January 05, 2026 Visit to a Monastic School

At the beginning of January, Tarek Mamisch visited a monastic school in Luang Prabang Province as part of his journey through Asia. The temple is located around 15 kilometers north of the city and is home to approximately 200 young novices aged between 8 and 16. Many of them come from remote mountain regions and belong to ethnic minority groups.

Monastic schools have a long tradition in Laos. For many children, entering a temple is less a religious decision than a means of accessing shelter, regular meals, and basic education, often the only opportunity to attend school at all.

During the visit, Tarek was able to gain a personal impression of the novices’ daily lives. Living and learning conditions are very modest, yet a strong sense of discipline, solidarity and respectful interaction is clearly evident. For the children, the temple is not only a place of faith, but also a home and an important space of protection.

Together with a long-standing friend and local contact, various areas of the temple complex were visited. The purpose of the visit was to gain first-hand insight into the structures, daily routines and needs of the monastic school.

Such visits are an essential part of our work. They help us better understand local conditions and enable us to make future decisions on a realistic and well-informed basis.