Author: Samira Mamisch

On the 6th of January 2026, Tarek Mamisch visited Pak Seuang Primary School in Luang Prabang Province. The school is a key educational institution for children from several surrounding villages.

During the visit, it became clear that parts of the existing school buildings are severely damaged. Several classrooms have already had to be closed due to safety concerns, resulting in teaching taking place under cramped and challenging conditions.

Together with representatives of the school and our project partner Child’s Dream Association, the planned construction of a new school building with four classrooms and new sanitation facilities was outlined. The exchange focused primarily on gaining a better understanding of the project context and the specific challenges faced by the school.

The visit clearly highlights the importance of sustainable investment in educational infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where schools often have very limited resources.

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.

We are very pleased about our cooperation with Mamisch Freunde e.V., who will cover the school fees for our two students, Livyi and Socheata, at the Australian Centre for Education (ACE) in Siem Reap for the 2026 school year. This support is provided on the initiative of Omar John Mamisch and complements our own long-term, secured commitment to the girls’ education. From the following school year onward, the Tarek Mamisch Foundation will continue the funding as planned.

Mamisch Freunde e.V. is dedicated to supporting children and families in challenging life situations by providing financial assistance for school materials, clothing, recreational activities and other urgently needed support. The organisation also promotes equal opportunities, strengthens families through guidance as well as support and works closely with other initiatives.

Learn more about Mamisch Freunde e.V. here: http://www.mamisch-freunde.de

We are very grateful for this valuable partnership, because together we can achieve even more!

Together with Mr. Justin Gorsic, we were able to officially hand over this year’s Christmas gift to the supported parent-child-group of the kjhv RheinRuhr-Essen. The gift was presented during a small on-site gathering and the joy among everyone involved was clearly felt.

We were warmly welcomed at the kjhv RheinRuhr-Essen and invited to a lovingly prepared breakfast, for which we would like to express our sincere thanks. As a small personal gesture, we brought cuddly toys for the children and chocolate for the parents.

With this donation, we are enabling the families to enjoy several days in the snow, with time for relaxation, laughter and many unforgettable moments.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Justin Gorsic for the close cooperation and his great commitment to this meaningful project.

We are pleased to share an update on the construction of the Vern Khane Primary School in Laos. Thanks to the stable weather conditions in recent weeks, the work has progressed well and the structural framework of the new school building is now complete.

At this stage, approximately 60% of the project has been completed. The team from Child’s Dream Association reports smooth operations on site and strong motivation among everyone involved.

The project includes the construction of a new school building with five classrooms and four toilet facilities, providing a safe and child-friendly learning environment for the 269 children in Vern Khane.

We are grateful to our project partner, Child’s Dream Association and the local community for their dedicated efforts and look forward to following the continued progress.

A special milestone for Svay Leu: the Mamisch Primary School has officially opened its doors. After weather-related delays and the challenges of the remote location, the building is now complete and filled with the energy of the children who can finally use it.

Since autumn 2025, 22 preschool children have been attending classes each morning. In the afternoons, around 90 children from the surrounding area are expected to have the opportunity to join the English lessons. School uniforms and basic materials for the preschool children have already become part of their daily school routine.
In the future, we also plan to fund and provide a daily warm meal for all 22 preschool children.

With these first steps, a place of safety, structure and new opportunities is taking shape in Svay Leu and we’re grateful to see it grow.

Together with Justin Gorsic, we are currently planning a very special Christmas gift for the supported parent-child-group of the kjhv RheinRuhr-Essen. The idea: a weekend in the snow with trips to a large toboggan run, time spent together in nature and many unforgettable moments for the four parents and their four children.

It was Justin Gorsic who introduced us to this heartfelt project and who is closely collaborating with us on its implementation. The goal is to offer the families a few days filled with joy, togetherness and lightness, far away from everyday life and with many beautiful memories that will last.

Together with Justin Gorsic, the Tarek Mamisch Foundation will cover the costs of the trip. We are very happy to realize this project in close cooperation with Mr. Gorsic and to give the families a truly special Christmas experience.

We are delighted to support the association MENSCHENMÖGLICHES e.V. with a donation of 2000€. The occasion is the charity tournament on September 13, 2025, held in favor of the project “KummerKumpel.”

In the “KummerKumpel” initiative, young adults who have themselves experienced the loss of a parent volunteer their time to support children and teenagers going through the same. Because of their own stories, they are able to connect in a very special way – by listening, giving encouragement and simply being present when it matters most.

“KummerKumpel” is part of the work of MENSCHENMÖGLICHES e.V., an association that has been accompanying seriously ill people and their families since 2011. One of its key initiatives is “Easing Heavy Burdens from Small Shoulders,” which supports families with underage children in times of illness and grief.

We are deeply impressed by this commitment and want our donation to be a small sign of appreciation. At the same time, we hope to raise awareness for the valuable work of MENSCHENMÖGLICHES – because such projects can only thrive through support and visibility.

Construction at the Mamisch Primary School in Svay Leu is moving ahead steadily: the walls are up, and the building is visibly taking shape. It’s incredible to witness how an unfinished structure is transforming into a place of learning and community.
One special highlight over the past few weeks: we’ve designed and unveiled the school’s official logo! Soon, it will be featured on the students’ uniforms as a symbol of new beginnings, unity, and the power of education. The first versions are already on display at the school site and we can’t wait to see the students wear them with pride.
Another big step: the entrance sign has been installed and it already welcomes curious children passing by.