Project Update: The xkcd school in Laos is nearing completion!

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After selling out (yay!) of the xkcd book, we had some printing delays over the last few weeks (sorry!) that have held up shipping for some of you. All books should have now been shipped, but if something seems very wrong, please forward your invoice to us.

After getting your feedback on the 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 well:

“Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” – Plato.

This school is a gift from the readers of XKCD, an internet comic strip. The world is full of exciting things to discover. We hope you find some of them.

Here are the latest photos from the school's construction, it's coming along quite nicely. Breadpig is hoping to visit in January.
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12 comments


  • […] since raising $32,000 from the fundraiser book tour, we’ve been keeping you abreast of construction as it’s progressed. And now it’s […]

    The xkcd school in Laos is complete! Rejoice! | the breadpig blog on

  • Well, breadpig doesn't know a thing about construction :) let alone in tropical locations. But! Room To Read is leading the actual construction work, which they've done in other similar locales, working with local experts.

    So, while I can't answer this, I am confident the people who are responsible for building the school have considered this and are building with this in mind.

    Take a gander at the places where they've already built schools/reading rooms over the last few years: http://www.roomtoread.org/Page.aspx?pid=433

    And do stay tuned on this blog for more updates as the xkcd school nears completion and begins taking students.

    Alexis Ohanian on

  • It's much appreciated! In fact, there's more good news on the way. And breadpig is aiming to visit the xkcd schoolchildren by mid 2010.

    Alexis Ohanian on

  • I concur! Xkcd readers have no idea just how much they rock (more details about that to come in the next week)

    Alexis Ohanian on

  • A question of logistics….


    I'm from the Philippines. Usually schools in tropical locations have an open plan (much like the old school, that had a space between the top of the wall and the bottom of the roof and much larger doors and windows) in order to let in the most sunlight and thus cut down on energy bills. Moreover, in the hot seasons, enclosed buildings get stupidly hot, but a/c is usually pretty expensive.


    ….So that wasn't really a question. The question is this: what are you guys going to do to address all this?

    KuriousKelly on

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