Under the federal Government’s Building Education Revolution, lots of Australian schools now have wonderful new facilities, and more are on the way. But it seems that the average school hall costs around $900,000. In Laos, we can build 100 schools for the same investment.

Are you happy with the way the world is? Most people will say “yes, and no.”

Yes, we like some things – friends, family (hopefully!), lovers, the beach, music – all sorts of things are good, and we respond accordingly. But most people are also aware that we need to change things: the Murray-Darling Basin, excess CO2 in the atmosphere, violence against women, child prostitution, prostate cancer to name a few.

How about education? In Australia there is much debate over the new national curriculum, and how to fund state and private schools more equitably, but in reality, all our schools are pretty good. At least they have a roof and walls, solid floor and a desk for every child, even if a laptop for every child is still a way off!

In Laos, things are a little different, with many schools in the more remote districts not enjoying the most basic things we take for granted. Maybe they don’t even have a roof. Yet they do have great teachers and every child is a really keen student. We can help join the dots in this obvious puzzle, for very little money.

Education is an investment in global development – not necessarily (just) economic development, but personal development – the sort of stuff the economists struggle to squeeze under the GDP tape measure. Global peace, happiness and long term security – for all members of our human race – is dependent upon education.

You can help in a small but very meaningful way. Click here to see how a few dollars can buy all the roofing nails for a whole school, or maybe you can buy all the timber for one wall. Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something….