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Religion in Laos Animism Is the Term Used to Categorize the Plethora of Population 6.6 Million Localized Indigenous Religions Throughout the World

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Religion in Laos Animism Is the Term Used to Categorize the Plethora of Population 6.6 Million Localized Indigenous Religions Throughout the World January 1 released from the body. Buddha also understood the New Year’s Day constant motion of the universe and that everything in LAOS March 8 it is subject to birth and decay. This motion is part of International Women’s Day the Dharma, the laws of nature. One of these laws is of April 14-16 cause and consequence, or karma, which implies that Pi Mai (Lao New Year) all actions have a corresponding effect. In essence, the May 1 force generated by a person’s actions is a determining Labor Day factor in the nature of his/her next life. Buddhism June 1 emphasizes five regimens: striving not to kill, not to Children’s Day steal, not to engage in sexual misconduct, not to speak falsehoods, and not to use drugs. Buddhist holidays August 13 Lao Issara (Day of the Free Laos) include Bodhi Day (December 8), which celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha under the Bodhi tree; October 12 Day of Liberation Buddha Day (April 8), which commemorates the birth of Gautama in Lumbini Garden; and Wesak (April/May), December 2 Lao National Day the holiest of Buddhist holy days, which celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. Religion in Laos Animism is the term used to categorize the plethora of Population 6.6 million localized indigenous religions throughout the world. About 70 percent of all Laotians are Buddhists. Another Animists live in a world dominated by a complex Capital City Vientiane 1.5 percent believe in Christianity. The rest of the interplay of spiritual powers—those of the creator or Official Language Lao (or Laotian) population practices “unspecified” religions. creators (gods), the destroyers (demons), the forces Per Capita Income US$1,260/year In its purest form, Buddhism is a way of life. The of nature, the deceased (ancestors), and the living Buddha was not a god but a teacher. After living (healers or witches). The manipulation of such powers Youth Literacy Rate 89% male/79% female as a privileged but careless youth, Prince Gautama through magic, to benefit humans, is subject to strict Access to Safe Water 83% urban/63% rural Siddhartha abandoned his life of luxury in a search for rules, including rituals, sacrifices, and trance. Animists Under 5 Mortality Rate 72/1,000 live births insight through solitude and fasting. It was through believe that when people die their life force (soul) leaves meditation that Siddhartha achieved liberation from the body, joining the invisible world of ancestors. The Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF) all sorrow—nirvana—and became “Buddha” (one invisible world is also populated by nature spirits of the completely awakened). In nirvana, it is believed that wind, rain, forest, animals, and earth. all passion, hatred, and delusion die out and the soul is Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country in southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to to the south, and Thailand to the west. The climate is characterized by three distinct end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our seasons. The rainy season of the southwest monsoon extends from June to November. It level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to is followed by a short, cool, dry period from November to January, which then develops come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. into a hot, dry season from February to May. Average daytime temperatures generally range from 77 to 86 degrees, but can drop to 50 degrees in the mountainous areas in the Promising Futures, Plan International USA Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 north. Generally, monsoons occur at the same time across the country, although that time 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org may vary significantly from one year to the next. A Brief History Early childhood education and The Lao people migrated into Laos from southern development China from the eighth century AD onward. In the Plan works closely with government education services 14th century, the first Laotian state was founded, to support early childhood education, including helping the Lan Xang kingdom, which ruled Laos until it communities to improve preschools; training preschool split into three separate kingdoms in 1713. During teachers in stimulating and enjoyable teaching methods; the 18th century the three kingdoms came under provision of books, educational and play materials, Siamese (Thai) rule, and then in 1893 became a French desks, and equipment; curriculum development for protectorate, incorporated into the union of Indochina. a short in-service course for preschool teachers; and France granted semiautonomy in 1949 and full increasing awareness among key decision-makers at independence within the French Union in 1950. In the the national level of the importance of early childhood following decades, several civil wars and revolutionary education. movements prevented the country from achieving Health and nutrition Ethnic Diversity any sense of real stability. In 1975, the Pathet Lao, a Basic education and child protection Communist independence movement, seized complete Plan is working on designing long-term programs that Half of the population is made up of Lao, while a power. Since then other parties and political groups Plan works to ensure that primary schoolchildren include strengthening the capacity of government number of other ethnic groups make up the rest. have been moribund and most of their leaders have fled develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors to develop officials and village trainers to conduct village-level These include a mixture of groups known as Lao Thai, the country. The monarchy was abolished on December to their full potential in safe and stimulating schools nutrition training; providing materials on basic nutrition Lao Theung, and the Lao Sung. There are also large 2, 1975, when the Pathet Lao ousted a coalition by training teachers on positive discipline alternatives to government and communities; and supporting Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, and Khmer communities. government and King Sisavang Vatthana abdicated. to physical or emotional punishment; providing school parents and caregivers in strengthening their materials, teaching aids, and classroom equipments knowledge on nutrition and how to prepare healthier Language The Supreme People’s Assembly in August 1991 and furniture; providing scholarships to enable the food for children. adopted a new constitution that dropped all references Lao (Laotian) is the official language of Laos. It is a tonal poorest children to enter and complete education, to socialism but retained the one-party state. In addition language of the Tai family, and is closely related to the especially girls and children from ethnic groups; training Economic Security to implementing market-oriented policies, the country Isan language of the northeast region of Thailand. The school and village committees on child protection; and has passed laws governing property, inheritance, and About 75 percent of the population live in rural, writing system of Lao is composed of signs denoting improving school water, sanitation, and hygiene. contracts. In the February 2002 parliamentary elections, isolated, mountainous villages. Villages are small consonants with an inherent following vowel and is 165 out of 166 candidates were members of the and widely scattered. Many are only accessible by closely related to the writing system used in Thai. It is governing Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. In 2006, Water, sanitation, and hygiene canoe or by hours or days of walking. Small-scale, very likely that you will encounter a language barrier Choummaly Sayasone became party secretary-general Plan’s activities in this area include strengthening near-subsistence agriculture is the primary source of in communicating with your sponsored child, as the and president of Laos. First Deputy Prime Minister communities’ capacity to improve their own health livelihood for most of the population, supplemented majority of the children do not know enough English to Bouasone Bouphavanh became prime minister. situation through community-managed improvements by livestock rearing, fishing, and collection of non- write a letter. Those who cannot write will be assigned to the sanitation, hygiene, and water conditions; timber forest products. Full- or part-time employment community workers and volunteers who will explain Plan’s work in Laos covers four core fostering empowerment of women and girls, especially in other sectors is growing (e.g., handicraft production), your letters and help the children compose their areas, all of which are rooted in the with regard to decision-making about water, sanitation, as is labor on the “modern” rural enterprises of dam responses. construction, plantations, and mines. Laos is a major rights of the child: and hygiene; and strengthening the capacity of provincial and district government to meet their exporter of migrant labor, primarily to Thailand, and Holidays Early childhood education and development obligations to ensure safe water and sanitation. there is also seasonal labor migration to the towns Basic education and child protection within Laos itself. Holidays are very important to your sponsored child Water, sanitation, and hygiene and family. The most important ones have religious Health and nutrition significance: .
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