Ms Kang from Singapore Polytechnic said the situation “forced us to think on our feet, be adaptable and patient, and rely on non-verbal communication such as hand gestures, drawings, and demonstrations”.
Her team also learnt basic Laotian phrases, which helped build mutual respect and deeper connections with their hosts.
Apart from language barrier issues, the rural schools also lacked access to digital tools typically used in Singapore, such as the game-based learning platform Kahoot!.
Mr Soh’s team hence had to think out of the box to engage the students beyond textbooks, while utilising the limited resources at hand.
While learning about upcycling, for instance, students turned plastic bottles into piggy banks and old newspapers into paper bowls.
The NUS team also improvised by using laminated paper as a reusable whiteboard.
Ms Yu, meanwhile, added that the terrain in certain areas in Laos also made transportation and logistics difficult for YMCA’s volunteer teams, which then had to seek help from local partners.
NOT ONE-OFF
Under NUS’ Project Sabaidee, Laotian teachers have shown interest in adopting Singaporean techniques to make classrooms livelier and more interactive, said Mr Soh.
The team will be making another trip there in May 2025, to build a nursery with a view to helping kids progress more smoothly to the primary school level.