Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge Co., Ltd. - Benefiting the community


	HOME LOCATION and FACILITIES The Local Area The Lodges The Resort Grounds The Garden Restaurant The Floating Restaurant Lao Sauna and Traditional Massage HOW TO GET HERE From the Airport From the Friendship Bridge From Vientiane TOURS Vientiane Tour Boat Tour to Ban Pako Boat Tour to Tha Ngon Local Schools Tour Agricultural Research Centre Tour TREKKING and CYCLING Ecolodge Trail Trek or Cycle to Local Temples Ban Na Taer Forest Trail Trekking in Phou Khao Kwai MEETING LAO CULTURE Homestays Baci Ceremonies Lao Music and Dance Alms-Giving (takbaat) Traditional Local Festivals BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY Helping the Local Community Helping Local Primary Schools Rivertime Community School Our Protected Forest Reserve ABOUT US Rivertime Management Our Mission Statement ROOM RATES RESERVATIONS CONTACT US LINKS

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BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY

Helping Local People
For many years, the resort owners have been active in the local community, contributing time and funds to the development of the local schools and temples as well as participating in general and technical training of Lao agricultural workers and teaching English to local children.

With the opening of Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge, a further expansion of our contribution to local development has been possible. Of course, the actual construction and initial development of the resort brought much needed income to local families in terms of wages and payment for construction materials and services. However, this contribution was short-term only. Long-term contributions to the local community will come from the development of sustainable programs made possible by income generated by guests of the resort. These programs are aimed initially at providing much needed material assistance to the three local primary schools as well as playing a significant role in the protection and improvement of the local environment.

Helping Local Primary Schools
There are three primary schools within walking/cycling distance of Rivertime Resort: Na Taer Primary School (across the river), Phon Thong Primary School and Ban Sam Primary School. All three schools are in terrible physical condition with inadequate and overcrowded classrooms, as well as lack of classroom furniture and toilet facilities.

Ban Na Taer Village Primary School

Rivertime guest handing our school materials to local children

Teaching and study materials are available in the city but are too expensive for most villagers and teachers to afford. Rivertime Resort is developing a sustainable program to assist basic construction and repair, fitting out and purchase of essential educational supplies for children in all three schools. In addition, Rivertime works with national organizations such as the Fund for Promoting Education, the Association for Lao Children, the Ministry of Education and Room to Read, to help promote education of disadvantaged Lao children nationwide. One effort in this regard has been our development of a series of 14 graded, illustrated English readers for Lao Primary School children and two Lao language textbooks for secondary school children which have now been distributed to schools throughout Laos.

Rivertime Community School
Rivertime Community School is located near the entrance to the resort. The school holds intensive, residential courses at various times throughout the year for small groups of Lao professional staff working in various fields relating to development, particularly agricultural and community development. These staff study General English, English for Development, English for Agriculture as well as special IELTS and TOEFL preparation courses. The courses are organized and taught by the resort owners and Lao college staff with occasional interactions with interested resort guests. The presence of these students gives resort guests the opportunity to interact with Lao people working in development who are able and eager to communicate with our guests, as well as providing Lao students with a realistic situation in which to practice their English skills. Evening classes in General English and English for Tourism are also organized for the benefit of local villagers and children, most of whom belong to the Hmong ethnic group.

Rivertime Protected Forest Reserve
The forests of Laos are under serious threat from illegal logging, hunting and encroachment. In order to preserve and protect at least some of the country’s forests and their indigenous flora and fauna, we are negotiating a concession of a large area (63 hectares) of old growth secondary forest on the other side of the river from Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge. In cooperation with the local village authorities, we have committed to protecting this area and preserving the natural forest environment for future generations. Degraded land within the concession area will be replanted with fast-growing species such as eucalyptus and bamboo. We pay a yearly fee to Ban Na Taer village committee to ensure that the area is monitored and that no illegal logging, hunting or encroachment takes place inside the protected forest area. However, guests at Rivertime may enjoy trekking on the long-established trails which wind their way deep into the protected forest.