Mone's Learning Center
Mone’s Learning Center (MLC) is a safe place where children can have fun learning in Muang Houn, Oudomxay, Laos.
Today
Up to one hundred children from 6 – 12 years come to MLC each week to close gaps in their knowledge and inspire their natural enthusiasm for learning. Weekdays after school the team of 4 teachers at MLC offer Lao language and math tutoring for up to 40 children and on ‘Happy Saturday’ children have learning activities, handcrafts and play educational games.
Using the basic Montessori teaching system and working with the Lao school curriculum, MLC runs parallel to the regular school system, with evening courses, weekend events or holiday programs. Children have a safe place to close gaps in their knowledge and live out their natural enthusiasm for learning with people who care.
In 2023 MLC received an important certification from the Lao Education Department and with the success of being recognised, has been able to open its doors to teacher training for 5 schools in the area and has been invited to the educational fair to present the curriculum and tools for learning in the province of Oudomxay.
History
Next Gen Laos e.V. met Chansamone Yabee, ‘Mone’ and her mentor, Doris Schaefer, when they were developing a program with the Lao Teacher Training Colleges (TTC) to bring the know-how and materials for student-centred teaching to Laos. The concept of the program is based on the Montessori teaching system, having a learning atmosphere, with exciting sustainable learning material and due training for teachers. It consists of a 4-day workshop where the teachers learn the system as well as learn to produce their own learning materials to take the system and the knowledge back to their own village schools.
Next Gen Laos e.V. was asked to support MLC, as the incubator to this teaching system and the place that children and teachers continue to attend to learn. NextGen Laos decided that this is a very important project perfectly suited to its own goals.
After her studies at the TTC, Mone worked with Doris in Luang Namtha supporting a project about student-centred teaching. Mone was able to gain enough experience and enthusiastically set up her own learning center in her home village of Houne.
Team
Mone, Pia, Phetsamone, Sin, Xay Noi, Bounthan and Ken
Impressions
