Siena:The Youth Skills Expo, held under the theme “Investing in Us,” was organized by the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union with support from UNICEF. The event showcased the contributions of young Lao people to national development as the country prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status in November.
According to Lao News Agency, the expo was opened by Mr. Thongly Sisoulith, Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, and Mr. Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, UNICEF Country Representative to the Lao PDR. The event brought together representatives from government ministries, embassies, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, academia, and young people from across the country.
Mr. Thongly Sisoulith emphasized the importance of developing young Lao people into knowledgeable and skilled citizens. He stated that this is a shared responsibility of society to ensure that youth become a core force in national development.
The exhibition featured the work of Project Sinxay, a collaboration between the Lao Youth Union and UNICEF, which has reached over 7,000 young people in various regions, including Vientiane and Savannakhet. The project supports youth-led initiatives in advocacy and innovation, such as rice-straw products and campaigns on digital safety and child marriage prevention.
Ms. Chanphone Xongchaiyua, a 21-year-old Project Sinxay Youth Advocate from Huaphan Province, highlighted the importance of listening to young voices to build confidence and create positive change. Mr. Durrani added that as Laos enters a new stage of development, the skills and ideas of its youth will be among its greatest assets, and UNICEF is committed to supporting this growth.
The expo followed the International Day of the Girl, emphasizing the importance of supporting adolescent girls in education and skill-building as part of the new Country Programme of Cooperation between the Government of the Lao PDR and UNICEF for 2027-2031.
