Teaching life-changing skills to young people
Teaching life-changing skills to young people
In a remote village in the mountains of Laos, young girls like Phin are learning the skills that will provide a future with greater independence and stability.
Phin lives with her younger brother and mother. Until recently, their only income came from the rice field they owned – unfortunately it was not enough to cover the cost of going to school for Phin and her brother. Phin stopped going to school before she was twelve.
Over five years later, sixteen-year-old Phin was introduced to a project supported by Plan International and our local partner, Camkid. Together with nine other women from her village, Phin took part in an intensive training course to learn the techniques of the century-old tradition of weaving. With the help of project coordinator Simone, they're learning a new way of providing for themselves.
When Simone came to present the weaver project which Plan International supports, I was super enthusiastic. I would like to start up my own business, so I can take care of my family. As I’m the youngest of our group, the other women regularly give me advice during our weaving sessions, so we talk quite a lot.
Camkid also organises stage performances and other sessions that focus on issues such as health care, access to education, and gender equality. The aim is to inspire these girls and women to know that they can start their own businesses, duly prepared with their new skills and self-confidence.
Phin and another girl from the group practicing their new skills 
Project coordinator Simone teaching at the weaving group 
Phin with some of her traditionally woven cloth
The weaving programme in Laos is one of the many ways that we help young people build their self-confidence and learn life-changing skills. These new skills will provide opportunities to create better, more sustainable livelihoods.