ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາ #AustraliaAwards, ທ່ານນາງ ແສງທິດາ ສີວິໄລ ໄດ້ຮຽນຈົບຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ Murdoch ໃນປີ 2022, ປະລິນຍາໂທດ້ານການຄຸ້ມຄອງຊັບພະຍາກອນມະນຸດ. ໂຄງການຂອງທ່ານນາງ ແສງທິດາ ຈະຕິດຕັ້ງພະລັງງານໄຟຟ້າ ຈາກແສງອາທິດ ຢູ່ ໂຮງໝໍນ້ອຍ ບ້ານພົ່ງ ແຂວງ ສາລະວັນ. ການຕິດຕັ້ງນີ້ຈະສາມາດຊ່ວຍປັບປຸງການເຂົ້າເຖິງການປິ່ນປົວສຸຂະພາບ, ຫຼຸດຜ່ອນຄວາມສ່ຽງໃນການເກີດອຸບັດຕິເຫດ, ແລະ ປັບປຸງຄຸນນະພາບການບໍລິການ.

“ໂຄງການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີຊື່ວ່າ “ພະລັງງານແສງຕາເວັນເພື່ອສຸຂະພາບ: ອານາຄົດສົດໃສດ້ວຍພະລັງງານແສງຕາເວັນເພື່ອພັດທະນາເຂດຫ່າງໄກສອກຫຼີກຂອງລາວ”. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ແນວຄວາມຄິດຂອງໂຄງການນີ້ເມື່ອຜ່ານ ໂຮງໝໍນ້ອຍບ້ານພົ່ງ ແຂວງສາລະວັນ. ໂຮງໝໍແຫ່ງນີ້ ຂາດສິ່ງອຳນວຍຄວາມສະດວກພື້ນຖານຫຼາຍດ້ານ, ແສງໄຟບໍ່ພຽງພໍໃນຕອນກາງຄືນ ສຳລັບໃຫ້ບໍລິການຄົນເຈັບ ຕະຫຼອດ 24 ຊົ່ວໂມງ. ໃນເວລາທີ່ຄົນເຈັບມີຄວາມຈຳເປັນມາປິ່ນປົວສຸກເສີນ ກໍ່ພົບອຸປະສັກໃນການເດີນທາງໃນຄວາມມືດ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າວາງແຜນທີ່ຈະໃຫ້ເຂົາເຈົ້າມີໄຟ ທີ່ນຳໃຊ້ພະລັງງານແສງອາທິດ ເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ ມີຄວາມປອດໄພສໍາລັບຄົນເຈັບ ແລະ ພະນັກງານ. ໂຮງໝໍນ້ອຍບ້ານພົ່ງ ໃຫ້ບໍລິການ ປະຊາຊົນ 3 ບ້ານ ໂດຍມີປະຊາກອນທັງໝົດ 3.629 ຄົນ”
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With an #AustraliaAwards Scholarship, Ms Sengthida Sivilay graduated from Murdoch University in 2022 with a Masters of Human Resource Management. Her project will install solar powered lights at Pong Village Health Centre. This can help improve access to healthcare, reduce the risk of accidents, and improve the quality of care.
“My project is called “Solar Health: A Brighter Future for Rural Laos”. I came up with this project idea when I passed by Pong Village Health Center in Salavan Province. This hospital has poor infrastructure with limited lights at night while there is a 24-hour service. When patients come for an emergency, the darkness is a barrier for them to access good service. I plan to provide them with solar-powered lights to make it safer for patients and staff. Pong Village Health Centre covers three villages with a population of 3,629, we will also install solar powered water pumps to deliver reliable clean water for the Center”

ທ່ານ ນາງ ວຽງລາຕີ ເກດສັດຖາ ເປັນນັກຂ່າວຜູ້ທີ່ມີປະສົບການສູງ ຢູ່ໂທລະພາບແຫ່ງຊາດລາວ. ທ່ານ ໄດ້ຈົບປະລິນຍາໂທສາຂາສື່ສານມວນຊົນ ໃນປີ 2010 ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ ແລະ ມີແຜນຈະຍົກລະດັບຄວາມສາມາດຂອງນັກຂ່າວລາວ ໃນການກະກຽມເປັນເຈົ້າພາບອາຊຽນໃນປີ 2024.

“ນີ້ແມ່ນໂຄງການທີ່ສຳຄັນ ແລະ ທັນການ ປະກອບສ່ວນກະກຽມໃຫ້ປະເທດພວກເຮົາ ໃນການເປັນເຈົ້າພາບ ກອງປະຊຸມສຸດຍອດອາຊຽນ ທີ່ຈະມາເຖິງ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍ ກອງປະຊຸມສາກົນອື່ນໆ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີແຜນຈະຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດໂຄງການຝຶກອົບຮົມ ຢູ່ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ, ຊຶ່ງຜູ້ໄດ້ຮັບຜົນປະໂຫຍດໂດຍກົງ ແມ່ນຜູ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມຈາກ ສື່ມວນຊົນລາວ ໃນທຸກຊ່ອງທາງ ລວມທັງໂທລະພາບ, ວິທະຍຸ ແລະ ໜັງສືພິມ. ພວກເຮົາ ຈະຮຽນຮູ້ ກ່ຽວກັບການນຳໃຊ້ເຕັກໂນໂລຊີໃໝ່ໃນການຜະລິດບົດຂ່າວ ແລະ ເພີ່ມທະວີຄວາມຮັບຮູ້ ແລະ ຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈ ກ່ຽວກັບ ຫົວຂໍ້ຕ່າງໆ ທີ່ຕິດພັນ ກັບກອງປະຊຸມສຸດຍອດອາຊຽນ.”
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Vienglaty Ketsattha is an experienced journalist with Lao National Television. She completed a Masters in Journalism in 2010 with an #AustraliaAwards scholarships and plans to improve capacity of Lao journalists to prepare for Laos to chair ASEAN in 2024.
“This is a very significant and timely project as part of the preparation for the coming up ASEAN summits and other international events. I plan to implement a training program in Vientiane which will directly benefit participants of Lao media in all platforms including television, radio and newspaper. We will discuss using new technology for producing news stories and increase awareness and understanding on issues related to the ASEAN meetings.”

ທ່ານ ນາງ ໃຈເພັດ ພັນທະເກສອນ ເປັນຮອງຫົວໜ້າ ສູນການແພດຟື້ນຟູໜ້າທີ່ການ ແຂວງຈໍາປາສັກ. ຫຼັງຈາກສໍາເລັດປະລິນຍາໂທ ສາຂານະໂຍບາຍພັດທະນາຄົນພິການ ທີ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ Flinders ໃນປີ 2020, ອະດີດນັກສຶກສາທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ ທ່ານນີ້ ໄດ້ສຸມທຸກເຫື່ອແຮງ ເຮັດວຽກຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຄົນພິການຢ່າງບໍ່ຢຸດຢ່ອນ.

“ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຕ້ອງການນຳໃຊ້ປະສົບການ ທີ່ໄດ້ເຮັດວຽກຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ຄົນພິການທາງຮ່າງກາຍ ເພື່ອສ້າງຄວາມຮັບຮູ້ ກ່ຽວກັບ ວຽກງານການພັດທະນາແບບມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ ຂອງຄົນທີ່ມີຄວາມພິການ ຢູ່ ແຂວງສາລະວັນ. ໂຄງການນີ້ ມີເປົ້າໝາຍເສີມຂະຫຍາຍ ຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈ ກ່ຽວກັບການພັດທະນາແບບມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມຂອງຄົນພິການ ໃນຫຼາຍຂະແໜງການ, ໂດຍສະເພາະຂະແໜງສາທາລະນະສຸກ ແລະ ຂະແໜງສຶກສາ ແລະ ກິລາ ແຂວງສາລະວັນ ເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມການເຂົ້າເຖິງການບໍລິການທີ່ຈຳເປັນທີ່ພັກລັດສະໜອງ ໃຫ້ແກ່ກຸ່ມຄົນທີ່ມີຄວາມພິການຢູ່ ແຂວງສາລະວັນ.
ໂຄງການນີ້ຍັງມີເປົ້າໝາຍໃນການສ້າງຕັ້ງຈຸດປະສານງານທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ຂັ້ນເມືອງ ແລະ ແຂວງ ເພື່ອບໍລິການນຳສົ່ງ ຄົນພິການໄປຫາ ການບໍລິການຊ່ວຍເຫລືອ ທີ່ຈຳເປັນໃນການຟື້ນຟູໜ້າທີ່ການຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ.”
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Chayphet Phanthakesone is the deputy head of the Champasak Medical Rehabilitation Centre. After completing a in Masters of Disability Policy and Practice at Flinders University in 2020, this Australia Awards alumni has become a tireless advocate for people living with disability.
“Given my experience in providing services to people with a physical impairment, I wanted to raise awareness of disability inclusion in Salavan Province. My project will improve the lack of understanding of inclusion and disability awareness in many sectors, especially the health, educational, and sport sectors in Salavan Province. As a result, there is limited opportunity for people with disabilities or vulnerable people to get the support they need.
This project aims to increase disability awareness in those key sectors as well as establish a local network or coordinator at the district and provincial levels who can direct people in need of assistance to the resources they require.”

ທ່ານ ແພງ ຊາໂພຄຳ ຈົບຊັ້ນສູງ ສາຂາວິຊາ ກະສິກຳແບບຍືນຍົງ ໃນປີ 2021 ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ. ທຶນດັ່ງກ່າວໄດ້ຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ ທ່ານ ໄດ້ສືບຕໍ່ປະກອບອາຊີບເປັນພະນັກງານສົ່ງເສີມກະສິກຳ ຢູ່ ຫ້ອງການກະສິກຳ ແລະ ປ່າໄມ້ ແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ.
ໂຄງການ ຂອງ ທ່ານ ແພງ ຈະຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ຊາວກະສິກອນ ທ້ອງຖິ່ນຮັກສາ ແລະ ຂະຫຍາຍແນວພັນ ພອ້ມທັງການໃຫ້ຄວາມຮູ້ໃນຂະບວນການສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຢືດຢຸ່ນຂອງສະບົບການຜິດລິດ ໃຫ້ແກ່ຊາວກະສິກອນໃນຊຸມຊົນ.

“ເມັດພັນ ແມ່ນຕົວຊີ້ວັດ ຜົນຜະລິດທີ່ສຳຄັນທີ່ສຸດ ໃນວຽກງານປູກຝັງ, ໂດຍສະເພາະ ສຳລັບການຜະລິດກະສິກຳຂະໜາດນ້ອຍ ຂອງຊາວກະສິກອນທອ້ງຖິ່ນອາໃສການປູກຝັງເພື່ອລ້ຽງຊີບ, ແຫຼ່ງຊັບພະຍາກອນຈຳກັດ, ຄວາມສາມາດຮັບມືກັບຄວາມສ່ຽງໜ້ອຍ, ສິ່ງທີ່ສຳຄັນສຳລັບເຂົາເຈົ້າແມ່ນເມັດພັນທີ່ສາມາດໃຫ້ຜົນຜະລິດສູງ ແລະ ທົນທານຕໍ່ການປ່ຽນແປງຂອງດິນຟ້າອາກາດ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຫວັງວ່າ ການຮັກສາແນວພັນພືດທ້ອງຖິ່ນ ຈະຊ່ວຍຊາວກະສິກອນຜູ້ທຸກຍາກຢູ່ເມືອງນ້ຳບາກ ແລະ ເມືອງງອຍ, ແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ ມີເມັດພັນທີ່ມີຄຸນນະພາບ ເພື່ອສືບຕໍ່ອາຊີບປູກຝັງ ເພື່ອລ້ຽງຊີບໃນໄລຍະຍາວ.”
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Phaeng Xaphokham completed a diploma in Permaculture in 2021 thanks to the #AustraliaAwards scholarships. This has helped him further his career as an Agriculture extension officer at the LuangPrabang Provincial agriculture and forestry Office.
His project will help local farmers to preserve native seeds and demonstrate food resilience systems to small scale farmers.
“In farming communities, seeds are the most significant predictor of productivity, especially for subsistence and small-scale farmers, whose resources are limited and risk taking capacity is low, what matters most are seeds that are yield-dependable, climate-smart and sustainable. Promoting local plant varieties, I hope to help the poor and subsistence farmers Nambak and Ngoy District, Louang Prabang.”

