One Voice for LaosOne Voice for Laos
One Voice for Laos
January 11, 2014
Humanitarianism at its finest

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One Voice Global recently had a very touching thing happen. Tom Nusbaum and his family, local members of our community, lost their home and everything in it to a fire right before Christmas. One Voice Global decided to reach out to this family, to see if they wanted us to have a donation box for them at our next event. Instead of accepting the offer for themselves, the Nusbaum family asked if we could create a donation box for “The Next Family” who may need assistance. This is the type of humanitarianism that makes up One Voice Global. It is truly beautiful to see this type of care and compassion. One Voice Global does a lot for communities around the world, but we wanted to start a project that can help our own community.

Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 06:50 PM | Comments (2)

December 29, 2013
Who We Are, and What We're Doing


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In the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York lies a small town known as Woodstock. Woodstock is special because it is known for it's sense of community and desire for peace. This town is where the volunteer organization 'One Voice For Laos' was born. One Voice For Laos is an organization that is run by Evelyne Pouget, few adults, and many local teenagers. We work to raise money for Orphans in Laos, specifically at the Deak Kum Pa Orphanage. Over the past three years, we have raised over 30,000 dollars and have taken a trip to the orphanage we provide for. We are planning to make another trip to Laos this coming summer.

Recently, we have expanded to 'One Voice Global.' This past month, Evelyne Pouget, Mimi Ditkoff, and Grace Miller took a trip to Mexico. While they were there, they spent time at Casa de Los Angeles in San Miguel de Allende. Casa de Los Angeles is a nursery that cares for children, and helps the less fortunate. Additionally, Evelyne found out more about an orphanage that we are going to support, Casa Hogar. We now support these two places in Mexico and a few orphanages in Laos. In the future, we hope to be involved in many more countries.


One of our goals is to raise money in a fun and positive way. We often hold dances for teenagers, and have an annual cabaret where local musicians come and perform. This organization is so unique because it not only improves the lives of less fortunate children, but it unites the teenager community of the Hudson Valley, where Woodstock is located. We are proud to say that we have helped get the Orphans a water filtration system, scholarships for college, money for meat, new school resources, and many more wonderful things.

One Voice Global puts a lot of emphasis on creating young humanitarians and global citizens. Through team-building activities, cultural exchange, and onsite visits to orphanages we support, we help teens to blossom into service-minded adults.

Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)

November 18, 2013
Our Name Is Changing

1469872_10152082487863064_1803490742_n.jpgWe are very happy to announce that the name for our project -- One Voice for Laos -- will soon be changing to ONE VOICE GLOBAL.

The reason for this change is a simple one. Initially, all our efforts were focused on children in need from just one country, Laos. Now, our work is expanding to other countries, as well -- the first one being Mexico.

Stay tuned. More updates will be posted here soon.

If you are inspired by this project and want to volunteer, contact Evelyne Pouget: evelynepouget@hvc.rr.com

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)

January 13, 2013
Diversity Day at Onteora Middle School

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When Onteora Middle School hosted their annual Diversity Day in 2012, One Voice For Laos was there! Three One Voice For Laos members, Garland Berenzy, Rio Morales, and Anna Weissman, and Evelyne Pouget presented to middle schoolers. At this presentation, the One Voice For Laos documentary was shown and a penpal program was introduced. Onteora Middle School students will now be writing to Orphans at the Deak Kum Pa Orphanage! We just received exciting news that the Orphans will be writing back soon. Creating younger pen pals for the Orphans is such a positive action because we will now be getting even younger students interested in making a difference in the world. Here's a look at the Onteora Diversity Day. There will be a penpal update coming soon!


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Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)

January 12, 2013
Middle School Pen Pals!

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Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)

Making a Difference in The World

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Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 10:41 AM | Comments (0)

December 27, 2012
The Icing On The Cake!

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Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 04:49 PM | Comments (0)

Making A Difference

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Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)

November 12, 2012
Caleb Rudge on One Voice For Laos!

Extremely inspiring piece written by Caleb Rudge about One Voice For Laos.
Caleb is pictured here with Kum Seng, an orphan from Laos.

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One Voice for Laos has impact. Like a stone thrown into a pond, the rippling effects move out in all directions. By bringing teenagers out of their comfort zone, One Voice For Laos kindles potential within teenagers that would otherwise be lost to society's effort to convince everyone that it's good to blend in.
While teenagers are being empowered, children over 10,000 miles away reap the rewards of additional resources provided by the teenagers of One Voice For Laos. In Laos I recognized that the influence our fundraising had much more value than the dollars themselves. A smile from a healthy child is worth million bucks.


Just as the growing bodies of the orphans are being nourished, the entire community of One Voice For Laos is cultivated through compassion and humanitarianism. A generation of Orphans is given opportunities otherwise unattainable and a small yet envigorated community in the rural catskill mountains recognizes that it is part of a global economy of fellowship.

