Laos

Save the Children is launching a child-focused €4.5 million regional initiative funded by the European Union to save lives ahead of climate-fueled emergencies in Southeast Asia. Working with partners and governments, the programme will help communities, schools, and local authorities across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam turn early warnings into early action, protecting children and families before floods, storms, and other extreme weather events become disasters.

In 2022, Save the Children Laos and World Mosquito Program (WMP) launched its initiative in the capital city of Vientiane to combat the growing threat of mosquito-borne diseases. Phase 1 of the project, which covered the Saysettha and Chantabouly districts, was successfully completed in August 2023. Following this success, Phase 2A expanded coverage to include the districts of Sisattanak, Sikhottabong, Hatxayfong, Naxaythong and Xaythany, concluding in January 2026.Now entering Phase 2B, the project is scaling up significantly to cover approximately 37 km² across all nine districts of Vientiane Capital, alongside 25 km² across Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet, and Champasak provinces. This expansion will bring WMP’s protective, self-sustaining Wolbachia method to more than 1.2 million people.

Early results from the programme's first school year have been highly encouraging. Of the 800 vulnerable girls supported through FLIP, only one student dropped out of school during the 2025–2026 academic year, highlighting the project's success in helping girls remain in education during a critical stage of their learning journey.Funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the System Transformation Grant (STG), FLIP is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), with Save the Children International serving as Grant Agent. The project provides scholarships to 800 vulnerable girls across five provinces and nine districts, alongside summer camps and Girls' Clubs that support literacy, numeracy, health, and wellbeing.

“This training has helped me better understand how to engage with communities in a more meaningful and empathetic way. I now feel more confident applying these approaches to support marginalized families in my district.” — Participant from Nambak District

In the rugged highlands of Northern Laos, a rural health center serves as a vital lifeline for over ten surrounding villages. Despite the increasing intensity of climate change where storms have weathered its roof and aging structure, the spirit of service within these walls remains unshaken.

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } In a rural community in Luang Prabang, 11-year-old Sone*, a Grade 5 student, faced challenges at home including economic hardship and an unstable environment, which disrupted her education when she had to move to another district to live with relatives, putting her at risk of falling behind in school.

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } Kongseng is a staff member in the Child Protection and Counselling sector at the Provincial Lao Women’s Union (LWU) in Luang Prabang. In her role, she works closely with communities to raise awareness about child protection and to support children and women who may be at risk of abuse.

During our recent visit to Sekong Province, we were struck by an unsettling sight: dense haze covering the hills in early April, a time when the air should be clear. Even brief exposure outdoors made our breathing uncomfortable. Back in Vientiane, the morning air felt similarly heavy, and what used to be a refreshing walk became a struggle. These are warning signs of a growing threat to public health. Communities need better communication about how polluted air affects their health.

Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR – 27 March 2026, The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony for the “Building Climate-Adaptive Livelihoods and Resilience for Vulnerable Children, Families, and their Communities in Luang Prabang Province” was successfully held on 27 March 2026 at Sanakeo Boutique, Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR.

Nout* is a 14-year-old girl from a rural village in Salavan Province in Laos who dreams of becoming a doctor so she can help people in her community stay healthy. She is the only child in her family still able to attend school; her older brother had to leave his studies early to work and support the household. Her parents rely heavily on farming to make a living.

Louny is a 47-year-old woman from Kern Tai village in Vientiane District, a mother of two, and a staff member at the Women with Disability Association. Living with a physical disability since early childhood, her life has been shaped by resilience and a strong determination to ensure that people with disabilities are not only included but recognized as leaders within their communities.

Over two productive days from 2–3 March 2026, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), in partnership with Save the Children International in Laos, convened the Foundational Learning Improvement Project (FLIP) Biannual Review and Next 6-Month Planning Meeting in Salavan Province the review was included the field visit to target schools. The project is funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the System Transformation Grant (STG) and is being implemented in 12 target districts across 5 provinces to strengthen foundational learning for children in disadvantaged communities.

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } On 30 January 2026, Lao Safe School Project officially concluded with a close‑out ceremony that brought together government representatives, development partners, project staff, and key stakeholders to celebrate achievements and reflect on lessons learned. The event highlighted the project’s significant contributions to strengthening safe, inclusive, and resilient learning environments for children across Lao PDR.

At 64 years old, Mr. Thitchanpheng, a retired teacher living with a disability in Sibounheuang village, Nan District, has spent his life serving his community. Despite living with kyphosis since infancy, he dedicated nearly 30 years to teaching before retiring in 2019. Today, he lives with his children and grandchildren, supporting his family by farming rice—work that is physically demanding but essential for their food and income.