ທ່ານ ພິ້ງສະຫຼຽວ ສີທ່ຽງທຳ ຈົບປະລິນຍາໂທສາຂາວິທະຍາສາດ ການຄຸ້ມຄອງຊັບພະຍາກອນນ້ຳ ທີ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ Flinders ໃນປີ 2019 ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ. ປະຈຸບັນ, ທ່ານ ເຮັດວຽກເປັນເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ວາງແຜນເຕັກນິກໃຫ້ກົມຊັບພະຍາກອນນ້ຳ, ກະຊວງຊັບພະຍາກອນ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ.
ສຳລັບໂຄງການຂອງທ່ານ ພິ້ງສະຫຼຽວ ແມ່ນຈະໄດ້ນຳໃຊ້ທັກສະ ແລະ ຄວາມຮູ້ຈາກການສຶກສາທີ່ປະເທດອົດສະຕຣາລີ ເພື່ອສະໜອງນ້ຳດື່ມສະອາດ ໃຫ້ໂຮງຮຽນມັດທະຍົມສຶກສາ ຫີນເຫີບ, ແຂວງວຽງຈັນ.

“ປະຊາຊົນ ຢູ່ເມືອງຫີນເຫີບ ສ່ວນຫຼາຍ ແມ່ນອາໄສ ນ້ຳໃຕ້ດິນເພື່ອນໍາມາເປັນນ້ຳດື່ມ ເຊິ່ງ ນໍ້າໃຕ້ດິນໃນຫຼາຍພື້ນທີ່ ອາດຈະປົນເປື້ອນດ້ວຍມົນລະພິດທີ່ເປັນອັນຕະລາຍ. ການປົນເປື້ອນນີ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ເກີດຄວາມສ່ຽງຕໍ່ສຸຂະພາບທີ່ຮ້າຍແຮງ, ໂດຍສະເພາະກັບເດັກນ້ອຍ. ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຈະຕິດຕັ້ງເຄື່ອງກອງນໍ້າດື່ມດ້ວຍຈັກສູບທິີ່ໃຊ້ພະລັງງານແສງອາທິດ, ຈັດການຝຶກອົບຮົມກ່ຽວກັບການຕິດຕາມກວດກາຄຸນນະພາບນ້ຳ, ແລະ ການປູກຈິດສໍານຶກກ່ຽວກັບການອະນຸລັກນ້ຳ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ.”
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Mr Phingsaliao Sithiengtham completed a Master of Science (Water Resources Management) at Flinders University in 2019 with an #AustraliaAwards Scholarships. Today he works as a technical planning officer for the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
For his project, he will use the skills and knowledge from his Australian education to provide clean drinking water to the Hinheup Secondary School.
“The majority of the population at Hinheup relies on groundwater for drinking water. However, the groundwater in many areas may be contaminated with harmful pollutants. This contamination poses a serious health risk, especially to children. The project will install drinking water filters with a solar pump, organise trainings on water quality monitoring, and awareness raising on water and environment conservation.”

ທ່ານ ມະດຳ ຖໍ່ ຮຽນ ຈົບຫຼັກສູດພາສາອັງກິດ ທີ່ວຽງຈັນ ຄໍເລສ ພາຍໃຕ້ ໂຄງການສົ່ງເສີມການພັດທະນາແບບມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມຂອງຄົນພິການ ທີ່ລັດຖະບານອົດສະຕາລີໃຫ້ການສະໜັບສະໜູນ. ປະຈຸບັນ, ທ່ານ ມະດຳ ຖໍ່ ເປັນຫົວໜ້າຝ່າຍ ສັງຄົມສົງເຄາະ ຂອງ ສະມາຄົມພັດທະນາຄົນພິການ ແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງ. ໂຄງການຂອງ ທ່ານ ມະດຳ ຈະສະໜັບສະ ໜູນ ຄອບຄົວທີ່ດ້ອຍໂອກາດໃນທ້ອງຖິ່ນຂອງຕົນ ເພື່ອປັບປຸງລາຍຮັບ ແລະ ຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ຄົວເຮືອນ.

“ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຊື່ ມະດຳ ຖໍ່, ເປັນຄົນພິການ, ເຮັດວຽກພັດທະນາຄົນພິການຢູ່ບ້ານ ໂພນງາມໃຕ້, ເມືອງແປກ ແຂວງຊຽງຂວາງ. ໂຄງການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າແມ່ນ ກ່ຽວກັບ ການສົ່ງເສີມການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມຂອງສະມາຊິກໃນຄອບຄົວ ໃນການສ້າງຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂງ ຂອງເສດຖະກິດຄົວເຮືອນ. ໂຄງການ ຝຶກອົບຮົມ ໃຫ້ຫົວໜ້າ ແລະ ສະມາຊິກຄົວເຮືອນ ຮ່ວມກັນວາງແຜນ ຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ເຊິ່ງກັນ ແລະ ກັນ ເພື່ອສ້າງເສດຖະກິດຄົວເຮືອນໃຫ້ດີຂື້ນກວ່າເກົ່າ. ໃນຂັ້ນເລີ່ມຕົ້ນ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະຈັດຝຶກອົບຮົມ ໃຫ້ແກ່ຄອບຄົວຄົນພິການ ແລະ ຄອບຄົວທຸກຍາກ.”
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Mardam Thor completed a General English course at Vientiane College with the Australia-funded Disability Inclusive Development English Program. He is now the Head of Social Welfare for the People with Disabilities Development Association in Xiengkhuang Province. His project will support disadvantaged families to improve incomes and livelihoods in his local area.
“My Name is Mr Mardam Thor and I am disabled person, working for People with Disabilities Development in Phongamtai village Pek District Xiengkhouang Province.
My project aims to strengthen the household economy and improve livelihoods by training household members to work together and plan for their future success. First, I will focus on people living with disability and poor families.”

ວັນນະພອນ ສິດທິລາດ ແມ່ນ ທີ່ປຶກສາ ທາງດ້ານສື່ມວນຊົນ ປະຈຳທີ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ, ຜູ້ກຳກັບໜັງ ແລະ ຜູ້ຮ່ວມກໍ່ຕັ້ງ ບໍລິສັດ ລາວນິເວບ ຊິນີມາ. ລາວຕັ້ງໃຈທີ່ຈະໃຫ້ການສະໜັບສະໜູນ ການເຮັດໜັງໃນປະເທດລາວ ແລະ ມີເປົ້າໝາຍ ທີ່ຈະພັດທະນາ ສື່ມວນຊົນທີ່ມີຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບຕໍ່ສັງຄົມ ໃນປະເທດຂອງລາວ ແລະ ໃນບັນດາປະເທດອ້ອມຂ້າງ.

ໃນປີ 2008, ວັນນະພອນ ໄດ້ຮັບທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ ເພື່ອສຶກສາຕໍ່ໃນ ສາຂາວິຊາ ວັນລະສານສາດ ແລະ ການສື່ສານມວນຊົນ ທີ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ກຣິຟຟິດ @griffithuniversity, ທີ່ ລັດບຣິສເບີນ.

ໂຄງການຂອງ ວັນນະພອນ ມີຊື່ວ່າ ‘sign for the future’. ລາວວາງແຜນທີ່ຈະສ້າງ ວິດີໂອພາສາມືທີ່ເປັນພາສາລາວ ເພື່ອເຜີຍແຜ່ທາງອອນລາຍ ສຳລັບເດັກນ້ອຍທີ່ມີຄວາມພິການດ້ານການໄດ້ຍິນ ໃນປະເທດລາວ. ວິດີໂອເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ຈະລວມມີຫົວຂໍ້ຕ່າງໆ ທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງກັບການໃຊ້ຊີວິດປະຈຳວັນ ຕັ້ງແຕ່ ຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກ, ໜ້າທີ່ວຽກງານ, ກິລາ, ໂຕໜັງສືລາວ, ໂຕເລກ, ຄອບຄົວ, ສີ ແລະ ສຸຂະພາບ.

ວັນນະພອນຫວັງວ່າ ໂຄງການ ‘sign for the future’ ຂອງລາວ ຈະເປັນການແນະນຳບັນດາເດັກນ້ອຍພິການຫູ ສູ່ ພາສາມືທີ່ເປັນພາສາລາວ ແລະ ເປັນທາງເລືອກໃນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອພວກເຂົາ ທາງດ້ານການຮຽນຮູ້ ແລະ ຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈໂລກອ້ອມຕົວຂອງພວກເຂົາ.

ປະກອບໄປທັງປະສົບການ ແລະ ຄວາມຮູ້ ທາງດ້ານການສ້າງໜັງ ແລະ ການຖ່າຍທຳ, ບັດນີ້ ແມ່ຍິງທີ່ມີຄວາມສາມາດຜູ້ນີ້ ພ້ອມແລ້ວ ທີ່ຈະຜັນປ່ຽນຄວາມຄິດສ້າງສັນ ສູ່ ຄວາມເປັນຈິງ ໂດຍຜ່ານ ທຶນຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຂະໜາດນ້ອຍ ສຳລັບອະດີດນັກສຶກສາລາວ-ອົດສະຕຣາລີ.

Vannaphone Sitthirath is a Vientiane-based media consultant, film producer and co-founder of the Lao New Wave Cinema Production. She is committed to support filmmaking in Laos and has a driving mission to develop socially responsible media in her country and region.

In 2008, Vannaphone received an #AustraliaAwards scholarship to pursue her Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at @griffithuniversity, Brisbane.

Vannaphone’s project is called ‘Sign for the Future’. She  plans to produce  interactive Lao sign language videos available online for deaf children in Lao PDR. These learning videos will cover relevant topics in daily lives ranging from feelings, occupations, sports, Lao alphabet, numbers, family, colors and heath.

Vannaphone hopes that her ‘Sign for the Future’ project will introduce deaf children to Lao sign language and become an alternative approach to support hearing impaired children to learn and understand the world around them.

Equipped with experiences and knowledge in film making and production, now this talented woman is ready to turn her ideas into reality through an #AlumniInnovationGrant.

ຖາວອນ ສຳເລັດການສຶກສາຈາກ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ຟຼິນເດີ @Flinders University ໃນປີ 2019 ແລະ ໄດ້ເຫັນວ່າ ການລະບາດຂອງພະຍາດ ໂຄວິດ-19 ໄດ້ສົ່ງຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ບັນດານັກສຶກສາຫຼາຍ ເຊັ່ນຕໍ່ດ້ານການຮຽນ ແລະ ຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ຂອງພວກເຂົາ, ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນ ທີ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ສຸພານຸວົງ.

“ໂຄງການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ແມ່ນກ່ຽວກັບ ການພັດທະນາ ທັກສະໃນການເຮັດວຽກ ເພື່ອກຽມຄວາມພ້ອມຂອງນັກສຶກສາ ສຳລັບການຈ້າງງານ. ການເຝິກອົບຮົມ ຈະພັດທະນານັກສຶກສາ ດ້ານທັກສະທົ່ວໄປ ແລະ ທັກສະການເຮັດວຽກ ທີ່ເປັນປະໂຫຍດ ແລະ ສຳຄັນ ໃນການຈ້າງງານ ໃນສະພາບປັດຈຸບັນ ແລະ ອະນາຄົດ. ໂຄງການນີ້ ຈະເລີ່ມປະຕິບັດ ໃນເດືອນມິຖຸນານີ້ ເຖິງ ເດືອນພະຈິກ 2022, ລວມທັງ ການກະກຽມ, ການຈັດຕັ້ງເຝິກອົບຮົມ ແລະ ການຂຽນບົດລາຍງານຕ່າງໆ”.

