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KEC Founder
The Full Story
My name is Chao Yang, and I am the proud founder of the Kailor Education Development Center. My journey began in 1984 when I was born into a humble Hmong family in the remote area of "BOUA MOUK," near Luang Prabang. As the youngest of five children in a poor single-parent household, I faced numerous challenges from an early age, especially after my father's passing when I was just three years old.
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in 1990, I embarked on my educational path, which required a daily trek of at least two hours each way through mountains, rivers, and valleys to reach school. On occasions, my mother accompanied me, waiting outside the classroom while sewing until the day's lessons concluded at 4 p.m. Our return home was often in darkness, arriving when our neighbors had already retired for the night.
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Most days, however, I made the journey alone, as my mother had other responsibilities. The solitude between home and school was daunting, and I frequently found myself rushing out of class at the end of the day, eager to get a head start on the long walk back. The uphill stretches slowed me down, and it was not uncommon for me to shed tears along the way.
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After two years, the decision was made to send me to a school closer to Luang Prabang, despite the six-hour walk required to get there, as there were no roads at that time. This meant I would only see my family once every nine months. I stayed with a cousin in the city, where my mornings began at 4 AM, preparing breakfast by firelight and studying my lessons in its glow, longing for home.
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Beyond regular school hours, I spent my evenings at the night market, seizing the opportunity to practice English with foreigners while helping local children sell their products—not for payment, but for the chance to learn. These sessions often kept me out until midnight.
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In 2000, I completed high school and gained acceptance to the faculty of agriculture and forest at the National University of Laos. Tragically, this dream was cut short by my mother's death, leaving me financially unable to pursue further education. I worked as a tour guide, where my limited English skills became apparent, fueling my desire to learn more. In 2006, fortune smiled upon me when two foreign trekkers offered to sponsor my studies at the Lao-American College. With their generous support, I achieved a Bachelor in Business Management, graduating on 29 March 2013.
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This personal odyssey has instilled in me a deep understanding of the transformative power of education, leading me to establish the Kailor Education Development Center, where I hope to give back to the community and pave the way for others to follow in my footsteps.
Founding Story
My journey as a founder began humbly, with a simple yet profound question posed to the thousands of visitors I encountered in Luang Prabang as a limited English-speaking guide: "I want to go to school, how can I do this?" It was mid-2006 when a couple's response changed everything: "We would like to send you to school."
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By late 2006, I found myself stepping through the doors of the Lao-American College in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. Seven years later, armed with a Bachelor of Business Management obtained in 2013, I returned home to fulfill a lifelong dream—teaching English to children in my small village in Luang Prabang.
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I had always harbored the dream that one day a Hmong person would establish a school where I could teach. If such a school did not come into existence, then I was determined to create it myself. That dream has now been realized.
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The vision for what would become the Kailor Education Development Center first took root in Luang Prabang on November 1, 2013. Confronted with resource limitations, my father-in-law—a venerable 88-year-old former soldier who served during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1973 and lost a finger in battle—generously donated a 7,000 square meter plot of land in Xieng Khouang for the learning center. This region, though impoverished, is developing and increasingly attracting tourists due to its proximity to the Plain of Jars World Heritage Site.
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Starting from scratch, I have since completed the construction of the building and acquired essential furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, a whiteboard, computers, projectors, an LCD/DVD player, a printer, and a copy machine. The Learning Center is now officially open, standing as a testament to the belief that education can flourish even from the most modest beginnings.
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I hold a fundamental belief that there will come a day within our lifetimes when every child will have access to quality education. Until that day arrives, we at the Kailor Education Development Center will continue to work tirelessly, breaking down today's barriers to unlock the potential of tomorrow.
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Xieng Khouang
Xieng Khouang, a province graced with the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an area of profound historical significance and natural beauty. Situated on a tranquil plain in the northern highlands of Laos at an altitude of 1,100 meters, it is encircled by densely forested hills and mountains. These highlands are dotted with numerous ethnic Hmong villages, adding to the region's rich cultural tapestry.
