Here is what Mrs Eija Laitinen, a teacher at HAMK university of Finland, says about her work with us. Together with Solidarasia, she organizes field courses for her students studying in the field of development.
THE EXPERTISE OF SOLIDARASIA IN TEACHING DEVELOPMENT
What does development mean?
How do projects improve live of rural communities?
What does culture mean in development?
How does energy policy influence on peoples’ lives and environment?
Our students studied these questions, and many more, together with Solidarasia in Laos.
HAMK (www.hamk.fi), A Finnish University of Applied Sciences, has worked for couple of years together with Solidarasia to organize field courses for Development Studies module. The program has been planned together with Robert Rozine that has facilitated the logistics and been part of the team as a co-teacher.
The two-week field courses have taken us to places that we could not reach by ourselves.
Solidarasia large network in Laos has helped us to visit and work with people that helped us really much to reach our goals and objectives. We have been working with the Hmong community of Done Sampan. We have discussed and shared with villagers living along the Mekong River and whose lives will be affected by the new dam. We have lived with mountainous people in Pavie village and tried to live one of their a day as they do, working from morning to evening, side by side with the villagers. We have seen small projects that Solidarasia has supported in the villages, building libraries, water systems, schools…
And most of all, with Robert’s and his guide team helps, we have been able to talk and share with the local people.
Laos has a lot to give, for different kind of visitors. This beautiful, tranquil and very friendly country, which is very dependent on development cooperation, has possibilities for tourists who want to experience something that has a bit of novelty.
Luang Prabang is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. On the other hand the country has a lot to give for visitors who want to explore fascinating places a bit deeper. For this kind of travels a good guide is needed. To us, cooperation with Robert and Solidarasia team has enabled us to reach and explore many places. To participate to lives of the local population has left a deep impact on our way of thinking and our memories. Robert speaks the local language. His large versatile networks, deep and human understanding of development, and genuine willingness to listen and share, has been keys to our good cooperation.
