In short
- Hands of Hope School for the Deaf in Laos, founded by Sophaphone Heuanglith in 2010,
- The school aims to empower these children through education and vocational training, fostering self-esteem and social connections.
- Vantage Foundation has partnered with Hands of Hope to promote awareness and support for the deaf community
Several deaf children in Laos cannot access school because of discrimination, lack of qualified teachers with training in deaf education or sign language, and inability to pay for school fees. Hands of Hope School for the Deaf was established in 2010 by Sophaphone Heuanglith, who sought to give education and opportunity to deaf young people in Laos.
Hands of Hope seeks to empower these children with education and vocational training so they may be able to support themselves and make their contribution to society. The school offers a sheltered environment, giving them free schooling, shelter, food, and healthcare. There are no limitations in this loving environment only attachment and love. The kids live, learn, eat and grow together, developing not only language abilities but also a sense of belongingness, self-esteem and social relationships.
Vantage Foundation sat down with Sophaphone Heuanglith, the Founder of Hands of Hope Laos, to understand the organization's dedication to sponsor and care for these children victimized by society's discrimination. Seeing the quality work that Hands of Hope Laos has created, Vantage Foundation aspire to spread awareness regarding deaf children's needs and potential in order to promote an inclusive option to assist in supporting the deaf community.
"Each child should be seen, heard, and valued," said Sophaphone Heuanglith, Hands of Hope Laos Founder. "In our school, we don't merely teach language we empower our students to find their voice, their confidence, and their place in the world."
"Hands of Hope is the type of impact we want to enable through the Vantage Foundation," said Steven Xie, Executive Director of Vantage Foundation. "We are honored to stand alongside Sophaphone and her team to break down barriers and create lasting opportunity for these children."
This partnership is a testament to Vantage Foundation's ongoing commitment to advancing inclusive programs that empower underserved populations. Through education and empowerment, we aspire to build a more just future one in which all children, no matter their ability, can thrive
About Vantage Foundation
Vantage Foundation is a free-standing charitable entity inaugurated in the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in 2023. The foundation has collaborated with institutions globally, such as Grab Indonesia, Nigeria's iREDE Foundation, Teach for Malaysia, and Instituto Claret in Brazil, to propel meaningful social actions.