The province is renowned for its enigmatic stone funerary jars, which date back over 2,500 years. These ancient artifacts continue to mystify archaeologists and visitors alike, contributing to Xieng Khouang's allure as a destination steeped in history and legend.
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However, Xieng Khouang also bears a more somber distinction: it is recognized as the most heavily bombed location on the planet. During the Vietnam War, from 1964 to 1973, the U.S. military executed an intensive bombing campaign over Laos, particularly targeting Xieng Khouang. This relentless assault was aimed at disrupting the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a critical supply route that provided support to the Viet Cong and the People’s Army of Vietnam. The sheer scale of the bombardment was unprecedented, with ordnance raining down every 8 minutes, day and night, for nine consecutive years.
Lao PDR
Laos, known officially as the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is classified by the United Nations as one of the 49 'Least Developed' countries, sharing this designation with nations such as Angola, Yemen, and Haiti. As the least developed country in Southeast Asia, Laos faces significant challenges on its path to development.
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During the Vietnam War, from 1964 to 1973, Laos was heavily bombed by the U.S., with more than two million tons of ordnance dropped over the country. This equates to a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years. The majority of these were cluster bombs, and it is estimated that out of the 260 million "bombies" that were deployed, about 80 million failed to detonate. These unexploded ordnances (UXOs) continue to affect 25% of villages in Laos, posing a grave threat to the population and hindering development. The map showing the coordinates of bombing runs in Khammouane Province illustrates the extent of this bombardment.
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The presence of UXOs has been a significant factor in perpetuating poverty in Laos, limiting the use of land and access to essential services. Poverty has driven some villagers to engage in the dangerous scrap metal trade, using rudimentary detectors to search for metal, which sometimes turns out to be unexploded bombs. Since 1964, UXO accidents have resulted in over 50,000 casualties.
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Historically, Laos emerged as the Lan Xang Kingdom in the 14th century and became a regional power. Despite periods of independence, it often paid tribute to more powerful neighbors like the Siamese (Thais) and Vietnamese. In 1893, Laos became a French colony, administered from colonial Vietnam. Its geography inevitably drew it into the Vietnam War, leading to a civil war that concluded with the declaration of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975. Following years of isolation, Laos began implementing economic reforms in the 1990s.
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With a population of 7 million spread across an area of 236,800 sq km, Laos is the least densely populated country in Southeast Asia. Approximately 80% of its terrain is mountainous, and it is home to over 100 ethnic groups. The Mekong River plain predominantly houses the lowland ethnic Lao, who form the majority, while the Khmu (10%) and Hmong (9%) are the primary minority groups residing in the mountains.
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Agriculture is a mainstay for about 70% of the Lao population, contributing around 30% of the GDP. More than 75% of Laotians live on less than US$2 a day, with a total GDP per capita of US$2300. Major exports include power, timber products, minerals, garments, and coffee. Tourism has grown as a key source of foreign income, and hydropower is set to become even more crucial, with Laos expected to supply 10% of Southeast Asia's power by 2025. The operation of the Lao-China railway since December 2, 2021, marks a historic transition from a landlocked to a land-linked nation.
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In 2016, Laos chaired ASEAN and hosted a visit from President Obama, the first sitting U.S. President to do so, who pledged $90M towards UXO clearance. Recently, Laos entered a new pan-Asian trading zone, creating promising opportunities for those with business and English language skills—areas of focus for the Kailor Education Development Center.
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Transforming Lao PDR from a land-locked to a land-linked economy, the Lao China railway construction began on December 25, 2016, and was completed and opened on December 3, 2021. This railway is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and supports Laos’ plan to become a land link within the region. The 422.4 km railway runs from the Chinese border in Boten to Vientiane, marking a significant development for the country.
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