In the long run, our vision is that books will be an important part of Lao culture, parents will have enough income to buy books for their children, and a company like Big Brother Mouse can be self-sustaining. Right now, when the average annual income in Laos is about $350-$500 U.S. per year, we cannot make books widely available without help.

The best way to donate depends on your location and your needs. American and Australian taxpayers can donate through tax-exempt organizations.

$250-$400 U.S. will sponsor a mini-library and book party.

We'll go to a rural village, talk about books, and give 50 to 300 children the first book they've ever owned. Then we'll leave another 50 books in a supervised "swap box" so they can trade their book for a different one after they read it. (Donate whatever amount in this range is right for you; it costs us less to go to smaller and closer villages than those that are larger or more distant.) See what happens at a book party!

$1,000-$3,500 U.S. will sponsor a new book.

Each new book costs about $1,800-$6,000 U.S., but we can pay some of that from sales. A sponsorship of just $1,000-$3,500 U.S. is all that's needed to bring a new book into Laos. Books that need sponsors.

How to donate

By credit card (U.S.A.): Donations can be made to the Laos Literacy Project, a non-profit, tax-exempt (501-c-3) organization. For American taxpayers, they are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

To donate: Please go the Wainwright Bank Community Room. Click to "View All Non-Profits" (button on left), and select Laos Literacy Project. Then click the button on right to "Give to this non-profit." Only credit cards registered to a U.S. address can be processed, but credit cards from other countries can be used on the Global Development Group site, below.

The Laos Literacy Project was created to provide support for Big Brother Mouse and our work in Laos. It is volunteer-staffed, and Wainwright Bank in Boston receives and processes credit-card donations at no charge, as a community service. The small overhead costs of the organization are paid by the founders; all of your donation, except for the standard fee taken by credit card companies, will go to Big Brother Mouse in Laos.

By check (US dollars): Donations can also be made by check to the Laos Literacy Project. For American taxpayers, they are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

To donate: Checks may be sent to:
        Laos Literacy Project
        10 Tremont St., Suite 200
        Boston, MA 02108
        United States
Please enclose your name, address, and email address if available, and make checks payable to Laos Literacy Project.

By credit card (from any country): You can donate securely online through Global Development Group's website. All donations over $2 to this approved aid and development project are tax deductible** in both Australia and the USA.

To donate: Please use one of the links below:
        Donate specifically for a book party
        Donate specifically for a book sponsorship
        Make a general donation

GDG regularly transfers donations to us, in Laos, but we do not receive donor names or contact information. If you donate through GDG for a specific purpose, such as a book party, or to sponsor a book, please email to us a copy of the receipt that GDG emails to you, so we can properly credit you. If you are visiting and would like to attend a book party, please also give your travel dates when you send the receipt. Thank you.

The Global Development Group, (ABN 57 102 400 993), is an Australian Non Government Organisation [NGO]. It partners with humanitarian projects such as Big Brother Mouse to assisting in the areas of planning, monitoring, evaluating and auditing, to ensure that the projects are carried out to Australian requirements. Tax deductible receipts for donations to this approved aid and development project will be issued by Global Development Group for Project J557P Big Brother Mouse.

By bank transfer: Donations can be made by bank transfer directly to Big Brother Mouse in Laos. Because of the bank fees involved (which vary by bank and by country), this is usually best when you are donating more than $1,200, and you will not benefit from U.S. or Australian tax deductions.

To donate: Here is the information your bank will need:
    Beneficiary Bank:
      Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao
      No.1 Pangkham St., Vientiane Lao PDR.
      *(P.O. Box 2925)
      Account no: 050-9-12-01-02705
      Swift code: COEBLALA
      *Bank Tel: (856 21) 213200, 213201, 223243, Fax: (856 21) 213202
      *Email:bcelhovt@etllao.com
    Recipient's Name:
      Big Brother Mouse
      Ban Vat Nong, Luang Prabang Province
      *(856) 71 254-937
    (*Asterisked items are not are not normally requested or needed, but requirements sometimes vary by bank or country.)