At SAE LAO people from around the world come together to discover and share experiences and knowledge with the Lao community to make a more sustainable way of life.
SAE LAO is a sustainable development project located in Nathong Village, near the city of Vang Vieng, Lao PDR. The project consists of a small organic farm, a community centre that provides daily English classes, and a volunteer project for international visitors. 

Our Mission
The mission of the SAE LAO project is to provide a holistic model for sustainable development in order to manage natural resources in an efficient, effective, and equitable manner.
The program is based on two key ideas:
Sustainability is holistic and must include sustainable technologies, education, job training, opportunities, and community involvement.
The best methods for creating lasting change are to lead through example and improve the lives of community members through sustainable developments.

Our Vision
We want to be at the forefront of sustainable development in Lao. The benefits of this approach will be promoted through practical economic, social and environmental projects in Nathong Village, Vang Vieng and SAE LAO Project will be an acknowledged leader in this way of working and living.
We have already been recognised for our work by becoming the Energy Globe Awards National winner for Lao PDR in 2015.

Education is at the heart of SAE LAO and is what we do best. Our English classes have been the most important part of the project for community and volunteers since the project opened.

The SAE LAO community centre currently provides the facilities for English lessons, IT classes, a library, adult skills trainings and presentations on sustainability.
One of the main objectives of the SAE LAO Project is to give the local community the opportunity to learn English for free. We currently hold English classes five nights per week. Over 300 students registered in September 2016 !
Students are taught by volunteers who are either native English speakers or speak English as a second language. We encourage everyone coming to the project to participate in teaching English classes and to speak English with the staff to help them improve and gain confidence.
We support local children and young people to get educated. Our Project offers individuals a chance to gain work experience and improve their English by working at the SAE LAO Project, while receiving a fair wage.
Please visit our Scholarship Program page to learn more about the current Sae Lao graduates we sponsor through University. We want to give them a chance for higher education they wouldn’t receive otherwise. Perhaps you can help us to give the gift of education?

Coordinators take over a specific coordination role depending on their talents and interests: coordination of the association, coordination of an Project site, coordination of the Project volunteers, coordination of the Education Programs, coordination of the Health Programs, coordination of the Environmental Programs and on-site Projects, accounting of Association... and strongly contribute to the functioning, stability, continuity and identity of the association. Volunteers will work alongside other international and local volunteers.

Are you looking for an internship? Being a coordinator could be the perfect fit!

We have a 21 beds dorm on the project site. Shower with hot water and toilet block are near by. Our on site showers have hot water, we have sinks and a full kitchen (fridge, stoves etc), electricity and we now even have wifi for emergencies and work (no playing during the day please). We have drinking water, mosquito nets and lots of food.

The SAE LAO project is located in Vientiane Province, Laos. More specifically, it is established in the village of Nathong, which is about 45 kilometers north of Vang Vieng, a town popular among travelers for its karst landscapes and outdoor activities. The SAE LAO project is a community initiative aimed at promoting sustainable development through education, organic farming, and various community activities. There is little around us and definitely no ATM's, so please bring what you need with you, including money, soap etc

We require coordinators to stay at least 6 months. This way you can make the best of your skills her at the project.

We are open for any questions and adjustments for being a coordinator. Please contact us on our contact page.

Some suggestions for what to pack :
clothes for working (please bring clothes you do not mind getting dirty) ;
hat and suncream ;
towel or sarong ;
light sleeping bag (November – February) ;
warm jacket / jumper (November – February) ;
flip Flops / sandals that come off easily ;
all toiletries including insect repellent ;
washing powder ;
torch ;
padlock ;
money ;
basic first aid kit / medicines ;
things to share – like games, cards, recipes ;
if the volunteer has spare space in his/her backpack our local partner is always in need of tools, drinking water testing kits, water testing kits (pH, O2 etc.) soil testing kits, books, teaching materials, pens, whiteboard markers and much more. Or email our local partner to ask them for specific things they might need at the time.
Note : the volunteer will be working with the Lao people, the Lao culture is modest about dress, so nothing too short or too low cut!
Languages : English

We only do our orientation once a week, which is on Sunday morning. Therefore we would advise you to apply for a date, which is on Sunday only.

Try to arrive in Vang Vieng at least one day earlier and make your way to the SAE LAO Sengkeo’s guesthouse where we will arrange transportation to the SAE LAO Project at 9am on a Sunday morning.
The guesthouse is called Sengkeo Guesthouse, located on the main road of Vang Vieng next to Sisoumang temple. You can download the Vang Vieng Town Map here.
Alternatively, you can catch a tuk-tuk from Vang Vieng to the Blue Lagoon, which is located next to SAE LAO. Tuk-tuks are quite expensive and cost about 150,000 kip for a whole group (approximately $20).

Some projects you will contribute to during your stay are ongoing, so while you may not see something fully completed, we hope that you will be able to see how valuable your contribution has been. We ask that you are careful not to do any tasks that your travel insurance does not cover.

Please note that many activities and projects are weather/ season depending. If you contact us about volunteering we can give you more information on activities that will be undertaken at the time you are with us and also see where your personal interests and skills may be most beneficial. There may not always be English classes or traditional handicrafts, such as bamboo weaving, for example.

The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
- Training before and after the project ;
- Health insurance during your project ;
- round-trip travel reimbursement ;
- accommodation and food ;
- pocket money ;
- language course ;
- Return Week-end ;
- Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport.

Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.