Stories

A lao woman standing next to a motorbike she used to deliver food to her customers during the pandemic

Covid-19 Takes Away a Single Mother’s Dream

Her job promised a positive future for Chandy, a mother of two, but Covid-19 has taken away her dream to make money to support her family and provide a good education for her children. “I had never borrowed money to buy food before but the lockdown forced me to do so. I am now in debt for about 1...
A low income worker holds a basket full of morning glory

Low Income Workers Struggle During Covid-19 Pandemic

‘’Without the food we get from the wetland, we would not be able to survive,’’ explains Thaek. Khaek’s family is one of many poor households in Nongthatay village, about 8km from central Vientiane. The family’s main income comes from making and selling aprons. But the virus outbreak brought their...

A Worker’s Life Under the Covid-19 Lockdown

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced governments around the world to impose strict measures to contain the potentially deadly virus. As in other parts of the world, Lao authorities initiated a nationwide lockdown to limit the movement of citizens. This strategy has helped Laos maintain a low number of...

Vaccinating the Poorest Half of Humanity Against Coronavirus

OXFAM PRESS RELEASE May 14, 2020 Vaccinating poorest half of humanity against coronavirus could cost less than four month’s big pharma profits - Oxfam Vaccinating the poorest half of humanity – 3.7 billion people - against coronavirus could cost less than the ten biggest pharmaceutical companies...
A Lao female informal worker carries a stack of old cardboard boxes for recycling

COVID-19 and Responses from Laos and the Greater Mekong Subregion

COVID-19 has brought and continues to bring unpreceded challenges for many countries around the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, at this phase the virus had affected 114 countries and resulted in the 4,000 deaths globally.
A student from the National University of Laos hand a bamboo basket to a wet market vendor

Cutting Plastic Pollution in Lao Wet Markets

Wet markets are extremely common in Laos and are the most widespread venues for people to buy and sell meat, vegetables and other products. Although traditional forms of packaging still exist, single-use plastic is widely used.

TIME TO CARE - OXFAM BRIEFING PAPER

Economic inequality is out of control. In 2019, the world’s billionaires, only 2,153 people, had more wealth than 4.6 billion people.

EU-UXO Project: Changing Lives through Gender Action Learning System (GALS)

Meet Phone (right) and Thone (left). Phone and Thone are GALS champions living in Kohing and Huasing villages, respectively, in Houaphan province. During a gender participatory review with local GALS champions that took place from 26-30 August 2019, in Huaphan province, both women shared with us...
A group of young women from Thasommor Village

Small Enterprise for Big Dreams: A Pilot Initiative to Turn Passion into Economic Progress for Young Women in Laos

By Muksin Straker Cook | July 2019 In Laos, women face disadvantages in accessing economic opportunities, as poverty and wellbeing are highly gendered and associated with ethnicity, cultural norms and geography. Women generally occupy the lower rungs of the labour market and are more often excluded...