Answering this question became a reality for us the first week of our trip, when we found a gold clutch purse on a beach in Thailand. Inside was no ID, no contact information – only the equivalent of about $150 US in Thai currency and a few cash receipts. What to do with it?
We immediately agreed not to spend it on ourselves. There are many in this part of the world whose needs are greater than our own. So who to give it to? We decided we wanted to give it to a not-for-profit organization, ideally a local organization that is striving to make a difference on a local level and has a mission related to our own values.
We found one in Big Brother Mouse, a Lao-based and Lao-owned publisher whose goal is to publish “books that make literacy fun for children in Laos”. Books are rare in Laos, and many children never have read a book outside of school textbooks. The staff at Big Brother Mouse writes, publishes and distributes free books to children through book parties held at rural schools.
A little background: I am a voracious reader. I usually read 3-4 books at a time, and easily read 80-100 books a year. Since I learned to read as a child, reading has been both a passion and a consistent love. I was absolutely that nerdy kid who checked out 17 books (the limit) a week from the local library during the summer months, and who read them all before the week was up. I suspect this may be why being an English major came so easily to me: I read all the books on my reading lists, plus other books just for fun. And I got a degree for writing about the things I read! I was like a duck in water. I love reading because it introduces new ideas, worlds, cultures, and characters.
Access to books was critical to fostering my love of reading, because I could explore different stories and discover what I liked (Mark loves to read too, but is allowing me to run with this post – he loves reading about science, nature and current events).
Big Brother Mouse endeavors to give Lao kids access to books. Kids who love reading when they are young are more likely to love reading when they are older. It felt like a good fit, so we chose to use the found money towards sponsoring a book party, funding the balance from our travel budget.
We joined the book party staff at the Big Brother Mouse offices at 8 am, where two parties were packing up for trips to local schools. The staff are all young Laotians, mostly college students who help run the programs at Big Brother Mouse. One young man, Let, even has written a couple of books and aspires to write more, in addition to becoming a secondary school English teacher (many of the books published by Big Brother Mouse are bilingual Lao/English).
Our group headed to a school, L’ecole Primaire Mouangkham, 30 minutes outside Luang Prabang across the Mekong river. We were ferried across the river, then led through town by the school principal. The entire student body of about 70 kids lined up to meet us, where Let talked to them about the day’s activities. This was the first book party ever held at this school, and the kids’ excitement was evident.
Mark and I were observers during the morning’s events: an art lesson on drawing characters, learning songs and storytime. These kids were excited to be there, and were incredibly respectful of the presenters and their teachers. The kids would duck when walking in front of any of the elders, including us (I guess we’re “elders” now, sigh…) – “as a sign of respect” one of the staff told us.
Learning new songs - and getting into it!
Finally it was time for the kids to pick out their books. The BBM staff laid dozens of books on the table, and the kids were called up in groups of 4-5 to choose a book. After selecting one, they went outside. And this is the part that really got us – all these kids sat on a bench and immediately started reading their books – aloud. For many of these kids, this was the first book they have ever owned.
Students reading their new books aloud
We were thankful to be there, and so grateful for all the educational opportunities we have had in our lives. Access to books, whether through purchase or borrowing them from a library, is not yet available widely in Laos. This was (by far) one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences we had on our trip.
If you are interested in sponsoring a book party or a new book, check out Big Brother Mouse’s donation page. We assure you it is money well spent.
Students showing their new books, teachers and volunteers in front
“A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man’s mind can get both provocation and privacy.” ~Edward P. Morgan
More pictures from our Big Brother Mouse book party
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Great post, thanks for sharing, Allie. It’s amazing all the things that we take for granted here in the US. Such small things really can make a difference in these children’s lives.
What a fabulous way to enrich your travels, and the lives of others. Well done, Sue
you guys are awesome!
This sounds incredible — and you told your story so well! Totally captivating and heart-warming. You are really living your life, Allie — and enriching the lives of others at the same time. How rewarding! 🙂
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