I'm in college now and I'm still perplexed by the influence One Voice For Laos has had on me. The hope and direction instilled in me while being apart of such a generous project carries me through even the toughest moments. Anyone who looks at the cover of a newspaper these days knows that its not an easy planet to exist on. The commensalistic relationships we have often taken for granted seem to be dissolving into chaos. Any youth in America knows that he or she will have a harder time living the same lifestyle as his or her parents due to the increasing pressures on decreasing resources.
One Voice For Laos has given me conviction that each and every human being is capable of leading in positive ways. I also know that no matter what my future has in store for me, there is a community of people I can rely on to help pick me up when I fall and pat me on my back when I succeed. In One Voice For Laos I have confidence, for confidence is what One Voice For Laos has given me.

Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 08:20 PM | Comments (0)

November 11, 2012
Meet KongLee and Seng Song

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KongLeeand Seng Song are young men living in Laos who have been provided with a wonderful opportunity, all because of One Voice for Laos. Evelyne Pouget and Hudson Talbott are sponsoring these talented teenagers to go to art school and to live in town outside of the orphanage.

This situation shows how One Voice for Laos has changed the lives of these orphans. A little hard work can go a long way and impact children's lives in ways that one can not imagine. I strongly encourage all of you to get involved with this project and help send more orphans to school! One Voice for Laos truly ROCKS!

Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)

October 24, 2012
Loving Laos

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The One Voice for Laos community is filled with wonderful and altruistic people. The refreshing environment surrounding this project motivated me to become involved. This project has allowed me to have fun at the events it has put on while at the same time it has made me realize that I should be doing everything I can to help people in need. I decided to become a part of the One Voice community because I've realized that it's important to look out for other people not only in your community, State, or Country, but in the world. We're all on this planet together and if we have the resources to help people like the Orphans in Laos, then we should by all means use them.

This past year has been very successful for this project. Four caring teens took a a journey to Laos this past summer that not only changed the Orphans' lives, but changed theirs. I hope that this year will be just as successful and I can assure you that we are already on a path to greatness.

I believe that anyone who can be involved in this project should take the time to learn more about it and donate any time, resources, or talent they can. Some of the best feelings in life come from taking a step back and realizing that you can make a difference in the world.

Posted by Cassandra Hastie at 06:35 PM | Comments (0)

October 03, 2011
Service Letter by Adi Baum

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All over the world, there are people struggling to get by every day. They don't have enough to eat, or clean water, or even clothes to wear.

As a teen growing up in middle-class America, we have, fortunately, never had to wonder if there would be food to eat for dinner. And we feel that with that privilege also comes a huge responsibility- a responsibility to make sure that we are not in the minority.

That's why we are writing to you today- to ask for your help. We need your help in order to own our responsibility and help those who do not have the power to help themselves or change their circumstances.

One such group of people is the 600 children of the Deak Kum Pa Orphanage in northern Laos- orphans who live on less than 15 cents a day and don't even have proper clothes to wear.

Our goal, as the One Voice for Laos project, is to raise money to aid the orphanage and help ensure their health and safety as human being and to, hopefully, travel to Laos next June to meet the kids and do some projects for the orphanage while we're there.

This is why we need your help. Right now, the expected cost to travel to Laos is around $3000 USD, and we don't all have that kind of money to go and experience these kids and what it's like to help in such a life-changing way. We are not asking for you to fund my whole trip knowing that everyone is going through hard times financially in this economic climate, but every little bit counts. A dollar is just as appreciated as one hundred. Whatever part you decide to play in this, even if it's just moral support, makes a difference.

So thank you for taking the time to read our plea for help, and we hope that you are willing to help us fulfill our responsibility to those who have less.


Thank you

Posted by Sophia Miller at 07:48 PM | Comments (0)

August 30, 2011
The One Voice for Laos Mission

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One Voice for Laos is a humanitarian aid project whose mission is to improve the quality of life for 600 children living in the Deak Kum Pa orphanage in Luang Prabang, Laos.

The goal of the project, however, goes far beyond fundraising.

The project is also about consciousness-raising -- especially the consciousness of Western teenagers -- many of whom have yet to experience the challenges facing third-world cultures and the joy that comes from selfless service.

Headquartered in New York's Hudson Valley, One Voice for Laos is a community-based project -- fueled by the inspired collaboration of many dedicated local teens, parents, and concerned citizens.

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We have five specific goals:

1. Raise money to support the 600 orphans.

2. Spark the emergence of the next generation of humanitarians.

3. Make the journey to Laos, in 2012, for two weeks of hands on service at the orphanage and neighboring village

4. Create a documentary film -- produced by Hudson Valley teenagers -- that will communicate the heart and soul of the experience.

5. Establish a model for how small communities can go beyond "business as usual" and make a profound difference in the world.

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:52 PM | Comments (0)

One Voice Global is a humanitarian aide organization, based in Woodstock. Our mission is to help Hudson Valley teenagers develop the kind of mindset, skills, and abilities they need to become compassionate humanitarians, social activists and global citizens. We accomplish our goal by improving the lives of orphans and other children in need through fundraising projects, cultural exchange, and onsite service visits to the organizations we serve.

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