The Australian government will provide an estimated A$27.2 million (over 200 billion kip) in aid to Laos in the 2007-08 period.

The 2007-08 Budget, announced Tuesday night in Canberra, is a watershed for the Australian government's aid programme, and Australia's largest ever investment in reducing poverty...more info

In total, Australia will provide an estimated A$3.155 billion in official development assistance (ODA) in 2007-08, an increase over the 2006-07 budget of A$209 million.

ODA, managed by Australia 's overseas aid agency, AusAID, will increase by over 21.7 percent in real terms as the agency begins implementing major new initiatives announced in the budget.

Australian ODA to Laos will be used to further expand Australian engagement in improving the quality of, and access to, basic education. It will also support Australia 's commitment to promoting the country's integration with regional and global economies.

To reinforce Australia 's efforts to promote growth and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the package of initiatives will make substantial new investments in critical areas, including education, economic growth, health and emergency and humanitarian response capacity.

These investments are guided by the 2006 White Paper on Australian aid and demonstrate real progress towards achieving the Government's commitment of a A$4 billion aid programme by 2010.

By vientiane times

(KPL) AEON, the Japan’s single-largest shopping mall developer and operator, has completed its funded construction of primary school ThinXom in Luang Prabang district of the same name province.
The opening ceremony for the newly built AEON Sakura (Cherry Blossom) School was held on 27 March and was attended by Minister of Education Somkot Mangnormek, governors of Luang Prabang and Xiengkhuang provinces, UNICEF Country Representative Ms Olivia Yambi and the representatives of AEON Club... more

“Children are the future of any society. Good schools help providing the children better education, and therefore, building schools is building future of our own society,” said Mr Somkot Mangnormek, Minister of Education.

“This school will not only make the current students happy, but will also allow future generation of children to enjoy a better education in Laos,” said Mr Somkot.
Nationwide, there are 85% of children enroll in 9,000 primary schools.

AEON is implementing the Laos school Construction Fundraising Campaign in partnership with the Japan Committee for UNICEF.

Donations are being collected over a three-year period at some 8,000 AEON locations including JUSCO stores throughout Japan and other retail outlets and offices operated by 64 AEON companies in order to build 100 schools in Laos.

AEON plans to complete 30 elementary schools by the end of March, including 15 in two districts Nan and Luang Prabang of the same name province and other 15 in two districts Kham and Pek in Xiengkhuang province.

It is funding this work with donations collected from customers and additional funds from the AEON 1% Club and Japan Committee for UNICEF.

To date, the AEON has built 206 schools including 149 in Cambodia and 57 in Nepal as a way of giving children opportunities to learn.

Source: kpl.net.la