Indigo Threads

Indigo Threads is a small, U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to providing educational support and promoting rural village development in Laos. Founded in 2005 by Mary D. Meyer, the organization focuses on creating and enhancing educational opportunities for impoverished children in rural areas of Laos.

Mission

Indigo Threads aims to support the development and education of rural children, particularly in Champasak Province, Southern Laos. The organization believes that education is a gift that lasts forever, and it strives to provide essential resources to students and schools in need.

Activities and Programs

Indigo Threads is involved in several initiatives to support rural education:

• Student Support: The organization provides students with uniforms, textbooks, school supplies, and bicycles to facilitate their education.
• School Lunch Program: It offers a unique school lunch program designed to combat hunger and malnutrition, serving healthy meals to approximately 1,750 students weekly.
• School Infrastructure: Indigo Threads has constructed schools, including the donation of a three-classroom school building in 2007, followed by another in 2008. The organization ensures clean water and proper sanitation facilities are available in these educational settings.
• Teacher Training and Resources: It supports teachers by providing them with teaching aids and scholarships for further education. This includes funding for new teachers to join the Lao Ministry of Education.
• Literacy and Recreation: Promoting reading through a Reading/Recreation Program, which includes hundreds of children's books and interactive materials.
• Village Support: Indigo Threads also assists villages by repairing community wells, distributing emergency rice, providing health care, medicine, clothing, and addressing life emergencies.

Collaboration and Impact

The organization collaborates closely with District Education Departments, teachers, and local village leaders to assess needs and monitor its programs effectively. Through these collaborative efforts, Indigo Threads seeks to enhance the dignity and quality of life for the Laotian people by addressing basic survival needs and promoting educational opportunities.