Program and Event

The U.S. Embassy Helps Preserve Culture Heritage and
Promotes Literacy in Laos

U.S Ambassador Ravic R. Huso and Luangprabang’s Vice Governor Khampheng Xaisompheng open a  new exhibition entitled “Splendour and Sacrifice: Taoism in Northern Laos” At the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (TAEC)

U.S Ambassador Ravic R. Huso and Luangprabang’s Vice Governor Khampheng Xaisompheng open a  new exhibition entitled “Splendour and Sacrifice: Taoism in Northern Laos” At the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (TAEC) U.S. Ambassador Ravic R. Huso visited Luang Prabang on September 29 and 30  to speak at the official opening the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center’s (TEAC) new exhibition “Splendour and Sacrifice: Taoism in Northern Laos.” While in Luang Prabang, the Ambassador participated in the first preservation training session of Laos’ collection of Palm Leaf manuscripts at Wat May Suwannapoumaram and he presented a grant to Big Brother Mouse.

The TAEC exhibition is the culmination of research and documentation of the religious and cultural traditions of two of Laos’ important ethnic minority groups, the Iu Mien and Kim Mun. This project was supported by a $30,000 grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural and Preservation.

The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation also enabled the U.S. Embassy to provide $10,000 to the National Library to expand its palm leaf manuscript preservation training program. The first training session is in Luang Prabang’s Wat May Souvannapoumaram. The second session will be in Vientiane at Wat Nasone Tai. Preserving Laos’ valuable Palm Leaf manuscript collection began last year when the U.S. Embassy gave $9,000 for similar work in Savannaketh and Champasack provinces.

The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation was established by the U.S. Congress in 2001 to support heritage preservation in countries around the world. Through this fund, the U.S. government is currently helping 100 nations preserve historic sites and manuscripts, museum collections, and traditional forms of music, dance and language.

Ambassador Huso presented a $14,000 grant to Big Brother Mouse to support literacy in Laos. This money will allow Big Brother Mouse to send a collection of books to a majority of the schools in five districts in Luang Prabang Province. It will also enable them to bring books and staff to 16 remote, rural villages where they will set up libraries and host “reading festivals.”