Fifteen villages in the Vilabouly district of Lao PDR have strengthened community ties by building permanent village offices or community centres. The facilities were constructed using money allocated by MMG LXML Sepon’s Village Development Fund.

Community members from the villages of Nahoy and Namkeun decided to use the funds to construct village offices, spending around US$7,000 on each new building. While Sepon provided the funds, community members provided the labour and managed construction.

“Before the village office was built, villagers spent hours sitting under the trees for meetings,” said Ms Bounlam, Deputy Village Chief of Namkeun Village.

The new office has become a popular gathering place, where community members hold meetings, organise events and host visitors to the village.

Pictured: Improving livelihoods through access to basic services and empowering community members to set and achieve their own development priorities.