Lao Students Association in Japan

2008-11-20T18:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

we are glad to inform you that the amount money
for fire donation from our LSAJ, Lao students,
and ex-students, added up to the value of 128,475 Yen

Details are as follow:

Kantou area : 89,000
Kobe area : 10,000
Kyotou & Shika area : 13,475
Chubu area : 9,000
Khyushuu (APU) : 7,000
Hokkaidou area : 3,000
-----------------
128,475 Yen

This amount of money does not include the money collected
from JDS08 students: 100$ + 9,000 Yen

The money already gave to Mr. Kinon and Ms. Khaithong
on 15th November 2008, at Shinjuku, Tokyo (see pictures above)

We thank you for all of your kindness,

Just remember that WE WILL STAY TOGETHER!

Sincerely yours,

LSAJ President

2008-09-14T02:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

we are glad to inform you that the amount of money donated by Lao students in Japan to help flood victims in Laos last month reached 91,457 Yen and 45$

For details :
Kanto : 38,000+45$ [including komaba students (2008): 10,000 & JDS (2008): 8,000Yen+45$)
Kobe : 11,500 Yen
Kyotou & Shika : 5,457 Yen
Chubu : 28,500 Yen
Khyushuu (APU) : 5,000 Yen
Hokkaido : 3,000 Yen
Total: 91,457 Yen+ 45$

This money was already gaven to The Lao Embassy in Tokyo.
Thank you for all of your kindness,

sincerely yours,

Douangmala,
President of LSAJ 2008

2008-09-01T23:04:00.000-07:00

Japan awarded AYF scholarship to 2 Laotians

Photo: 2 Laotian guys were awarded AYF scholarship 2008 from the Japan Foudation. One guy is from the Ministry of Agriculture and the other (with eye glass) is from the National University of Laos.

For your information, The Japan Foundation offers scholarship to Lao students to study Japanese language in Osaka for about 6 months before entering University in Japan the following year. More information is available at

http://www.asiaseed.org/ayfj/

2008-04-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

Students' overseas degrees benefit Laos

Two master's students returned to Laos from Japan last month and will contribute the skills they learnt during their studies to the nation's future development.

The Ministry of Education organised a meeting last Friday to report on the results of their studies and their plans for development activities in Laos .

Mr Phayvanh Xayavong, who attended Nagoya University , and Mr Phetdala Phoumalavong, who studied at Yokohama National University , both received the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) to study law in Japan...more info>>

Mr Phayvanh, who works at the Ministry of Public Security, said he would use the experience he gained at university to hold a training course in crime prevention and community safety for village police officers.

He plans to implement such strategies in local areas to provide regional safety information and practical and educational activities, such as counselling on crime prevention.

Mr Phayvanh said he planned to implement the crime prevention strategy to raise public awareness about crime, to encourage self-help in crime avoidance and to coordinate organisational efforts in crime deterrence.

Guests attending the meeting included representatives of relevant organisations, including the ministries of Education, Planning and Investment, and Foreign Affairs, Japanese International Cooperation Agency experts and previous scholarship recipients.

More than 190 Lao fellows have been admitted to Japanese universities since the JDS programme began in 1999.

So far 120 master's students have returned to Laos following the successful completion of their studies, and are now playing important roles in national development.

For the programme's next intake, 25 fellows will be selected in the fields of law, public policy and administration, economics, business administration, international relations, agriculture and rural development, education and educational administration, and engineering.

The objective of the JDS programme is to provide the citizens of Laos with the opportunity to undertake academic research at a Japanese higher education institution and support the government of Laos in its efforts to develop human resources.

The scheme also enhances the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The JDS programme targets young government officials, researchers and others with the potential to play leadership roles in their fields of expertise after their return to Laos .

By PHAISYTHONG CHANDARA
Vientianetimes

2008-04-22T00:54:00.000-07:00

Laos to have direct flight from Nagoya to Vientiane

Officials from Laos and Japan will conduct a feasibility study of direct flights between Nagoya Airport in Japan and Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.

The Director General of the Civil Aviation Department, Mr Yakua Lopangkao, told Vientiane Times yesterday that Lao officials will first collect basic information regarding potential passenger demand...more info>>

“We expect to collect the information within the next two months and then we will send it to Japan,” he said. “We will meet with Japanese officials a month later.”

