We did it! You raised enough money to build our xkcd school in Laos

Posted by Alexis Ohanian on

We couldn't have done it without you. We aimed to raise $32,000 for Room To Read to construct The Kengthan Incomplete Primary School in Laos (don't be troubled about the 'incomplete' part, that's just a tricky translation from Lao to describe the education level - it's going to be 100% complete when it's built). It wouldn't be very helpful if we built a school that, for instance, were missing two walls.

Our fundraising events in New York and Silicon Valley alone brought in over $30,000 in generous donations from attendees, but we were pushed [well] over the top through book sales (all of our publisher profits are being donated to Room To Read). So even if you couldn't attend, you helped by buying a book, and even if you didn't buy a book, you helped by spreading the word, and if you didn't do any of those things, that's OK, too.

You can live vicariously through some of our event photos here.

We'll be looking for help to write the dedication plaque to be placed in the completed school next week, but in the meantime, we thought we'd share some photos from Laos. If you're ever in the neighborhood, the xkcd school is in Salavan Province on Road No. 13 South. (Breadpig will be doing a site inspection next year once construction is complete).


Here is their current school.
 

Those aren't skylights. The holes in the roof make rainy season rather challenging.
And here's the xkcd school - already under construction!
 

So far so good.
 
It's still missing a dedication plaque, but it won't be much longer...

34 comments


  • […] tour shortly after the release of xkcd: volume 0 that raised enough money to build breadpig’s xkcd school in Laos. And we’re grateful to all of you who showed up to support xkcd and this […]

    Meet Randall and grab a signed copy of xkcd: volume 0 in Cambridge, MA on 17 Dec | the breadpig blog on

  • […] xkcd blag, Randall chose the following dedication to be inscribed on the plaque at the entrance of the xkcd school in Laos; we think it turned out quite […]

    Project Update: The xkcd school in Laos is nearing completion! | the breadpig blog on

  • school looks nice. great for the kids.

    angkasuwan on

  • Like you weren't going to hug something from Randall tight anyway :)

    Cameron on

  • Thats what SHE said

    me! on

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