dreams. I have pledged to pay the tuition. Please join me in helping him meet the rest of his needs… here is his story....
When I was six years old I wanted to go to school but I couldn’t because I failed the 'ear test'. Back then, in order for a child to be able to attend school he must be able to put his right hand over his head and reach for his left ear. If he fails, he had to wait another year. My brother was two years older so he could reach and touch his ear so he went to school I can’t reach mine so I have to wait another year.
My name is Yeng Cha but you can call me Felix I am 23 years old however I don’t know the exact date of my birth. I was born in a small village in the country side of Laos.
When I was about five my family moved to the Luang Prabang town. We are six people in my family including my parents, my older brother, my younger sister and my younger brother.
My Dad was a Tuk-tuk driver in the Luang Prabang but he didn’t make enough money to help his family, so he sold drugs to make more money. In order to sell drugs and not have a problem with his clients he needed to make sure the drugs were real. His way of checking was just smoke it. One night the police came to our house to arrest him. My Dad escaped and we did not know where he went or whether he was safe. All we could do was wait.
My Mom didn’t have a job or food to feed us without the help of my Dad. Many months later we found out my Dad was hiding away in a faraway village in the mountains. My Mom decided to move there to live with him. There, my parents worked in a farm growing vegetables, rice and corn.
Not long after that, I started going to school but there was no school in the village so my brother, our friends and I had to walk an hour to school in another village. My friends and I are from the Hmong tribe but the village with the school belong to a tribe called Khmu, and the teachers were all from the Lao tribe because they were the more educated group. Every morning, we had to get up early eat breakfast prepare lunch and get to school on time. I studied in the school for half a year when my dad decided to move to a different Village. This time, it took us two days by foot to get there.
A few months after my family moved to the new village my Dad got married to a woman who had two daughters. At that time, in the Hmong culture, a man could have many wives at the same time. My Mom was very upset and disappointed. She didn’t know what to do and so we all lived in the same house together.
After his second wife, Dad started treating my Mom differently. He would not care for my Mom even when she was sick right after giving birth to a new baby. My Mom had to walk two days to get a tuk-tuk to Luang Prabang to get medicine. Moreover, my Dad started yelling and hitting my Mom. He accused her of sleeping with another man. He said that she went to the Luang Prabang to cheat on him not to get medicine. My Dad was abusive towards my Mom because he was addicted to opium and he had a new wife and didn’t love my Mom anymore.
My Mom never cheated on him but he did not believe her. He kept telling her to leave the house, never to return. My Mom was really hurt and sad so she left us to live with her parents. My siblings and I did not know my Mom had left us. For many days I didn’t see my Mom at home and villagers said that my Mom had gone to town and would never come back to us again. My Dad didn’t care, but I was only eight so I missed my Mom a lot and cried every day.
One day, my Dad told us that he was going to bring my Mom home and we were all so happy and excited to see her again. A few days later, my Father came home but my Mom didn’t - they were divorced. My mom never came back again. My Dad was brutal and abusive to my Mom so my Mom‘s parents didn’t let her come visit us. They were afraid my Dad would hit my Mom. All of my siblings and I didn’t know what to do even though we missed our Mom so much. All I could do was cry, especially my younger sister and I.
Fortunately, my Mom figured out a way to visit us without my Dad knowing. We would sneak out to go to see her. Then, for some reason my Mom stopped coming and I didn’t see her for a few years, and we do not hear news from her. One day, someone heard from the radio that she was getting married and she wanted to send words to us through the radio to us to let her know that she could not visit again. She wished us to be healthy and strong, to work and study hard at school and for us to take care of ourselves well.
When I heard those words tears ran down my face and my heart stopped beating for a little while. I was still a child so I didn’t know if I would ever see my Mom again. I listened to her words and kept studying hard at school every day. I always wanted to be a good student and a good person.
After I finish primary school in the countryside I had to come to Luang Prabang because there is no middle, nor high school in my village. My Dad had to sell a dog and a pig to get some money to send me to school. I moved to the Luang Prabang to live with my uncle and his family. Life in Luang Prabang and the countryside are very different. In the countryside, we did not have electricity and it was very dark at night. It was very busy and lots of traffic in the city and many people studied English at different English centers. I wanted to also study English but did not have the money.
Luckily, there was a free Japanese class near where I live. It was a great opportunity for me to learn a foreign language. I was so happy and excited that I could learn Japanese for free. Every day after I finish school at 4 PM I went to study Japanese. Then I found out there was a library for us to learn computer for free too. So, after Japanese class I went to learn computer and typed on the keyboard for the first time. I was so happy because I was learning a lot of things at the library. The library even let students borrow books for free.
I studied Japanese for half a year until they stop teaching. Even though there is no more classes I still want to learn so every evening I went to the library to study Japanese and to listen to Japanese conversation on the computer. I did that every evening. One day Carol, the owner of the library asked me 'Do you want to study English?’ And I said 'yes, but I don’t have the money'. She told me she would pay for classes for three months. She gave me the money and I registered for a class. I couldn’t believe it! I was super lucky and happy that I could study English like other students.
I was delighted because I could speak English a little. After the term ended and I didn’t have the money to continue, my friend told me about Big Brother Mouse. Big Brother Mouse was a book shop that offered a space for the students to practice English with foreigners for free. I started going there and tourist sites to practice speaking English. I did that for a year and my English improved a lot. I felt so alive.
I was the first one in my family to speak English and have an education. Therefore, I had to get a job in a hotel to earn money to help my family. I bought rice and vegetables for everyone to eat. I also paid for my younger siblings school fees, uniforms, and school materials. I’ve been helping my family for five years now.
I realize that in order for me to help my family and myself I need an education. My heart strongly believe that English is the way for me to get out of the cycle of poverty. English will enable me to help other underprivileged children like me to break the cycle of poverty.
Therefore, I really want to study English at an English college. I don’t want to work at night anymore. I want to focus on education right now. In the past five years I’ve been working at guest houses and hotels taking night shift only to realize that I had less time to study, stay healthy and get proper sleep.
I want to change my life by going to College. I want to be a successful person so I can help the people I love and my community. I believe that is not over until my dream comes true. I believe in me.
My dream is to go to the Lao–American College in the capital of Laos, Vientiane. I want to go there because this is a four-year English school and it is one of the top Colleges in Laos. I plan to major in English and Business Management because I also want to understand the business world and hopefully someday I can start my own business that helps my community.
Being from Laos, English is the key for me to open my world, my dream and my way to a successful life. I have made friends from different countries I communicate with foreigners. If I didn’t know English, my life would not change. I would not be who I am today without English. In fact, I would be like my Dad if I had not learned English. That is why I want to continue improving my English and use it to expand my knowledge in other fields, so I can teach my siblings and other people. I want to make a difference for my family, myself and my community. Here is an overview of my budget.
College tuition $780 per year paid by Christopher
Rent including electricity and water - shared with friends $650. per year
Food $12 per day (three meals per day)
School uniform $65.– two pants two shirts/ per year
School supplies $12 per year
Other unexpected expenses $85 per year
Total per year without tuition = $5192.00
Total for 4 years $20,768.00
Organizer
Christopher Robins
Organizer
Vancouver, BC