Building Foster Families from the Ground Up

LUANG PRABANG, Laos: At the age of 40, Ms Sommaiy Bokhan Thong has mothered a total of 24 children, even watching some of them graduate from high school and matriculate into university.

Yet she has neither given birth nor gotten married.

Since 2014, Ms Sommaiy has been working as a foster mother in Luang Prabang at SOS Children’s Village, a global organisation dedicated to providing long-term family-based care for and education to orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children.

The organisation established its first village in 1982 in Vientiane and has expanded its presence over the years in five other cities such as Xam Neua and Pakse.

The village in Luang Prabang is home to 14 foster families, each of which comprises a foster mother and an average of seven children living together in sturdy brick houses.

The houses are surrounded by gardens growing fresh fruits and vegetables, alongside bushes blooming with flowers — a reflection of the love and care that each family puts into creating a safe and conducive environment for one another at the SOS Children Village.

Besides looking after the physical health and mental wellbeing of the children, the organisation also seeks to provide education and assist them in transitioning back into society, said Ms Davone Phaphonxay, the Village Director at SOS Children’s Village Luang Prabang.

She added that in order to achieve the organisation’s four main goals – to look after the children’s physical health and mental wellbeing, to provide education for them and to assist them in transitioning back into society, mothers in the village like Ms Sommaiy are entrusted with significant responsibilities.

Nurturing Hearts, Motherhood as a Foster Mother

These women begin their journey as an “aunt” or mother-in-training.

After five years of training as an “aunt”, appointed individuals can then transition into becoming foster mothers for the children at SOS Children’s Village Luang Prabang.

Being a mother there is a challenging yet rewarding role.

It requires a blend of compassion and resilience to provide a nurturing and stable environment for the children — especially for those who may have experienced trauma, abandonment, or loss.

Ms Sommaiy is currently a foster mother to seven children.

While her responsibilities as a mother are extensive, her role mainly involves taking care of the children and preparing them to live independently by teaching them skills such as cleaning and cooking.

Mothers like her make numerous sacrifices, which include not getting married and having to spend a significant part of their lives in the village.

Similar to mothers with biological children, Ms Sommaiy has had to navigate the challenges of parenthood — she sometimes finds it difficult to discipline her children, and often worries whether they will be able to take care of themselves after leaving the village.

Education

Recognising that education is vital to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering children to reach their full potential, SOS Children’s Village places great emphasis on education by having the SOS school located a stone's throw away from the village.

Within a three minutes’ walk from the village lie SOS Primary School and SOS Secondary School. Both schools welcome all students, which allows the children to engage with others beyond the village.

One such educator is Ms Ket Salim Ratanakana, 36, who has been working at the Luang Prabang village for the past decade.

Her job scope entails planning enrichment programmes that range from sports-related activities to additional classes for subjects the children are struggling with.

Ms Ket said in Lao via a translator: “If a child’s dream is to learn English, I will organise additional English classes for her.”

Learning is not limited to theory either, with her emphasising how it encompasses both soft and hard skills.

By imparting essential knowledge and skills to the children, the village ensures they are able to develop their own expertise and pursue fulfilling careers in the future.

Transformative Influence: The Impact on the Children's Lives

Phone Pa Sit, 17, and Chandala Pa, 18, are youth who have grown up in SOS Children’s Village Luang Prabang. They are both in their final year of high school and will leave the village once they graduate.

Both Sit and Pa carry their own apprehensions and concerns as they prepare to depart from their village.

Sit is afraid to start living alone as she has lived with her siblings and mother ever since she arrived in SOS village as a child.

For Pa, leaving SOS village will be a challenge for her, sparked by concerns that she would not be able to adapt to her new environment.

Regardless, they both share a common sentiment — the sense of belonging to SOS Children’s Village and the fond memories they associate with their foster families.

Pa added that she will miss her family in the village dearly, and no words could describe how thankful she feels to her family and the village.

Similarly, Sit hopes to inspire his siblings by working hard and possibly teach them how to live independently after leaving the village.

Empowering the Village: Supporting the Growth and Development of SOS Children’s Village

While SOS Children’s Village Laos continues to do its best to support children as they grow up and integrate into society sustainably, some youth face difficulty finding employment after leaving the village.

To address this challenge, SOS Children’s Village Laos is constantly innovating and reaching out to local communities to provide educational and upskilling opportunities for the children.

One such example is SOS Children’s Village Luang Prabang’s collaboration with a local weaving business.

On the weekends, girls who are interested in weaving learn and practise the skill with Mrs Fongsamouth Simoukda, 52, the owner of a local weaving business in Luang Prabang. Learning to weave provides the children with both a hobby and an opportunity to learn a skill which can help them find employment in the future.

Caretaker at SOS Children’s Village Luang Prabang Soulinh Douangkham, 39, said that each child has an individual development plan based on their interests and passions.

He added that when the children are provided with opportunities to learn outside of the classroom, they are able to explore their interests and discover what they may want to do in the future.

There are over 1200 children under the care of SOS Children’s Village Laos. If you are interested in sponsoring a child or village, visit https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/ for more information. ∎