Story of Souphe - Laos

The girl pictured on the left is Souphe. Room to Read social mobilizers (mentors) are interviewing her as a candidate for the Girls Education Program.

This is Souphe's home. It is in Oudomxay -the poorest province in one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia - Laos.

Room to Read had just begun working in Oudomxay Province in 2009 when the RtR country director, Somphet, troubled by the expression on Souphe's face, sent these photos to me. They haunted me. Every day for a year and a half I looked at them. Clearly Souphe would qualify for the Girls Education Program which would provide for her to go to school. But would circumstances allow her to go?

In Laos the law states children must stay in school for five years but that's it. When the five years were completed, Souphe's father who "eats drugs" refused to let her continue. She was forced to work in a roadside restaurant to provide for her father and a younger brother and sister. It seemed wrong that at 14, her fate was so firmly set. I kept asking, "Is there anything more we can do to help her continue in school?"

When we returned to Laos in 2010, I asked again about the "young girl in the photo". Somphet greeted me warmly with the triumphant news, "Yes! She is in school now - two weeks." Somphet had indeed kept trying. She even went around her father and appealed directly to Souphe, explaining to her that her father was not thinking clearly, and it was ok to do what would be best for her. Her father gave in and Souphe re-entered school.

Then Somphet showed me this photo. It was like someone pulled a spear from my heart!

Here is Souphe, now 15, with her bike, books, uniform, health check-ups, and a future!