ຖາວອນ ມີຄວາມກະຕືລືລົ້ນ ໃນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອໄວໜຸ່ມ ໃນການກ້າວໄປສູ່ຂີດຄວາມສາມາດຂອງພວກເຂົາ.

“ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຢາກບອກກັບບັນດາຄົນໜຸ່ມນ້ອຍວ່າ ຄວາມສຳເລັດ ບໍ່ສາມາດເກີດຂຶ້ນໄດ້ ຖ້າບໍ່ມີການລົງມືເຮັດ. ມັນລ້ວນແລ້ວແຕ່ ຄຸ້ມຄ່າ ໃນການລົງມືເຮັດ, ຢ່າງນ້ອຍ ກໍເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານໄດ້ຮຽນຮູ້ບາງຢ່າງ ເພື່ອການພັດທະນາ ແລະ ຕໍ່ຍອດໃຫ້ດີຂຶ້ນ”.

Thavone graduated from @Flinders University in 2019 and has seen how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected students’ studies and lives, especially at Souphanouvong University

‘My project is about Developing Employability Skills to Prepare Students for Employment. A major aim is to help students be well prepared for employment. The workshop will develop students with soft skills and employability skills that are essential and important for current and future employment. The project will be conducted during June to November 2022 including preparation, conducting workshops and writing reports.’

Thavone is passionate about helping young people to reach their potential

“I would like to tell young generation that success doesn’t happen without attempting. It is worth attempting, at least you will learn something to improve and move forward.”

ສັງຄີ ຈະເລີນຂັນ ໄດ້ສຶກສາທາງດ້ານ ການພັດທະນາຊຸມຊົນ ຢູ່ທີ່ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ວິກຕໍເລຍ @victoria.university ທີ່ ເມວເບິນ, ປະເທດອົດສະຕຣາລີ ແລະ ມື້ນີ້ ລາວໄດ້ເຮັດໜ້າທີ່ ເປັນຜູ້ປະສານງານ ດ້ານການປົກປອ້ງສັງຄົມ.

ລາວມີຄວາມຕ້ອງການທີ່ຈະຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ໂຮງຮຽນສຳລັບການສຶກສາພິເສດ ທີ່ຢູ່ຊຸມຊົນຂອງລາວ ແລະ ຈະນຳເອົາທຶນຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບນີ້ ໄປຊ່ວຍເສີມສ້າງທັກສະ ດ້ານກະສິກຳ ໃຫ້ແກ່ບັນດາຄູອາຈານ, ພະນັກງານ ແລະ ນັກສຶກສາ. ໂຄງການນີ້ ຈະມີການສິດສອນທັກສະ ແລະ ຄວາມຮູ້ ໃນການປູກພືດຜັກ ແບບທຳມະຊາດ, ໂດຍໃຊ້ຝຸ່ນບົ່ມ ທີ່ສາມາດຜະລິດໄດ້ດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ ຈາກສ່ວນປະສົມຕ່າງໆ ທີ່ຫາໄດ້ຕາມຊຸມຊົນ. ໂຄງການນີ້ ຍັງປະກອບດ້ວຍກິດຈະກຳຕ່າງໆ ລວມມີ ການລ້ຽງສັດປີກ, ລ້ຽງປາ ແລະ ການລ້ຽງຂີ້ກະເດືອນ. ກິດຈະກຳເຫຼົ່ານີ້ ຈະຊ່ວຍບັນດາຄູອາຈານ ແລະ ພະນັກງານ ສາມາດລ້ຽງຊີບຕົນເອງ ໃນດ້ານອາຫານ ແລະ ຜົນລະປູກຕ່າງໆ. ຜົນທີ່ຈະໄດ້ຮັບກໍຄື ບັນດານັກສຶກສາ ຈະໄດ້ຮັບອາຫານທີ່ຖືກຫຼັກໂພສະນາການ ແລະ ໂຮງຮຽນກໍຈະສາມາດປະຢັດລາຍຈ່າຍ ທາງດ້ານອາຫານ.

Sungkey Chalernkhun studied Community Development @victoria.university in Melbourne Australia and today works as a Social protection Coordinator.

He’s keen to support his local Special Education school and will use his grant to enhance agricultural skills for teachers, staff and students. The project will provide skills and knowledge on how to plant vegetables organically, using composts that they can make their own from locally available materials. The project will include a variety of activities including poultry raising, fish raising, and worm farming. These activities will help teachers and staff to sustain themselves in terms of food and agricultural production. The result will be that students will have nutritious meals, and the school will save money on their food costs.

ວັນນະພອນ ສຳເລັດການສຶກສາຈາກ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ @University of South Australia  ໃນປີ 2020 ແລະ ປັດຈຸບັນ ມີໜ້າທີ່ເປັນ ນັກວິສະວະກອນ ດ້ານຊັບພະຍາກອນນ້ຳ.

“ໂຄງການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ແມ່ນກ່ຽວກັບ ການເຮັດກະສິກຳ ແບບທັນສະໄໝ ຢູ່ໃນຊຸມຊົນ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ກຳລັງວາງແຜນທີ່ຈະ ຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອບັນດາຊາວສວນ ທີ່ບ້ານ ນາໂພ-ໃຕ້, ເມືອງໂພນໂຮງ, ແຂວງວຽງຈັນ ເພື່ອຊ່ວຍໃນການນຳໃຊ້ເຕັກນິກທີ່ທັນສະໄໝ ປະສົມປະສານກັບ ຄວາມຮູ້ພື້ນບ້ານ ເຊັ່ນ ການໝູນໃຊ້ສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອຊີວະພາບ, ລະບົບນ້ຳທີ່ທັນສະໄໝ, ລະບົບເຮືອນຮົ່ມ ແລະ ເຕັກນິກການປູກຝັງ ສຳລັບເຫັດ. ປະເພດຂອງສິ່ງປູກຝັງ ຫຼັກໆກໍຄື ເຫັດ ເຊິ່ງເປັນປະເພດຂອງທຸລະກິດການປູກຝັງ ທີ່ມີຄວາມເປັນໄປໄດ້ ໃນການນຳລາຍໄດ້ມາສູ່ຊາວກະສິກອນ”.

Vannaphone graduated from the @University of South Australia in 2020 and currently works as a water resource engineer.

“My project is about community based smart farming. I am planning to support the farmers at Napho tai village, Phonhong district, Viengchan Province to promote smart farming techniques integrated with the local knowledge such as the utilization of organic matter, smart water system, greenhouse and the plantation technique of potential crop such as Mushroom. The main crop to grow is mushroom which is a potential business crop to generate incomes for the farmers.”

ອາລິຍະກອນ ໄຊຍະສານ ແມ່ນ ພະນັກງານວິຊາການ ສັງກັດທີ່ ການໄຟຟ້າລາວ. ລາວຈົບລະດັບປະລິນຍາໂທ ຊ່ຽວຊານດ້ານພະລັງງານ ທີ່ໝູນໃຊ້ໃໝ່ໄດ້ ແລະ ມີຄວາມຍືນຍົງ ຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ @MurdochUniversity ໃນປີ 2001.

ໂຄງການຂອງລາວ ແນ່ໃສ່ການສະໜອງພະລັງງານແສງອາທິດ ໃນເຂດທຸລະກັນດານ ທີ່ມີໄຟຟ້າໃຊ້ບໍ່ທັນກວ້າງຂວາງ. ສິ່ງນີ້ຈະຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ ຊາວບ້ານ ສາມາດເຂົ້າເຖິງໄຟຟ້າ ໄດ້ງ່າຍຂຶ້ນກວ່າເກົ່າ ດ້ວຍລະບົບແສງອາທິດ. ໂຄງການ ຈະໃຊ້ເວລາໄລຍະ 3 ເດືອນ ໂດຍຜ່ານຂະບວນການປະຕິບັດຕິດຕັ້ງ, ເລີ່ມຕັ່ງແຕ່ ເດືອນມິຖຸນາ ເຖິງ ປະມານກາງເດືອນ ກັນຍາ ປີ 2022.

“ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຮູ້ສຶກຕື່ນເຕັ້ນຫຼາຍ ແລະ ດີໃຈ ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບທຶນຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອນີ້ ເພາະວ່າຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຈະໄດ້ເປັນສ່ວນໜຶ່ງຂອງອະດີດນັກສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ ທີ່ໄດ້ປະກອບສ່ວນໃນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ແລະ ຊຸກຍູ້ ປະຊາຊົນລາວໃນເຂດຫ່າງໄກຊອກຫຼີກ ເພື່ອທີ່ຈະມີພື້ນຖານຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ທີ່ດີຂຶ້ນ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈມາຍັງ ລັດຖະບານລາວ-ອົດສະຕຣາລີ, ສະຖາບັນລາວ-ອົດສະຕຣາລີ, ການໄຟຟ້າລາວ ແລະ ຄອບຄົວຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ທີ່ໄດ້ໃຫ່ການສະໜັບສະໜູນ ໃນການເປັນສ່ວນໜຶ່ງຂອງໂຄງການນີ້”.

Alignakone Saignasan is a technical officer at Electricite Du Laos (EDL). He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Renewable and Sustainable Energy from @MurdochUniversity in 2001.

His project aims to supply solar power to remote locations where electricity is not widely available. It will help local people to access electricity much easier than before with a solar off-grid system. The project will take around three months through the process of implementation, starting from June to around mid-September 2022.

“I am so excited and glad to be selected for this grant because I will be able to be part of the #AustraliaAwards alumni to help and support the Lao people in the rural areas to have a better standard of living. I am very thankful to the Australian Government, LAI, EDL, and my family for supporting me to be part of the project.”

Viengnakone graduated from Western Sydney University in 2019 and is passionate about supporting people living with disabilities.

Stay Healthy Stay Stability project will support the Xon Phao Disabled Group in Vientiane by improving hygiene in restrooms and bedrooms to prevent COVID-19, as well as starting a vegetable garden to create income and nutritious food.

ຖາວອນ ສຳເລັດການສຶກສາຈາກ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ຟຼິນເດີ @Flinders University ໃນປີ 2019 ແລະ ໄດ້ເຫັນວ່າ ການລະບາດຂອງພະຍາດ ໂຄວິດ-19 ໄດ້ສົ່ງຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ບັນດານັກສຶກສາຫຼາຍ ເຊັ່ນຕໍ່ດ້ານການຮຽນ ແລະ ຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ຂອງພວກເຂົາ, ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນ ທີ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ສຸພານຸວົງ.

“ໂຄງການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ແມ່ນກ່ຽວກັບ ການພັດທະນາ ທັກສະໃນການເຮັດວຽກ ເພື່ອກຽມຄວາມພ້ອມຂອງນັກສຶກສາ ສຳລັບການຈ້າງງານ. ການເຝິກອົບຮົມ ຈະພັດທະນານັກສຶກສາ ດ້ານທັກສະທົ່ວໄປ ແລະ ທັກສະການເຮັດວຽກ ທີ່ເປັນປະໂຫຍດ ແລະ ສຳຄັນ ໃນການຈ້າງງານ ໃນສະພາບປັດຈຸບັນ ແລະ ອະນາຄົດ. ໂຄງການນີ້ ຈະເລີ່ມປະຕິບັດ ໃນເດືອນມິຖຸນານີ້ ເຖິງ ເດືອນພະຈິກ 2022, ລວມທັງ ການກະກຽມ, ການຈັດຕັ້ງເຝິກອົບຮົມ ແລະ ການຂຽນບົດລາຍງານຕ່າງໆ”.

ຖາວອນ ມີຄວາມກະຕືລືລົ້ນ ໃນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອໄວໜຸ່ມ ໃນການກ້າວໄປສູ່ຂີດຄວາມສາມາດຂອງພວກເຂົາ.

“ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຢາກບອກກັບບັນດາຄົນໜຸ່ມນ້ອຍວ່າ ຄວາມສຳເລັດ ບໍ່ສາມາດເກີດຂຶ້ນໄດ້ ຖ້າບໍ່ມີການລົງມືເຮັດ. ມັນລ້ວນແລ້ວແຕ່ ຄຸ້ມຄ່າ ໃນການລົງມືເຮັດ, ຢ່າງນ້ອຍ ກໍເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານໄດ້ຮຽນຮູ້ບາງຢ່າງ ເພື່ອການພັດທະນາ ແລະ ຕໍ່ຍອດໃຫ້ດີຂຶ້ນ”.

Thavone graduated from @Flinders University in 2019 and has seen how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected students’ studies and lives, especially at Souphanouvong University

‘My project is about Developing Employability Skills to Prepare Students for Employment. A major aim is to help students be well prepared for employment. The workshop will develop students with soft skills and employability skills that are essential and important for current and future employment. The project will be conducted during June to November 2022 including preparation, conducting workshops and writing reports.’

Thavone is passionate about helping young people to reach their potential

“I would like to tell young generation that success doesn’t happen without attempting. It is worth attempting, at least you will learn something to improve and move forward.”

A Dream Catcher for Youth Development Project

Anousone graduated from Monash University in 2020 and is currently working with World Vision Laos. This project will support youth who have been impacted by COVID-19 and whose education has been disrupted.

The Dream Catcher for Youth Development project will encourage students to dream big, identify their life goals, strengthen their employment skills and be ready to enter the workforce in Laos

ວັນນະພອນ ສຳເລັດການສຶກສາຈາກ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ @University of South Australia  ໃນປີ 2020 ແລະ ປັດຈຸບັນ ມີໜ້າທີ່ເປັນ ນັກວິສະວະກອນ ດ້ານຊັບພະຍາກອນນ້ຳ.

“ໂຄງການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ແມ່ນກ່ຽວກັບ ການເຮັດກະສິກຳ ແບບທັນສະໄໝ ຢູ່ໃນຊຸມຊົນ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ກຳລັງວາງແຜນທີ່ຈະ ຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອບັນດາຊາວສວນ ທີ່ບ້ານ ນາໂພ-ໃຕ້, ເມືອງໂພນໂຮງ, ແຂວງວຽງຈັນ ເພື່ອຊ່ວຍໃນການນຳໃຊ້ເຕັກນິກທີ່ທັນສະໄໝ ປະສົມປະສານກັບ ຄວາມຮູ້ພື້ນບ້ານ ເຊັ່ນ ການໝູນໃຊ້ສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອຊີວະພາບ, ລະບົບນ້ຳທີ່ທັນສະໄໝ, ລະບົບເຮືອນຮົ່ມ ແລະ ເຕັກນິກການປູກຝັງ ສຳລັບເຫັດ. ປະເພດຂອງສິ່ງປູກຝັງ ຫຼັກໆກໍຄື ເຫັດ ເຊິ່ງເປັນປະເພດຂອງທຸລະກິດການປູກຝັງ ທີ່ມີຄວາມເປັນໄປໄດ້ ໃນການນຳລາຍໄດ້ມາສູ່ຊາວກະສິກອນ”.

Vannaphone graduated from the @University of South Australia in 2020 and currently works as a water resource engineer.

“My project is about community based smart farming. I am planning to support the farmers at Napho tai village, Phonhong district, Viengchan Province to promote smart farming techniques integrated with the local knowledge such as the utilization of organic matter, smart water system, greenhouse and the plantation technique of potential crop such as Mushroom. The main crop to grow is mushroom which is a potential business crop to generate incomes for the farmers.”

Vongsone completed her studies at Flinders University in 2015 and currently works in the education sector.

Technology Capacity Building for Teachers in Adapting to COVID-19 will strengthen and build the digital capacity for 12 teachers from three big schools in Samneua town to use online platforms effectively while students learn from home.

These teachers will then become trainers to transfer their knowledge to their 110 colleagues in adopting technology for new learning and teaching circumstances. As a result, teachers will be more confident and skillful in using and adopting online platforms in classroom learning and teaching.

Household food security for COVID-19 pandemic responding

Chanthaly Syfongxay, a proud recipient of the Australian Alumni Innovation Grant, works to support a pilot project which promotes collective organic farming in Khai village in Xieng Khouang. Ambassador Paul was inspired by her project and by how she is using her knowledge and skills in horticulture, project management and research which she gained during her time in Australia to improve the livelihoods of her local community.

Chanthaly’s project has now trained 62 women from three villages in Paek district on how to better manage their household gardens for COVID-19 economic recovery. These women have then shared this knowledge on food security, garden management, and strategies to prepare for changes to the COVID-19 situation to their local communities. This project has helped women in Xieng Khouang province not only to make more nutritious food but also to generate extra income for their families.

This alumni story was originally posted on Australia in Laos

Skills development and job creation for vulnerable people, including people living with disability to reduce impacts from COVID-19

Since completing an Advanced Diploma of Tourism Management at Victoria University in 2005, Souksan Thavikham has applied her knowledge to support sustainable development in Lao PDR. She now works as an Assistant Program Manager at the National Governance and Public Administration Reform Programme, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Souksan is one of five recipients awarded a 2021 Alumni Innovation Grant in February. The grant funding provides support for Laos Australia Alumni to implement projects which help Lao communities recover from and respond to the impacts of COVID-19.

Souksan’s grant proposal included partnering with the Saysetha District for Disabled People Association (SDDPA) and the Saysetha Labour and Social Welfare Office. Collaboratively, the organisations trained 25 women, men and people living with a disability with income-generating skills.

The first skill taught was handmaking doormats and bags using old clothes and waste materials. The second training involved tailoring and barbering workshops. Following the training, participants are provided with tools such as sewing machines and barber’s scissors to enable them to continue to hone their craft whilst generating income from home.

“Trainees were very happy and surprised when the project gave them a sewing machine after the training. A young mother, who just lost her job because she had given birth, is now working on making clothes at her home. She has also received sewing jobs from a factory to work from home. Thus, she can generate income while being able to take care of her baby and family at home. I would like to sincerely thank the Australian Government for providing me with this opportunity to implement this project so I can help others,” Souksan shares.

Due to the second wave of COVID-19 in Laos the barber training, scheduled for April, is delayed until the situation improves and groups can gather safely. Once it is safe to do so, Souksan and her team look forward to training several young men in this skill.

“Youth unemployment can lead to many social problems. If they are equipped with a vocational skill, a barbering skill, for instance, they will be able to make an income and have their own barbershop.” Souksan says.

This is the second time Souksan has received an Alumni Innovation Grant. In 2020, Souksan submitted a successful application which supported more than 30 trainees, including ten people with a disability living in Saysettha District, to generate alternative income during the first wave of COVID-19 in Laos. This was achieved through teachings in small scale farming of mushrooms, fish, frogs, and chickens.

Souksan continues to innovate sustainable solutions to some of Lao economic challenges particularly as they relate to the most vulnerable sectors of society.  The Australian Government is proud to support such a dedicated Laos Australia Alumnae.

This alumni story was originally posted on the Australian Embassy to Lao PDR website.

Youth’s capacity building for effectively adapting to COVID-19

Australia Awards alumna Phetdavanh Sipaseuth completed a Master of Environmental Management at Flinders University in Australia in 2016 through an Australia Awards Scholarship and has since worked to apply her newfound knowledge towards sustainable development in Laos.

Phetdavanh is one of five Laos Australia alumni to recently be awarded a small grant through the Alumni Innovation Grants (AIG) scheme. With the grant, Phetdavanh has developed and implemented a youth capacity building project for effectively adapting to COVID-19.

Her project provides training for students at Champasak University in facilitation, planning, problem-solving and social media applications. After completing the training, the students are keen to share their new skills with their peers on campus, helping to amplify the positive impact of the project.

The Australian Government is proud to support Phetdavanh’s excellent initiative in helping the Lao youth build their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch this video to find out more about Phetdavanh’s project here.

This alumni story was originally posted on Australia in Laos

Utilising Fairtrade fund as economic recovery from COVID-19

Oulavanh Keovilignavong, a recipient of the Australia Alumni Innovation Grant, works to support tea farmers in Phongsaly province. Through his innovation he’s aimed to build capacity and knowledge amongst tea farmers on organic tea farming techniques as well as enhancing their access to the Fairtrade Fund. With Fairtrade, small-scale tea farmers can earn a more stable income from their crops and improve their communities. In addition, Oulavanh researched barriers to accessing this fund – look out for his findings which will be published later this year.

We are proud of Oulavanh’s excellent initiative in supporting community development in Phongsaly province!

This alumni story was original posted on Australia in Laos

Australian trained Banthida Komphasouk is a Development Coordination Officer at the United Nations in Lao PDR. She received an Australia Awards Scholarship to do her Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Development and Health, and awarded First Class Honours in 2010 from the University of Queensland.

For more than six years, she has been working on health and community development.

Banthida was rewarded an Alumni Innovation Grant in June 2020 for her innovative project that aimed to support the Lao community and school in response to the COVID-19 and prevention measures.

In partnership with Soap4Life, Banthida’s initiative successfully raised Covid 19 awareness and prevention knowledge especially on correct handwashing steps to 32 teachers and 397 students in 4 selected primary schools in Phoukhod district, Xiengkhuang province through the provision of Covid-19 in schools manual for teachers, distribution of Covid 19 and handwashing posters as well as proper handwashing demonstrations for teachers and students.

To further support an enabling environment for Covid 19 prevention in schools, handwashing stations, soap and reusable facemasks were provided through the project.

“Promoting basic hygiene measures and providing an enabling environment in schools is one of the most effective ways for improved children’s health as well as for protecting them and their community from the COVID-19 infection and other diseases,” Banthida said.

Phouxay Douangphilavanh participated in the Disability Inclusive Development (DID) English Language Program, supported by the Australian Government via the Laos Australia Institute and Vientiane College from January 2019 to June 2020. This Program was specially designed for people with disability and those working in the disability sector. Participants were trained on report writing, preparing submissions, financial reporting and verbal communication with international counterparts.

Proudly Australian trained Phouxay put these skills and knowledge gained into practice by applying for an Alumni Innovation Grant. His innovation is targeted at bringing positive change to students and the community in Chanthabouly District, Vientiane Capital.

In collaboration with the nine Village Development Group, Phouxay’s innovative project included training on COVID-19 and Dengue Fever awareness and prevention methods for teachers and students in four schools, including Phonesavang, Phontong Chommany, Dondeng, and Hongkaikeo schools in Chanthabouly District, Vientiane Capital from 24 June to 27 July 2020.

“This was the first time I prepared a proposal for a small grant from the Australian Government to improve knowledge and practice on COVID-19 and Dengue Fever awareness.Though it was a small project, it could widely benefit the whole community. Students and teachers who attended the training received brochures, and I’m sure they will spread the key messages to their parents and families.”, Phouxay said.

Alumna Souksan Thavikham wants to promote income generation opportunities for people with disabilities living in Xiengda Village, Saysettha, Vientiane Capital.

Souksan completed an Advanced Diploma of Tourism Management at Victoria University in 2005 through an Australia Awards Scholarship and has since worked to apply her newfound knowledge towards sustainable development in Lao PDR.

Souksan received an Alumni Innovation Grant to fund her project which supports people living with a disability during and after COVID-19. Her innovation provided training videos and materials for small scale farming of mushrooms, fish, frogs and chickens to enable communities to generate alternative income during the crisis. There were 30 trainees including ten people with a disability and two trainers from the Saysettha District Disabled People Association.

“Supporting the vulnerable community, such as people with disability, to reach economic self-reliance as small-scale farmers through income generation will improve their living throughout the COVID-19”, said Souksan.

“The enthusiasm expressed by the faces of these trainees show their feeling of gratitude as full and active members of society, both socially and economically, acquired during the training. They can be integrated into society and capable of taking care of themselves and their families. Thanks to the Australian Government for providing the small grants to improve our community’s lives.” Souksan said.

