Sili Manotham Hansana, Donkoi School, Laos
Xuyen Dangers first met Sili when he was nine years old and in grade four in the Donkoi primary school. Soon after, he joined the afterschool activity programs at Donkoi Children Development Center (DCDC). He loved dancing and would dance whenever he could find an opportunity to do so. Nearby children would try to follow him. Sili soon became a dance teacher for anyone whether younger or older. He was a very confident young dancer and he applied in an entrance exam for the Lao National Dance and Music School. He studied there for seven years, majoring in Lao classical dance.
Xuyen Dangers first met Sili when he was nine years old and in grade four in the Donkoi primary school. Soon after, he joined the afterschool activity programs at Donkoi Children Development Center (DCDC). He loved dancing and would dance whenever he could find an opportunity to do so. Nearby children would try to follow him. Sili soon became a dance teacher for anyone whether younger or older. He was a very confident young dancer and he applied in an entrance exam for the Lao National Dance and Music School. He studied there for seven years, majoring in Lao classical dance.
Sili used to bike straight from his dance school to DCDC to ‘play’ with little children and perform on the dance and drama stage. He would choreograph with any students around him and start directing what he just learned from his own school. Similarly, Sili was very clever in creating new and interesting activities for the students of DCDC like the children’s circus, mask plays, and storytelling. Xuyen was so impressed by Sili’s genius mind and leadership talent that whatever material, whether paints, costumes, masks or anything else required by him, was made available to him.
With exposures in theatre and his other interests, Xuyen thought Sili would like to go to theater or acting to fulfill his dream. But on the way back from a trip to the Philippines, Xuyen asked Sili what he would like to be if he got a chance to go further for his studies and career. Sili answered with no hesitation, “I want to be a social worker!” Voila!
He then was encouraged to apply to take the entrance exam for the Bachelor Degree in Sociology and Social Development (BSSD) at the National University of Laos where Xuyen is the Advisor in Social work. Sili attends school in the evening after finishing his full-time job at the DCDC, beginning November 2006.
Sili is resourceful and adapts himself well to any situation. Sometimes when the teacher does not show up, he will take over the class and start teaching English, which he knows much better than his fellow students. Sili has been unanimously elected as the leader of his class. The students are amazed at his knowledge and experiences, which Sili thankfully attributes it to his development in DCDC for several years.
The latest production at the Donkoi DCDC Little Theatre is an Anti- Human Trafficking drama by 20 artists age 12 to 14. Sili is responsible for this wonderful play. We took the Anti -Trafficking show to the UN and International NGO meeting held in September 2006. Again, the show was a hit. It made the Vice President and other participants cry.
Sili is also nurturing a Lao classical musical band of fifteen young Donkoi musician students who are following in his footsteps to study at The National Dance and Music school. They practice at his home once a week under the tree.
At 3:00 p.m. every day if you come to Donkoi School, you will see Sili acting like the principal of the school. He speaks, children listen. He directs and dancers/actors follow! He has charisma and is liked by everyone around him. He is humble and polite and easy to get along with. Sili teaches basic yoga and meditation to children. He teaches basic music, basic acting techniques, drawing, costumes, and mask making.
Sili is determined to finish his Bachelor degree majoring in social work and work with people in need using art, theatre, music, meditation, yoga, and all sorts of creative tools.
Supporting Sili is supporting Laos! He will inspire many more young Laotians. Laos needs a lot of young role models like Sili who is now only 22 years old. Donkoi Village and Donkoi Children Development Center are proud of Sili and so is Global Ministries!
More about this project: 
After School Programs
Edited from story by Xuyen Dangers: Office of Resource Development
Global Ministries
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Tel: (317) 713-2555
Fax: (317) 635-4323
Email: gifts@dom.disciples.org
April 2008