Laos

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.