Watch a video here.

Phanla secondary school in Houaphan province is the beneficiary of an Alumni Innovation Grant after one of their teachers submitted a proposal for the Australian Government’s scheme. Vongsone Heuangphida, a Laos Australia Alumna, realised that for messaging about COVID-19 to be useful for teens, it needs to be created by teens. Therefore, she is working with students to create videos and posters, that aim to educate other teens on the importance of good hygiene to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

Vongsone had taught English from 2004 to 2011 at Phanla secondary school. In 2014, she pursued to upgrade her English teaching skills and knowledge at Flinders University, Australia. In 2016, she returned home with a Master of Education (Leadership and Management). She was promoted to be the head of statistics and ICT unit. Outside of her normal work schedule she has been managing an evening English teaching program for primary and secondary students at the same school.

Since 2019, active alumna Vongsone has been participating in the Women in Leadership Program also funded by the Australian Government. The Program is designed for 20 Laos Australia women alumni across many different organisations and roles, to create supportive networks, career planning and development, as well as to build skills, knowledge and confidence in leadership with a focus on gender equity and the challenges facing women.

“Students love these project activities so much. By providing them with the right messages about COVID-19 health prevention, each group went on further to discuss the concept of their drawings and videos which they hoped would communicate the right behaviours to other students in their school.” Vongsone said.

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາ #AustraliaAwards, ທ່ານນາງ ມະນີລັດ ນະລົງສັກ ໄດ້ຮຽນຈົບຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ New South Wales ໃນປີ 2024 ດ້ວຍປະລິນຍາໂທດ້ານ ສຸຂະພາບທົ່ວໂລກ/ການຄຸ້ມຄອງຄວາມເປັນຜູ້ນໍາດ້ານສຸຂະພາບ. ປັດຈຸບັນ, ດ້ວຍທຶນຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຂະໜາດນ້ອຍ ສຳລັບອະດີດນັກສຶກສາລາວ-ອົດສະຕຣາລີ, ທ່ານນາງ ມະນີລັດ ມີເປົ້າໝາຍເພື່ອຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອການຟື້ນຟູຜົນກະທົບຈາກໄພນໍ້າຖ້ວມ ທີ່ເກີດຂື້ນຢູ່ພາກເໜືອຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ.

ສຸກສາລາ ນ້ຳທຸມ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ພາກເໜືອຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ ເຊິ່ງກວມເອົາ 15 ບ້ານທີ່ມີພົນລະເມືອງປະມານ 27,298 ຄົນ. ໄພນໍ້າຖ້ວມທີ່ເກີດຂຶ້ນເມື່ອບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ຄົນເຈັບປະມານ 500-600 ຄົນ ທີ່ເຂົ້າໃຊ້ບໍລິການຢູ່ສຸກສາລາໃນແຕ່ລະເດືອນ ບໍ່ສາມາດເຂົ້າເຖິງການປິ່ນປົວສຸຂະພາບທີ່ຈໍາເປັນ. ເນື່ອງຈາກສຸກສາລາແຫ່ງນີ້ຕັ້ງຢູ່ພື້ນທີ່ຫ່າງໄກສອກຫຼີກ, ການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຟື້ນຟູຈຶ່ງມີຄວາມຊັກຊ້າ ສົ່ງຜົນເຮັດໃຫ້ປະຊາຊົນໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມລໍາບາກຫຼາຍກວ່າເກົ່າ.

ທ່ານນາງ ມະນີລັດ ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ “ນ້ຳສະອາດທຸກຢອດແມ່ນບາດກ້າວໄປສູ່ຊີວິດທີ່ມີສຸຂະພາບດີ ແລະ ອະນາຄົດທີ່ສົດໃສ”. ໂຄງການຂອງເພີ່ນຈະເນັ້ນໃສ່ການຕິດຕັ້ງລະບົບນໍ້າສະອາດຢູ່ສຸກສາລາ ແລະ ຈັດຝຶກອົບຮົມເພື່ອໃຫ້ຄວາມຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບຄວາມສໍາຄັນຂອງນໍ້າສະອາດຕໍ່ສຸຂະພາບ ລວມທັງ ຄວາມຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບການຮັກສາສຸຂະອະນາໄມໃຫ້ແກ່ຊຸມຊົນໃກ້ຄຽງ.
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With an #AustraliaAwards scholarship, Manilath Nalongsack graduated from the UNSW in 2024 with a Master of Global Health Management. Now, with the Alumni Innovation Grant, she aims to support flood recovery in Northern Laos.

The Namthoum Health Center in northern Laos currently serves 15 villages and approximately 27,000 residents. Recent flooding has left 500-600 monthly clients without access to essential healthcare services. Due to the area’s remoteness, recovery has been delayed, exacerbating challenges for vulnerable communities.

“Every drop of clean water is a step toward healthier lives and brighter futures” says Manilath. Her project will focus on installing a clean water supply system at the health center and conducting training sessions to raise awareness about the importance of clean water for health and hygiene among nearby villagers.

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ພາຍຫຼັງຈົບການສຶກສາໃນລະດັບ ປະລິນຍາໂທ ສາຂາວິຊາການສຶກສາ (ພາສາສາດ) ຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ Flinders ໃນປີ 2019. ປະຈຸບັນ, ທ່ານ ຄອນສັກ ແກ້ວມະນີວົງ ເປັນຜູ້ຊ່ວຍວຽກ ຢູ່ໜ່ວຍງານພົວພັນຕ່າງປະເທດ ແລະ ໜ່ວຍງານສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມທີ່ ວິທະຍາໄລຄູສະຫວັນນະເຂດ.

ໂຄງການຂອງທ່ານ ຄອນສັກ ‘ສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບຕໍ່ຂີ້ເຫຍື້ອ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມແບບຍືນຍົງ’ ຈະສຸມໃສ່ການຄຸ້ມຄອງສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອ, ສ້າງຄວາມຮັບຮູ້ດ້ານສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ, ແລະ ໂອກາດທາງເສດຖະກິດທີ່ອີງໃສ່ການເອົາຂີ້ເຫຍື້ອມາປະດິດໃໝ່ ໃນໂຮງຮຽນ ແລະ ຊຸມຊົນອ້ອມຂ້າງເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຍືນຍົງຜ່ານການສຶກສາ ແລະ ການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ.

ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຈະເປັນປະໂຫຍດໂດຍກົງຕໍ່ປະຊາຊົນ 500 ຄົນ, ໃນນັ້ນລວມມີນັກຮຽນຈໍານວນ 300 ຄົນ ແລະ ຄູສອນຈຳນວນ 50 ຄົນຈາກ 10 ໂຮງຮຽນໃນແຂວງສະຫວັນນະເຂດ, ໂດຍການເຊື່ອມສານ ການສຶກສາສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມເຂົ້າໃນກິດຈະກຳຂອງໂຮງຮຽນ,ສ້າງທັກສະໃນການຄຸ້ມຄອງສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອ, ກິດຈະກຳ ອະນາໄມສາມັກຄີ ແລະ ການສ້າງຕັ້ງສູນຂີ້ເຫຍື້ອ. ໂຄງການ ‘ສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບຕໍ່ຂີ້ເຫຍື້ອ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມແບບຍືນຍົງ’ ມີຈຸດປະສົງເພື່ອສ້າງການປ່ຽນແປງທີ່ຍືນຍົງ ໂດຍການເປັນຄູ່ຮ່ວມງານກັບອໍານາດການປົກຄອງທ້ອງຖິ່ນ, ກຸ່ມສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ, ແລະ ທຸລະກິດເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມການເບິ່ງແຍງສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ແລະ ການສ້າງຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂງທາງດ້ານເສດຖະກິດ.

ທ່ານ ຄອນສັກ ໄດ້ເນັ້ນໜັກວ່າ “ການກະທຳເລັກໆນ້ອຍໆຈະນຳໄປສູ່ການປ່ຽນແປງອັນໃຫຍ່ຫຼວງ. ດ້ວຍ ໂຄງການ ‘ສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບຕໍ່ຂີ້ເຫຍື້ອ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມແບບຍືນຍົງ’, ພວກເຮົາບໍ່ພຽງແຕ່ເອົາສິ່ງເສດເຫຼືອມາປະດິດໃໝ່ – ພວກເຮົາເອົານິໄສມາປະດິດໃໝ່, ປັບປຸງແນວຄິດ, ແລະ ຄວາມເປັນເຈົ້າການເພື່ອອະນາຄົດທີ່ຍືນຍົງ. ພວກເຮົາມາຮ່ວມກັນສ້າງໂລກທີ່ສະອາດຂຶ້ນເພື່ອຄົນລຸ້ນຕໍ່ໄປ! “
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After earning a Master of Education from Flinders University in 2019, Khonesak Keomaneevong is now the Assistant of International Relations and Environment Unit at Savannakhet Teacher Training College. His project ‘Sustainable Waste and Environmental Education Project (SWEEP)’ focuses on waste management, environmental awareness, and recycling-based economic opportunities, targeting schools and surrounding communities to promote sustainability through education and engagement.

The project will directly benefit 500 people, including 300 students and 50 teachers from 10 schools in Savannakhet Province, by integrating environmental education into schools’ activities and building skills in waste management. Additionally, it will impact around 500 community members through clean-up events and the establishment of a recycling center. SWEEP aims to create lasting change by partnering with local authorities, environmental groups, and businesses to foster environmental stewardship and economic empowerment.

Khonesak emphasises, “Small actions lead to big changes. With SWEEP, we’re not just recycling waste—we’re recycling habits, reshaping mindsets, and renewing our commitment to a sustainable future. Together, let’s create a cleaner world for generations to come!”

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ທ່ານ ນາງ ວັນນະພອນ ສິດທິລາດ ເປັນຜູ້ຮ່ວມກໍ່ຕັ້ງ ລາວນິວເວັບຊີເນມາ (Lao New Wave Cinema Productions) ແລະ ເປັນທີ່ປຶກສາອິດສະຫຼະ. ຫຼັງຈາກສໍາເລັດການສຶກສາໃນລະດັບປະລິນຍາໂທ ສາຂາວາລະສານ ແລະ ສື່ສານມວນຊົນ ຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ Griffith ໃນປີ 2006, ອະດີດນັກສຶກສາທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ ທ່ານນີ້ ກຳລັງສ້າງຄວາມຮັບຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບການລ່ວງລະເມີດທາງເພດໃນສັງຄົມ.

ທ່ານ ນາງ ວັນນະພອນ ໄດ້ເລົ່າວ່າ “ຕັ້ງແຕ່ນ້ອຍ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເຫັນເດັກຍິງ ແລະ ແມ່ຍິງໃນລາວຖືກລ່ວງລະເມີດທາງເພດຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍ. ມັນຮອດເວລາແລ້ວທີ່ເຮົາຈະຕ້ອງປ່ຽນແປງເຫດການນີ້. ການລ່ວງລະເມີດທາງເພດແມ່ນບັນຫາທີ່ຮ້າຍແຮງ, ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງຢຸດການຕໍານິຜູ້ຖືກເຄາະຮ້າຍ ແລະ ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນສ້າງວັດທະນະທໍາຂອງການເຄົາລົບເຊິ່ງກັນແລະກັນ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຢາກໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນມາຮ່ວມກັນສ້າງໃຫ້ປະເທດລາວ ເປັນບ່ອນທີ່ທຸກຄົນຮູ້ສຶກປອດໄພ ແລະ ມີຄຸນຄ່າ.”

