Opened in June 2005, the Children’s Education Development Centre aims to be a centre for children to enjoy creative activities during their free time, a centre for promoting Lao arts and culture to children, a centre for child drug prevention and a centre for training and upgrading knowledge and teaching methods of teachers. A co-operative project of the Vientiane Prefectural (City) Service of Education and the Association for Sending Picture Books to Lao Children (ASPB), funded by grant assistance from the government and people of Japan, it offers book reading, writing and drawing, dancing, singing, Lao traditional music and international music, handicraft activities (ceramics, bamboo, knitting, toymaking), environment development activities and English language courses. The Centre is currently seeking additional funds for equipment. The Centre includes a library of some 4,681 books, including English and Japanese titles, Lao comic books and other general titles.