WIG Bazaar rolls around again
WIG Bazaar rolls around again
It's that time of year again; the month of November means it's time for the WIG Bazaar, which this year will be held at the National University of Laos' Faculty of Engineering on November 23.
The WIG Bazaar is organised by the Women's International Group (WIG), established by expatriate women working in Laos in the 1990's to raise funds for education and health assistance in Laos.
Each year, the WIG Bazaar attracts crowds of up to 10,000 or more, raising money for projects across Laos through a range of festive activities including over 200 creative and independent vending stalls, children's activities and entertainment.
Women's International Group held a press conference at the Lao Journalist's Association (LJA) in Vientiane yesterday to announce this year's event, attended by LJA Vice President, Mr Somsanouk Mixay along with representatives from different media organsiations.
Ms Anke Abken, the current president of the WIG, outlined what visitors might expect to find on offer, including the popular secondhand clothes stalls, as well as food, drink and product stalls from amo ng the local businesses.
They will also be entertained by unique performers and live music acts and be able to sample a range of delectable international food and drink, she said.
There also will be special guest performances by Lao superstars Aluna and Pull-T club, supported by Beeline and Planet internet, which will cover the event with free 4G WiFi, Ms Anke added.
Leading up to the event and on the day WIG will be selling raffle tickets to go into the draw to win a range of prizes including a Honda or KOLAO motorbike, a Lao Airlines flight, restaurant, spa and hotel vouchers and much, much more.
All funds raised from the sale of raffle tickets will go directly towards WIG's health and education projects.
“The focus of our projects is on small-scale projects that have an immediate and lasting impact on the Lao community especially the poor and vulnerable population, mainly focused on health and education” said WIG's welfare activities coordinator, Ms Nami Ishihara.
“We started the activities in the late 1990s and have helped hundreds of Lao patients receive life-changing surgery over the years,” said Ms Ishihara.
This year WIG helped a total of nearly 400 patients to receive treatment and surgery, she said. “We also have relationships with various schools in Vientiane through these projects,” Ms Ishihara noted.
During the last five years, WIG has funded a total of 23 projects in 16 different schools. So far this year, WIG has funded the construction and rehabilitation of three schools and provided furniture for another two different schools in Vientiane, she added.
The annual WIG Bazaar is supported by generous sponsors including Beeline, LXML MMG, Land Rover, Phu Bia Mining, Ford, Beer Laos, DK Lao, KOLAO and Honda.
vientiane times
