In the three years of co-organizing the Lao Arts & Culture Camp, I have come to know many young people from throughout the Midwest. Last year, one particular student stood out. She struggled to play the Lao xylophone (better known as the lanahd). She wanted to learn for her mother. After a few days of struggling to figure out the instrument, she finally succeeded and cried tears of joy. It was in that moment, among many others, that I realized the tremendous value of this camp. For this student and other students alike, this camp provides opportunities to grow self-esteem, to learn more about Lao culture through the arts, and to reconnect with the older generation.
While the intrinsic value of the Lao Arts & Culture Camp cannot be measured, the real cost of the camp continues to rise every year with growing numbers of students leading to increased expenses. This year is no different. The projected cost of this summer's camp is $22,000. We expect to raise $4,000 to $7,000 from student registration fees, and another $4,000 to $5,000 from fundraisers our students are working hard on now up until the camp. That leaves at least another $10,000 that we still need to raise. This year's camp will be held on the campus of UW-Madison from July 13-21, 2018, welcoming students from all around the Midwest (including, but not limited to, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois). We need your help to make this camp a reality. The amount you donate will go towards programming costs including housing, meals, health services, and other activities for our students.
We thank you in advance for your donation!
Sincerely,
Akarath Soukhaphon
Luk Lao Laan Lao Program Coordinator
soukak@seaedwi.com