ດ້ວຍທຶນຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຂະໜາດນ້ອຍ ສຳລັບອະດີດນັກສຶກສາລາວ-ອົດສະຕຣາລີ, ທ່ານ ນາງ ວັນນະພອນ ເປັນຜູ້ນໍາໂຄງການເພື່ອ ຕ້ານການລ່ວງລະເມີດທາງເພດຢູ່ໃນໂຮງຮຽນໃນທົ່ວນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ. ໂຄງການຂອງເພີ່ນສຸມໃສ່ການຝຶກອົບຮົມໃຫ້ແກ່ຜູ້ທີ່ມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມສໍາຄັນເຊັ່ນ: ຄູອາຈານ ແລະ ຜູ້ນໍາຊຸມຊົນ ເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມສະພາບແວດລ້ອມຂອງການຮຽນຮູ້ທີ່ປອດໄພ. ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຈະກວມເອົາຢ່າງໜ້ອຍ 10-12 ໂຮງຮຽນ ແລະ ຈະສ້າງຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂງໃຫ້ຄູອາຈານ ແລະ ນັກຮຽນ ໃນດ້ານ ຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈ, ການລາຍງານ ແລະ ແກ້ໄຂບັນຫາການລ່ວງລະເມີດທາງເພດ. ຜ່ານໂຄງການນີ້, ທ່ານ ນາງ ວັນນະພອນ ຫວັງວ່າຈະໄດ້ປະກອບສ່ວນເຂົ້າໃນການສ້າງສະພາບແວດລ້ອມຂອງໂຮງຮຽນໃນລາວ ໃຫ້ມີຄວາມປອດໄພ ແລະ ເປັນບ່ອນທີ່ທຸກຄົນມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມໄດ້.
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Vannaphone Sitthirath is the Co-founder of LNWC: Lao New Wave Cinema and a Freelance Consultant. After completing a Masters degree in Journalism from Griffith University in 2006, this #AustraliaAwards alumni is raising awareness on sexual harassment.

Vannaphone says “Growing up, I witnessed too many young girls and women sexually harassed in Laos. It’s time to change the narrative. Sexual harassment is a serious issue, and we need to stop blaming victims and start creating a culture of respect. Let’s work together to build a Laos where everyone feels safe and valued.”

Through the Alumni Innovation Grant, Vannaphone is leading a project aimed at tackling sexual harassment in schools across Vientiane, Laos. Her project focuses on training key stakeholders such as teachers and community leaders to foster a safer, more supportive learning environment. The project will span at least 10-12 schools and will empower both teachers and students to recognise, report, and address sexual harassment. By doing so, Vannaphone hopes to significantly contribute to building a safer, more inclusive school environment in Laos.

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ທ່ານ ແພງ ຊາໂພຄຳ ຈົບຊັ້ນສູງ ສາຂາວິຊາ ກະສິກຳແບບຍືນຍົງ ໃນປີ 2021 ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ. ທຶນດັ່ງກ່າວໄດ້ຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ ທ່ານ ແພງ ໄດ້ສືບຕໍ່ປະກອບອາຊີບເປັນພະນັກງານສົ່ງເສີມກະສິກຳ ຢູ່ ຫ້ອງການກະສິກຳ ແລະ ປ່າໄມ້ ແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ.

ໂຄງການຂອງ ທ່ານແພງ ແມ່ນ ‘ໂຄງການລ້ຽງເຜິ້ງປ່າເພື່ອຊາວໜຸ່ມກະສິກອນລາວ’ ມີເປົ້າໝາຍເພື່ອ ຊ່ວຍຊາວກະສິກອນຊົນເຜົ່າ 15 ຄົນ ໃນບ້ານນາລ່ວງ ເຊິ່ງຊາວກະສິກອນເຫຼົ່ານີ້ກຳລັງປະເຊີນກັບສິ່ງທ້າທາຍເຊັ່ນ: ໂອກາດການຈ້າງງານທີ່ຈໍາກັດ, ການສຶກສາ ແລະ ການຝຶກອົບຮົມທີ່ບໍ່ພຽງພໍ, ແລະ ການທໍາລາຍສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມທີ່ເກີດຂຶ້ນ ຈາກການນໍາໃຊ້ຢາຂ້າແມງໄມ້ ແລະ ຢາຂ້າຫຍ້າ. ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຈະຈັດຝຶກອົບຮົມການລ້ຽງເຜິ້ງປ່າແບບຍືນຍົງ ແລະ ການຮັກສາລະບົບນິເວດ ເພື່ອຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຊາວກະສິກອນຊາວນາໃນບ້ານນາລ່ວງ ແລະ ບ້ານໃກ້ຄຽງໃນການປັບປຸງຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ ແລະ ສົ່ງເສີມຄວາມຍືນຍົງດ້ານສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມໃນຊຸມຊົນ.

ທ່ານ ແພງ ກ່າວວ່າ “ເຜິ້ງເປັນພັນທະມິດທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ໃນການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຊາວກະສິກອນ ໃນການປະເຊີນໜ້າຕໍ່ສິ່ງທ້າທາຍທີ່ເກີດຈາກການປ່ຽນແປງຂອງດິນຟ້າອາກາດ ໂດຍການສະໜັບສະໜູນຊີວະນາໆພັນ, ເສີມຂະຫຍາຍການຜະລິດສະບຽງອາຫານ, ແລະ ຊຸກຍູ້ຄວາມທົນທານຂອງລະບົບນິເວດ. ການປະກອບສ່ວນເຂົ້າໃນການປະຕິບັດກະສິກຳແບບຍືນຍົງ ແລະ ສ້າງໂອກາດວຽກເຮັດງານທຳສີຂຽວໃຫ້ແກ່ຊາວໜຸ່ມຊາວກະສິກອນທີ່ຢູ່ເຂດຫ່າງໄກສອກຫຼີກ ແລະ ເຊື່ອມໂຍງເຂົ້າກັບບ້ານເກີດເມືອງນອນ ແມ່ນບັນດາແຮງບັນດານໃຈຕົ້ນຕໍຂອງໂຄງການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ.”
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Phaeng Xaphokham completed a diploma in Permaculture in 2021 with an #AustraliaAwards scholarship. This has helped him further his career as an Agriculture Extension Officer at the Luang Prabang Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office.

His project, ‘Honeybee Employment and Conservation Project’, aims to support 15 ethnically farmers in Nalouang Village. These farmers face challenges such as limited employment opportunities, inadequate education and training, and environmental degradation caused by the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides. The project will provide training in sustainable beekeeping and ecological preservation, helping youth farmers in Nalouang and nearby villages to improve livelihoods and promote environmental sustainability in the community.

Phaeng says “Bees are indispensable allies in helping farmers navigate the challenges posed by climate change by supporting biodiversity, enhancing food production, and boosting ecosystem resilience. Contributing sustainable agricultural practices and more green job opportunities creation for young remote farmers and connect them to their homeland are main inspirations of the project.”

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ອຈ. ປທ. ນາງ ສົມໃຈ ເມກສະຫວັນ ເປັນອະດີດຜູ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມຝຶກອົບຮົມ ຫຼັກສູດໄລຍະສັ້ນຂອງທຶນອົດສະຕຣາລີ ໃນຫົວຂໍ້ ‘ຄວາມເປັນຜູ້ນໍາແບບມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ’ ໃນປີ 2022. ປະຈຸບັນ ອຈ. ປທ. ນາງ ສົມໃຈ ເຮັດວຽກເປັນຫົວໜ້າພະແນກຄຸ້ມຄອງຊ່ຽວຊານ, ອາສາສະໝັກ ແລະ ນັກສຶກສາຕ່າງປະເທດ ຢູ່ຫ້ອງການພົວພັນຕ່າງປະເທດ,ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ສຸພານຸວົງ.

ໂຄງການ ‘ການເສີມສ້າງຄວາມຮູ້ໃຫ້ແກ່ຄູ ກ່ຽວກັບຍຸດທະສາດທີ່ມີປະສິດທິຜົນສໍາລັບການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອນັກຮຽນ ໂອທິສຕິກ ໃນການສຶກສາຂັ້ນປະຖົມ’ ມີເປົ້າໝາຍເພື່ອແກ້ໄຂສິ່ງທ້າທາຍຫຼັກໆທີ່ຄູສອນຊັ້ນປະຖົມ ກຳລັງປະເຊີນໃນການສອນນັກຮຽນໂອທິສຕິກ ໃນຫຼວງພະບາງ. ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວມີຈຸດປະສົງເພື່ອສ້າງຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂງໃຫ້ຄູອາຈານ ແລະ ພາກສ່ວນທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ ພ້ອມກັບຊຸກຍູ້ສົ່ງເສີມສະພາບແວດລ້ອມໃນການສຶກສາໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ ແລະ ດີຂື້ນກວ່າເກົ່າ.

ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຈະເປັນປະໂຫຍດໂດຍກົງຕໍ່ກັບຄູອາຈານຈຳນວນ 55 ຄົນ ແລະ ຜູ້ປົກຄອງປະມານ 15 ຄົນ ໂດຍການເຂົ້າຮ່ວມການຝຶກອົບຮົມເພື່ອໃຫ້ຄວາມຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບເດັກໂອທິສຕິກ, ການປັບປຸງການຄຸ້ມຄອງຫ້ອງຮຽນ ແລະ ການເຮັດວຽກຮ່ວມກັນລະຫວ່າງພໍ່ແມ່ ແລະ ຄູອາຈານ. ນອກຈາກນັ້ນ, ນັກຮຽນໂອທິສຕິກຈະໄດ້ຮັບຜົນປະໂຫຍດຈາກຍຸດທະສາດທີ່ຖືກປັບແຕ່ງໃຫ້ເຫມາະສົມ, ຜູ້ບໍລິຫານໂຮງຮຽນຈະສົ່ງເສີມການຮຽນຮ່ວມ, ແລະ ຜູ້ຊ່ຽວຊານດ້ານການສຶກສາພິເສດຈະຮ່ວມມືກັບຄູອາຈານເພື່ອເສີມຂະຫຍາຍການສະໜັບສະໜູນທີ່ເໝາະສົມໃຫ້ກັບທຸກພາກສ່ວນ. ອຈ. ປທ. ນາງ ສົມໃຈ ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ “ເດັກນ້ອຍທຸກຄົນມີຄວາມສາມາດພິເສດ; ດ້ວຍການສະໜັບສະໜູນທີ່ຖືກຕ້ອງ, ຄູອາຈານສາມາດປົດລັອກທ່າແຮງຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ ແລະ ສ້າງຫ້ອງຮຽນທີ່ຜູ້ຮຽນທຸກຄົນສາມາດຈະເລີນເຕີບໂຕໄດ້”.
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Somchay Makesavanh is an Australia Awards Short Course alumni who attended the Inclusive Leadership program in 2022. Currently she works as the Division Head of International Expert, Volunteer, and Student Management at the International Relations Office, Souphanouvong University.

Her innovative project ‘Empowering Teachers: Effective Strategies for Supporting Autistic Students in Primary Education’ seeks to address key challenges faced by primary school teachers in supporting autistic learners in Luang Prabang. The project aims to empower teachers and key stakeholders to foster a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

The project will directly benefit 55 teachers and 15 parents by providing autism awareness training and resources, improving classroom management and parent-teacher collaboration. Indirectly, autistic students will benefit from tailored strategies, school administrators will foster inclusivity, and special education professionals will collaborate with teachers to enhance support. Somchay says “Every child has unique abilities; with the right support, teachers can unlock their potential and create a classroom where all learners thrive”.

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ທ່ານ ວັນຊະນະ ອິນສານ ຈົບການສຶກສາໃນປີ 2024 ດ້ວຍປະລິນຍາໂທແບບປະສົມປະສານ: ປະລິນຍາໂທ ສາຂາການຕະຫຼາດ ແລະ ປະລິນຍາໂທ ສາຂາສື່ມວນຊົນ ແລະ ການສື່ສານ ຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ Macquarie. ປັດຈຸບັນທ່ານ ວັນຊະນະ ເປັນທີ່ປຶກສາອິດສະຫຼະ ດ້ານການສື່ສານ ແລະ ສື່ດິຈິຕອນ.

