Our Team
If you are having a conference or panel discussion in Lao PDR, or would just like to find out more information about the work we do at the project, please contact us at team@saelaoproject.com to ask for a member of our team to come and talk to your University or organisation.
Topics we can cover:
- Education – English teaching in Lao
- Natural building
- Permaculture
- Organic farming
- Closed loop system design
- Employment
- The SAE LAO project
Coordinator Team
Memai Phenbanyaa
Head of our kitchen, Memai is a wonderful cook as well as helping with the garden. Working with the team she is our staff representative, assists with communicating with local authorities and is to become manager of the soap project as well. Extremely dedicated and hardworking she is an invaluable member of team.
English: Minimal
Lao: Native
Other staff and members of the SAE LAO team
Thai Bawjan
Thai is working as a kitchen assistant for the restaurant. She is learning restaurant skills with Memai as well as learning English as part of our weekly English/ Lao classes with volunteers and staff.
English: None
Lao: Native
Khantee Kunphone
Khantee, known as Mephai, is our local gardener. The oldest member of our team, she is an expert in local plants and vegetables, she works with volunteers on our organic gardens and manages the rice field and peanut field planting.
English: None
Lao: Native
Yee Lee
Yee asked to volunteer at SAE LAO to improve his language skills. Yee is still attending high school, but stays at the project and assists at weekends with the restaurant, translation and working with volunteers. It is also his job to make the sticky rice! He likes to talk to volunteers in English, French, Spanish and Chinese.
English: Excellent (Level 5 student)
Other languages: Hmong, Lao, Thai, Chinese
Binly
Previously an enthusiastic student, who was unable to enrol in the English classes, but took every opportunity to talk and learn English from volunteers (as well as Chinese from Yee Lee). He has now joined SAE LAO to assist Claire with the education programme.
English: Excellent
Lao: Native
Damdee (Dam) Sikaison
Dam returns to SAE LAO after a years maternity leave to be with her little girl. She is receiving training in accounting and English, with a view to becoming SAE LAO's accountant and member of the coordinator team. As previously, Dam is also assisting Memai in the kitchen and restaurant.
English: Basic
Lao: Native
Uschi Roittner
Having extended (and re-extended) her stay in order to give SAE LAO a whole new look, Uschi is another volunteer who could not leave SAE LAO entirely behind. Back home in Austria, she coordinates, updates and generally manages SAE LAO's website.
English: Excellent
German: Native
We have three boys who live on site who still currently attend school. SAE LAO pays for all their living costs and education fees. They have some chores to do but their main task is to complete their education!
Khae Sikaison
At 21 Khae is the oldest of the three boys. He is very shy but an incredibly hard worker and always willing to lend a hand. He helps in the evening cooking for the volunteers.
English: Conversational (He is very shy so getting him to talk is the challenge)
Lao: Native
Home Sikaison
At 16, Home is our resident teenager. He is always ready to laugh and makes the sticky rice in the mornings for staff, volunteers and restaurant customers.
English: Conversational
Lao: Native
Siang Noy
The youngest of the boys, is cheeky and outgoing. He helps to clean the kitchen in the evening, after the volunteer’s meal has been cooked.
English: Conversational
Lao: Native
Cafe Nom Yen
Cafe is responsible for ensuring the chickens and ducks stay off the restaurant and that the cows stay out of the garden. This is a job he does with zeal!
Dog: Fluent
English: Minimal
Lao: Minimal