Mr Yakua observed that more people are flying from America and Japan to Indochina, especially to Laos.

Mr Yakua said that last year Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh visited Japan and met with his Japanese counterpart to discuss various areas of cooperation. One of the issues discussed was the possibility of a direct flight from Nagoya to Vientiane.

Laos has direct flights to several countries, including Thailand, China, Cambodia and Vietnam. Air Asia started direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , late last year.

A flight between Laos and Singapore is also under consideration, Mr Yakua said.

“Last month, we had meetings with representatives from airlines in Singapore who told us they needed a more detailed survey before any developments could take place,” he added.

A direct flight to Myanmar is also under discussion, as officials believe such a move could boost tourism in the region.

“Our government has an open policy concerning flight connections with any foreign country to encourage tourism in Laos ,” Mr Yakua said.

Earlier last year, the Lao government granted visa exemptions to Japanese tourists to strengthen relations between the two countries.

This has led to an increasing number of Japanese visitors to Laos.

According to the Lao National Tourism Administration, in 2005 around 23,000 Japanese visited Laos and in 2006 this figure increased by just two percent.

But in 2007 the figure jumped by 34 percent as a result of the visa exemption.

Tourism officials confirmed that the number of Japanese tourists was increasing, contributing to economic growth.

By Somsack Pongkhao
Vientiane Times

2008-03-26T00:58:00.000-07:00

Scholarship fulfills young woman's dreams

Ms Vilak Inthavong's patience and perseverance in her studies finally paid off and won her a scholarship to study in Japan.

A fter many years of dedicated study at every level of her education, a talented student who longed to go to university in Japan has shown that perseverance brings rewards.

Today Ms Vilak Inthavong, a 19-year-old from Vientiane , is realising her dreams after being selected as one of 26 Lao students to receive a scholarship provided by the Japanese government to attend Osaka University...more info>>

“I've always dreamt of studying in Japan and now I've finally got that opportunity,” she said proudly.

Ms Vilak's success is not just a reward for herself and her family, but also serves as inspiration for many other students who also aspire to receive scholarships, as well as showing others that if they are patient and studious they too can be successful.

Ms Vilak has received several awards, placing second in a ‘best student' contest in lower secondary school and taking third place at a Lao language contest in upper secondary school.

Her name started to become known around the country when she graduated from Vientiane Secondary School in 2005, with the second highest score in all of Laos .

Ms Vilak continued her studies at the Faculty of Economic and Administration at the National University of Laos, where there was much competition for scholarships.

Despite this, she persevered and studied even harder, taking extra lessons after class, to learn both English and Japanese.

“I have been learning English for many years, but I only started taking Japanese lessons seriously about one year ago,” Ms Vilak said.

Her teachers were very good and her many experiences of Japanese culture in Vientiane helped her to learn quickly, she said.

After honing her skills, she pursued her interests and applied for a 2008 Monbukagakusho Scholarship.

After passing the difficult exams, Ms Vilak won a scholarship to study in Japan for five years, proving that nothing is impossible if you are willing to try hard enough.

Japan is a country that is strong in many different fields, especially technology and finance, setting a good example for other Asian countries to follow. Because of this Ms Vilak has decided to study for a bachelor degree in Business Administration.

Ms Vilak said she will try to make the most of her opportunity by studying hard and learning about Japanese traditions and culture during her time at the university.

“I may find the difference in teaching methods challenging, but I believe I will do well and be a good representative of my country,” she said.

The 2008 Monbukagakusho Scholarship holders will depart for Japan next month.

Ms Vilak's story should be an encouragement to young people in Laos to follow their dreams and concentrate on their studies if they want to achieve success.

Although many people believe the standard of education in Laos is lower than in many other countries in the region, stories such as Ms Vilak's prove that students here can be just as successful as those in more developed countries.

By Soulivan Vongmany
Vientianetimes

2008-02-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Invitation to join the new year party

The Lao embassy in Japan will hold Lao New Year party on April 6th, 2008 and everyone is invited to join. For more information, please contact Lao embassy in TOKYO.