ໂຄງການຂອງທ່ານ ວັນຊະນະ ‘Youth Penny (ຢຸດທ໌ເພັນນີ້)’ ມີຈຸດປະສົງເພື່ອສ້າງແຫຼ່ງຮຽນຮູ້ເລື່ອງການເງິນ ທີ່ອອກແບບມາເພື່ອສະໜອງເນື້ອຫາທີ່ມ່ວນ, ເຂົ້າໃຈງ່າຍ, ແລະ ເຂົ້າເຖິງໄດ້ສໍາລັບໄວໜຸ່ມທຸກຄົນ. ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຈະເປັນປະໂຫຍດໂດຍກົງຕໍ່ຊາວໜຸ່ມປະມານ 250 ຄົນໂດຍຜ່ານສາມກິດຈະກໍາທີ່ສໍາຄັນເຊັ່ນ: ການຮຽນຮູ້ແບບອອນໄລນ໌, ການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມໃນສື່ຊົນສັງຄົມອອນໄລນ໌, ແລະ ງານວາງສະແດງດ້ານການສຶກສາທາງດ້ານການເງິນ (FinEd Fair). ໂຄງການນີ້ແມ່ນແນໃສ່ເພື່ອແກ້ໄຂ ການຂາດຄວາມຮູ້ທາງດ້ານການເງິນ, ວັດທະນະທໍາການສົນທະນາທາງດ້ານການເງິນສ່ວນບຸກຄົນ, ແລະ ການຂາດການສະໜັບສະໜຸນທີ່ສາມາດເຂົ້າເຖິງໄດ້ ສໍາລັບສິ່ງທ້າທາຍທາງດ້ານການເງິນ.

ທ່ານ ວັນຊະນະ ກ່າວວ່າ “ທີ່ຢຸດທ໌ເພັນນີ້ ພວກເຮົາເຊື່ອວ່າທຸກຄົນສົມຄວນໄດ້ຮັບໂອກາດໃນການໃຊ້ຊີວິດໃນແບບທີ່ໃຝ່ຝັນ, ບໍ່ວ່າຈະແມ່ນນັ່ງດື່ມກາເຟຊິລໆຢູ່ເມືອງຫຼວງ ຫຼື ສ້າງອານາຈັກທຸລະກີດພັນລ້ານ. ພວກເຮົາມາເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ການຮຽນຮູ້ເລື່ອງການເງິນເປັນເລື່ອງທີ່ມ່ວນ, ເຂົ້າໃຈງ່າຍ ແລະ ບໍ່ຢາກເຫງົານອນຍ້ອນ, ເຮົາມາເພື່ອປ່ຽນຄວາມເຊື່ອເກົ່າໆ ແລະ ສ້າງແວດລ້ອມທີ່ອຳນວຍໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນລົມເລື່ອງການເງິນໄດ້ຄືເລື່ອງບ້ານໆ. ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າເຮົາຈະເສກຄາຖາແກ້ບັນຫາການເງິນໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນບໍ່ໄດ້, ແຕ່ສິ່ງທີ່ທີມຈະມອບໃຫ້ແມ່ນເປັນຈຸດເລີ່ມຕົ້ນໃນການຮຽນຮູ້ ໃຫ້ໄວໜຸ່ມລາວສາມາດກຳນົດຊະຕາອະນາຄົດການເງິນຂອງຕົນເອງ, ດ້ວຍຄວາມຮູ້ ແລະ ເຄື່ອງມືທີ່ເໝາະສົມ, ທຸກຄົນຈະສາມາດໄປເຖິງຝັ່ງຝັນໄດ້ ເທື່ອລະກ້າວ .”
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Vansana Insal is an Australia Awards graduate with a Master of Marketing & Master of Media and Communications from Macquarie University. He now works as a Freelance Digital communications and multimedia consultant.

His project ‘Youth Penny’ aims to create a financial education hub designed to provide engaging, accessible and simplified content for young people. It will benefit approximately 250 youths through three key activities: e-learning, social media engagement, and a Financial Education Fair. These initiatives target the lack of formal financial literacy education, the cultural stigma surrounding personal finance discussions, and the absence of accessible support for financial challenges.

Vansana emphasises, “At Youth Penny, we believe everyone deserves a shot at living their dream life—whether that’s sipping coffee in Luang Prabang or building a business empire. We’re here to make financial education fun, relatable, and a little less ‘meh,’ breaking taboos and sparking real conversations about money. While we cannot wave a magic wand to solve everyone’s financial problems, we aim to provide a solid starting point for Lao youth to take charge of their financial futures. With the right tools and knowledge, they can skip the stress and start building the life they’ve always imagined—one step (and penny) at a time!”

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ທ່ານນາງ ອານິດຕາ ຢ່າທໍ່ຕູ້, ເປັນທີ່ປຶກສາອິດສະຫຼະ ດ້ານສຸຂະພາບຈິດ ແລະ ໄດ້ຮຽນຈົບປະລິນຍາໂທ ສາຂາທີ່ປຶກສາດ້ານສຸຂະພາບຈິດ ຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ Victoria ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາ #AustraliaAwards, ກໍາລັງແກ້ໄຂບັນຫາກ່ຽວກັບການຂາດຄວາມຮູ້ ແລະ ທັກສະດ້ານສຸຂະພາບຈິດຂອງຄູອາຈານ ແລະ ການຂາດສະຖານທີ່ເພື່ອໃຊ້ໃນການສະໜັບສະໜູນດ້ານສຸຂະພາບຈິດທີ່ເໝາະສົມສໍາລັບນັກຮຽນ.

ໂຄງການນີ້ຈະຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ຄູອາຈານຈຳນວນ 24 ທ່ານ ແລະ ນັກຮຽນຈຳນວນ 500 ຄົນໃນໂຮງຮຽນມັດທະຍົມຕອນຕົ້ນໜອງໜ່ຽງໄດ້ຮັບຜົນປະໂຫຍດ ຈາກການສະໜອງເຄື່ອງມື ແລະ ຄວາມໝັ້ນໃຈໃນການແກ້ໄຂບັນຫາສຸຂະພາບຈິດຂອງນັກຮຽນ, ພ້ອມກັບການສ້າງສະພາບແວດລ້ອມທີ່ປອດໄພທີ່ສະໜັບສະໜູນໃຫ້ນັກຮຽນສາມາດຈັດການອາລົມ ແລະ ໄດ້ຮັບການແນະນຳເພື່ອປ້ອງກັນ ຫຼື ຫຼຸດການລົບກວນໃນການຮຽນຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ, ສົ່ງເສີມ ຄວາມເປັນຢູ່ທີ່ດີໃນໂຮງຮຽນ. ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວມີເປົ້າໝາຍເພື່ອສົ່ງເສີມສະພາບແວດລ້ອມໃນການສຶກສາໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ ແລະ ດີຂື້ນກວ່າເກົ່າ.

ໂດຍໄດ້ຮັບແຮງບັນດານໃຈຈາກປະສົບການສ່ວນຕົວ ທີ່ເຄີຍຖືກສີດສີເຢາະເຢ້ຍ ແລະ ເຄີຍພົບພໍ້ກັບສິ່ງທ້າທາຍດ້ານສຸຂະພາບຈິດ, ທ່ານນາງ ອານິດຕາ ຈຶ່ງມຸ່ງໝັ້ນທີ່ຈະປັບປຸງການສະຫນັບສະຫນູນທາງດ້ານຈິດໃຈໃນໂຮງຮຽນ. ທ່ານນາງ ອານິດຕາ ໄດ້ເນັ້ນ ໜັກວ່າ “ສຸຂະພາບທາງດ້ານຈິດໃຈ ເປັນຫົວຂໍ້ທີ່ຫລາຍເທື່ອມັກຈະຖືກເບິ່ງຂ້າມເຖິງຄວາມສໍາຄັນ. ເຄີຍມີຄໍາເວົ້າທີ່ວ່າ ພຽງແຕ່ເຮົາບໍ່ສາມາດເບິ່ງເຫັນບາງສິ່ງບາງຢ່າງໄດ້ ບໍ່ໄດ້ຫມາຍຄວາມວ່າມັນບໍ່ມີຢູ່ຈິງ, ແລະ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຄິດວ່າຄໍາເວົ້ານີ້ສະແດງເຖິງມຸມມອງທີ່ສຸຂະພາບທາງດ້ານຈິດໃຈຖືກເບິ່ງໃນສັງຄົມເຮົາ. ໃນການເຮັດສິ່ງໃດຫນຶ່ງ, ການກໍ່ໃຫ້ເກີດຜົນກະທົບທີ່ແທ້ຈິງຈະເກີດຂຶ້ນໄດ້ກໍຕໍ່ເມື່ອພວກເຮົາເລີ່ມຈາກການໃສ່ໃຈສຸຂະພາບຂອງຕົນເອງ, ເປັນຕົ້ນແມ່ນສຸຂະພາບທາງກາຍ ແລະ ຈິດໃຈ. ສະນັ້ນ, ທຸກຄົນມາເລີ່ມຈາກການໃຫ້ຄວາມສໍາຄັນຂອງສຸຂະພາບທາງດ້ານຈິດໃຈກັນເທາະ.”
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Anitta Yathortou, is an Australia Awards alumni with a Master of Counselling from Victoria University, Melbourne Australia. She is concerned about the lack of mental health knowledge and skills among teachers and the absence of a proper support space for students.

Her project will benefit 24 teachers and 500 students at Nong Nieng High School by equipping teachers with the tools and confidence to address student mental health issues, creating a safe, supportive environment where students can manage emotions and receive guidance, preventing further disruptions in their learning promoting overall school well-being. The project seeks to foster a healthier and more inclusive educational setting.

Inspired by her personal experiences with bullying and mental health challenges, Anitta is committed to improving emotional well-being in schools. She emphasises, “Mental well-being is often being overlooked. There is a saying that just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it does not exist, and I think it represents the view of mental well-being in our community. True impact will only emerge once we start taking care of our well-being, including but not limited to physical and mental well-being. So, let the true impact start with you prioritising your mental well-being.”

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2025!
ທ່ານ ບົວລອຍ ທອງຄຳ, ອະດີດນັກສຶກສາ ທຶນການສຶກສາລາວ-ອົດສະຕຣາລີ ສຳລັບຮຽນພາຍໃນປະເທດ (LANS) ທີ່ມີຄວາມບົກຜ່ອງທາງການເບິ່ງເຫັນ, ຈົບປະລິນຍາຕີ ສາຂາຈິດຕະວິທະຍາ ຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລແຫ່ງຊາດລາວ ໃນປີ 2020. ປັດຈຸບັນ ທ່ານ ບົວລອຍ ເຮັດວຽກເປັນນັກພັດທະນາຄົນພິການແບບມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມ ຢູ່ທີ່ ສະມາຄົມພັດທະນາ ແລະ ສົ່ງເສີມອາຊີບຄົນພິການຕາ.

ໃນຕົ້ນປີ 2024, ດ້ວຍການສະໜັບສະໜູນຈາກລັດຖະບານອົດສະຕຣາລີ, ທ່ານ ບົວລອຍ ແລະ ທີມງານ ໄດ້ພັດທະນາຊອບແວອ່ານໜ້າຈໍ Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA), ໃຫ້ສາມາດອ່ານພາສາລາວໄດ້ ໂດຍການເພີ່ມຄຳສັບພາສາລາວຫຼາຍກວ່າ 10,000 ຄໍາ ເຂົ້າໃນຊອບແວ. ຊອບແວອ່ານໜ້າຈໍດັ່ງກ່າວຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ຄົນພິການຕາໃນລາວເຂົ້າເຖິງ ຄອມພິວເຕີ້ໄດ້ງ່າຍ, ເຮັດໃຫ້ພວກເຂົາ ເຂົ້າເຖິງຂໍ້ມູນໄດ້ດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ, ປະຕິບັດກິດຈະກໍາຕ່າງໆ, ແລະ ປັບປຸງຄຸນນະພາບຊີວິດໂດຍລວມຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າໃຫ້ດີຂຶ້ນ.

