Renovating the Boys’ Boarding House in Thakhek
Funds raised so far: 19%
Why Is the Thakhek Boarding House Expansion Needed?
The boarding house originally accommodated just eight boys. By the end of 2024, faced with growing demand from families seeking a safe place for their children to continue their education, the Sisters decided to reconfigure the available space and make full use of the building. Four bedrooms have already been created, with two more planned, allowing even more boys to be welcomed in the future.
Following the first phase of renovation work, twelve new boys arrived at the boarding house in the summer of 2025. The Sisters have done everything possible to make them feel at home, but the furniture is old and fragile, and there is a significant lack of storage space. These practical challenges make daily life more difficult for both the children and those who care for them.
Yet the boarding house is much more than a place to sleep. It provides the boys with the stability they need to attend school, study and grow in a safe environment. The Sisters work hard to create a warm and caring atmosphere where each child can feel valued and supported. Curious, energetic and full of life, the boys bring joy, laughter and a sense of family to the convent every day.
What Equipment Is Needed at the Thakhek Boys’ Boarding House?
The Sisters were able to welcome more boys, as they had hoped, but the new arrivals came just after the renovation work had been completed, leaving little time to find suitable equipment. As a result, the boarding house does not yet have the furniture and facilities needed to fully support its increased capacity.
The beds are very old: the bed bases are worn out and too small for boys who are growing quickly, while the mattresses are simple camping mattresses. The bedrooms also lack storage space, making it harder to organise daily life and manage the boys’ personal belongings.
Sister Latsamy would like to purchase 25 beds, mattresses and pillows, as well as six storage cupboards.
What Are the Strengths of the Thakhek Boarding House Project?
- An immediate impact on daily life: the project will directly improve the boys’ living and sleeping conditions, which are essential for their health, wellbeing and overall balance.
- Clearly identified and supported beneficiaries: the boys live at the boarding house on a long-term basis, ensuring that each donation directly benefits young people who are known, supported and accompanied over time.
- A lasting contribution: the equipment selected is designed to last for several years, ensuring that the impact of the project goes beyond the short term.
- A trusted local structure: the boarding house is run by the Sisters of Charity, who have been committed for many years to welcoming, caring for and supporting young boys.
Who Benefits from the Thakhek Boarding House Project?
The boys welcomed at the boarding house are aged between 12 and 17. Most come from families originally from Vientiane, the capital, and its surrounding areas. Their families live in very precarious circumstances, often marked by the illness of a loved one or the absence of a parent.
Before arriving at the boarding house, their education was fragile due to a lack of support and suitable living conditions. Today, the boarding house offers them a second chance: a stable environment, daily support and a caring atmosphere where they can grow, develop and flourish under the attentive care of the Sisters.
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