Course organisers assess scheme to provide rural women with job skills

The Lao Women’s Union and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family have joined forces to provide vocational training for Lao women, to improve their job prospects..
A meeting to discuss the management of the project took place on Friday at the Lao Women’s Training Centre in Vientiane, chaired by the Vice President of the Lao Women’s Union, Mrs Sirikit Bouppha and a representative of Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Mr Shang Heang Choi.
Also present were members of the Lao Women’s Union from Luang Prabang, Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Xekong provinces, as well as officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Sports, and other bodies.
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Sirikit said the training project was supported by Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and carried out by the Dorundorun Asia Women Bridge.
“This meeting will report on the progress of the project and the challenges we face in the future, as well as discuss issues relating to women’s skill development and ways to build their capacity,” she added.
Mrs Sirikit called on everyone present to share information and ideas in order to resolve problems and make realistic plans for the future.
Deputy Director of the Lao Women’s Training Centre, Mr Chanbandith Khounphom, said the vocational training project began in 2016 with the aim of providing women with the skills needed to get a job. The courses target marginalised women in rural areas who struggle to find work and earn a living.
Most recently, 57 marginalised women from around the country learnt skills in the fields of cooking, tailoring and beauty treatment as part of the project coordinated by the Lao Women’s Union and Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
The Lao Women’s Union was established in 1955 to unify the country’s women in support of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
Over 40 years later, it has a membership of about 600,000 women nationwide.
In 1991 the Union was recognised under the Constitution as being responsible for responding to women’s development needs, promoting the status and role of women, and encouraging unity amongst women of different ethnic groups and social strata.

By Viengdavanh Banphahaksa
(Latest Update November 25, 2019)