ດ້ວຍທຶນຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຂະໜາດນ້ອຍ ສຳລັບອະດີດນັກສຶກສາລາວ-ອົດສະຕຣາລີ, ທ່ານ ບົວລອຍ ມີເປົ້າໝາຍຈັດຝຶກອົບຮົມໃຫ້ແກ່ຄົນພິການຕາຈຳນວນ 40 ຄົນ ເພື່ອແນະນຳການນຳໃຊ້ ຊອບແວອ່ານໜ້າຈໍ NVDA Add-on. ການຝຶກອົບຮົມຈະເນັ້ນໜັກໃສ່ການໃຊ້ງານຕົວຈິງຂອງເຄື່ອງມື ໃນຊີວິດປະຈໍາວັນ, ໃນການເຮັດວຽກ ແລະ ການໃຊ້ໃນຮູບແບບອື່ນໆທີ່ຊອບແວສາມາດເຮັດໄດ້. ນອກຈາກນັ້ນ, ທ່ານ ບົວລອຍ ຍັງວາງແຜນທີ່ຈະຈັດກິດຈະກໍາເພື່ອສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນເຖິງຄວາມສາມາດຂອງຄົນພິການຕາ ພ້ອມທັງເຊີນຜູ້ຕາງໜ້າຈາກບໍລິສັດຕ່າງໆເພື່ອມາອະທິບາຍກ່ຽວກັບທ່າແຮງໃນການຈ້າງງານຄົນພິການຕາ. ໂຄງການນີ້ຈະສ້າງຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂງໃຫ້ຄົນພິການຕາດ້ວຍທັກສະດິຈິຕອນທີ່ຈໍາເປັນ, ປັບປຸງການຈ້າງງານໃຫ້ດີຂຶ້ນ, ແລະ ການຍົກລະດັບຄວາມຮັບຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບການມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມເຂົ້າໃນສັງຄົມ ແລະ ໃນບ່ອນເຮັດວຽກ.
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Boualoy Thongkham, a visually impaired Laos Australia National Scholarship alumni, graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology from the National University of Laos (NUOL)… in 2020. He currently works as a trainer at the Vocational Development Blind Association.

In early 2024, with support from the Australian Government, Boualoy and his team developed a breakthrough Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) Add-on, which incorporates up to 10,000 Lao words into the software. This tool significantly improves computer accessibility for visually impaired individuals in Laos, allowing them to independently access information, perform various activities, and improve their overall quality of life.

Now, with the Alumni Innovation Grant, Boualoy aims to train 40 visually impaired individuals in using the NVDA Add-on. The training will focus on practical applications of the tool in daily life and work, emphasising its versatility. Additionally, he plans to host an event to demonstrate the capabilities of visually impaired individuals and engage employer representatives to promote their employment potential. This project will empower visually impaired people with essential digital skills, improve employability, and raise awareness about inclusivity in society and the workplace.

ທ່ານ ວັນນະພອນ ເພັດປະເສີດ, ຜູ້ຊ່ຽວຊານດ້ານນ້ຳ ຈາກ ກະຊວງຊັບພະຍາກອນທຳມະຊາດ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ, ໄດ້ຮຽນຈົບຈາກ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ South Australia ໃນລະດັບປະລິນຍາໂທ ສາຂາ ວິສະວະກຳ ຊັບພະຍາກອນນໍ້າ ໃນປີ 2020 ດ້ວຍທຶນການສຶກສາອົດສະຕຣາລີ. ທ່ານ ວັນນະພອນ ມີເປົ້າໝາຍເພື່ອຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ໄວໜຸ່ມທີ່ຮຽນຈົບໃໝ່, ໂດຍສະເພາະນັກສຶກສາຂອງຄະນະຊັບພະຍາກອນນ້ໍາ ໄດ້ມີໂອກາດເຂົ້າເຖິງການຈ້າງງານທີ່ເໝາະສົມຫຼາຍຂື້ນ.

ໂຄງການຂອງເພີ່ນ, ‘ອານະຄົດຂອງນັກວິຊາການໄວໜຸ່ມດ້ານນ້ຳ’, ມີຈຸດປະສົງເພື່ອແກ້ໄຂສິ່ງທ້າທາຍທີ່ນັກສຶກສາຈົບໃໝ່ຈາກມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລໃນ ສປປ ລາວ ກຳລັງປະເຊີນໃນຕະຫຼາດແຮງງານ. ທ່ານ ວັນນະພອນ ອະທິບາຍວ່າ, “ນັກຮຽນມັດທະຍົມປາຍຫຼາຍຄົນ ຮູ້ສຶກບໍ່ໝັ້ນໃຈກ່ຽວກັບການສຶກສາຕໍ່ ໃນລະດັບປະລິນຍາ ເນື່ອງຈາກຄວາມກັງວົນໃນການໄດ້ວຽກເຮັດທີ່ດີພາຍຫຼັງສຳເລັດການສຶກສາ. ໂດຍການແກ້ໄຂຊ່ອງວ່າງດ້ານທັກສະ, ເພີ່ມໂອກາດໃນການຝຶກງານ, ແລະ ການເຂົ້າເຖິງເຄືອຂ່າຍວິຊາຊີບ ເຮົາສາມາດຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ ນັກສຶກສາຈົບໃໝ່ ເຂົ້າສູ່ຕະຫຼາດແຮງງານໄດ້ຢ່າງໝັ້ນໃຈ”

ໂຄງການດັ່ງກ່າວຈະເປັນປະໂຫຍດຕໍ່ນັກສຶກສາປະມານ 20-30 ຄົນ ທີ່ຈະໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມການຝຶກອົບຮົມທາງດ້ານເຕັກນິກວິຊາສະເພາະ ແລະ ທັກສະດ້ານສັງຄົມທີ່ຈຳເປັນ, ພ້ອມກັບການສະໜອງໂອກາດໃນການສ້າງເຄືອຂ່າຍກັບອົງການຈັດຕັ້ງສາກົນ, ອົງການແຫ່ງຊາດ ແລະ ບໍລິສັດເອກະຊົນທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ.
ທ່ານ ວັນນະພອນ ກ່າວວ່າ “ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງມີຄວາມພ້ອມຕະຫຼອດເວລາ. ເມື່ອໂອກາດມາຮອດ, ພວກເຂົາກໍ່ຈະສາມາດຄວ້າມັນໄດ້ ແລະ ໄປໃຫ້ໄກເທົ່າທີ່ພວກພວກເຂົາສາມາດເຮັດໄດ້.”
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Vannaphone Phetpaseuth, a Water Specialist at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, earned a Masters in Engineering in Water Resources Management from the University of South Australia in 2020 with an #AustraliaAwards scholarship. He aims to help young graduates, particularly those from the Faculty of Water Resources, secure meaningful employment.

His project, ‘The Future of Young Water Professionals’, aims to address challenges Lao university graduates face in the job market. He explains, “Many high school students are discouraged from pursuing higher education due to the belief that degrees don’t lead to better job prospects. This issue is caused by gaps in technical and soft skills, as well as limited access to internships and professional networks.”

The project will benefit 20-30 students by offering training in technical and soft skills and providing networking opportunities with international organisations, national agencies, and private industries. Vannaphone stated that “Always be ready. So, when the opportunity comes, they can catch it immediately and go as far as we can.”

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2026!

Phaeng Xaphokham completed a diploma in Permaculture in 2021 with an #AustraliaAwards scholarship. This has helped him further his career as an Agriculture Extension Officer at the Luang Prabang Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office.

After working with local farmers to preserve native seeds and increase incomes through honey production, Phaeng is now looking to increase bamboo production for ethnic farmers in remote Northern Laos.

His project, ‘Bamboo conservation for a sustainable future” aims to empower communities in sustainable bamboo management, ensuring environmental protection, income generation, and cultural preservation and being project model for other communities in the future.

Phaeng says “Many rural communities in northern Laos rely on bamboo for food, construction, handicrafts, and income especially for women. However, overharvesting, deforestation, and conversion of forest land into industrial plantations have significantly reduced bamboo availability. With this project, I hope to promote community lead bamboo conservation, sustainable harvesting, and restoration practices.”

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2026!

Nisa Khotyotha was born with vision impairment and had to work extra hard at school to keep up with the class. Determined to succeed, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the National University of Laos, supported by a Laos Australia National Scholarship.

Now, as a Project coordinator at the Disability Service Center (DSC) in Vientiane, Nisa is a strong advocate for people living with disability and tries to find new ways to support them.

Nisa says “This project idea came from daily experience working with persons with disabilities and communities in Laos, where many people want to help but do not have the skills to assist correctly, and accessible information is limited.

Her project, “the Accessible Video Guide on Practical Ways to Assist Persons with Disabilities” aims to create accessible videos using real examples and local presenters with disabilities. The project will review and update the official Guideline on Assisting Persons with Disabilities and convert it into a storyboard for eight short videos demonstrating practical, real-life assistance techniques. These videos will include sign language, subtitles, and audio description, and will be widely shared on social media platforms.

This project will directly benefit people with disabilities, their families, and service providers by increasing awareness and understanding of disability inclusion through real examples and positive messages.

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2026!

Somchay Makesavanh completed an @AustraliaAwards Short Course on Inclusive leadership in 2022 and today she is making a difference as a Division Head at the International Relations Office, Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang.

Somchay says “We have an urgent situation in Luang Prabang, where many autistic children remain at home due to the absence of suitable facilities, trained staff, and specialized support. Both teachers and parents are asking for practical solutions and classroom-based support.”

Her project “Creating a Model Readiness Classroom for Autistic Students to Prepare to Inclusive Education” will create an autism-friendly learning space at Sithan Primary school to support individualized learning and serve as a practical foundation for teacher training.

The project aims to prepare local schools to enroll autistic children through appropriate classrooms, individualized materials, and structured teaching strategies, benefiting future students and their families through improved teacher–parent collaboration.

The Department of Education and Sports in Luang Prabang has expressed strong support for the initiative, with partnerships involving Souphanouvong University, local NGOs, and community stakeholders.

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2026!

Phimmaly Thammavong completed a Master of Sustainability at Deakin University, in 2022 with an Australia Awards Scholarship. Now, she is making a difference at the Food and Agriculture Organization as a National Green Climate Fund Coordination Specialist.

Phimmaly is passionate about Climate Smart Agriculture and how technology, innovative land use and new farming approaches can build resilient agricultural systems.

Working with the Lao Agriculture Cooperation Federation, Phimmaly’s project will support farmers in Chaeng Village, Vientiane to enhance food security and nutrition through year-round crop diversity, promote social inclusion by empowering women and youth, promote value addition by converting agricultural waste into animal feed and use solar-powered irrigation pumps to reduce costs.

Learnings from the ‘Harvest 365 – Cultivating the Future of Agriculture’ project will be shared with other local farming groups strengthening social, economic, and environmental impact.

Let’s meet the #AlumniInnovationGrants participants for 2026!

Aikeo Koomanivong is a vision-impaired professional determined to make a difference.

As director of the Disability Service Center in Laos, he leads a team that has been working to support people with disabilities since its establishment in 2012.

In 2022 Aikeo completed the Australia Awards Short Course on Disability-Inclusive Development and is now using his skills to enable blind people to build real careers in sound engineering and music production

Aikeo says “This project is based on my belief that accessibility, creativity, and technology can open real jobs for blind people. With materials in Lao language, hands-on training, and mentoring, the project aims to empower blind youth to become professional sound engineers and address key problems of limited accessible materials, lack of equipment and mentorship, and few employment opportunities.

The ‘Accessible Sound Lab: Mixing and Mastering Skills for Blind People’ project will build technical skills, provide real work experience, and promote public awareness of the abilities of blind people in sound production.