Lao Women’s Union and Save the Children celebrates 3-year milestone of Child Protection Project in Laos

One of Save the Children’s child protection projects in Laos celebrated its 3-year milestone, with all results presented during the project closing ceremony held on December 10, 2024, in Luang Prabang province.
The ceremony was co-chaired by the Lao Women’s Union, a long-standing partner of the project, and presided over by Vice President of the Lao Women’s Union, Mrs Sirikit Boupha. Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of International and

Organisation, the Director General of the Department of Publicity, Training, and Culture under the Lao Women’s Union, representatives from provincial departments, the project supervisor, the district project coordination committee, village-level beneficiaries, and project staff. A total of 69 participants, including 49 women, attended the event. This meeting marked an important occasion for the project and Save the Children International in the Lao PDR. It provided an opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders—high-level, middle-level, and grassroots officials—for their cooperation and support throughout the project’s lifecycle. Additionally, the event reinforced the ongoing need for collaboration to ensure the sustainability of the project’s results, particularly in creating a brighter future for girls and young mothers.
Mrs Sirikit Boupha said, “The project has significantly contributed to socio-economic development, especially by empowering women to play active roles in society, participate in, and access development opportunities. One of the most impactful components has been the income-generating activities, which have produced excellent results. These activities align with the policies of the Lao Women’s Union and the economic plans of provinces and districts. To ensure their continuity and sustainability, it is crucial that local authorities, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, continue to monitor and integrate these initiatives into sectoral work.”
During the session, representatives of young mothers and out-of-school girls who received support from the project expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to create lasting impacts on their lives and serve as role models of being creative parents and young entherpernals in their communities. They also emphasised that many girls and young mothers are still waiting for help to bring about positive changes in their lives.
The Preventing and Responding Child Early and Forced Marriage Project in Luang Prabang province began on September 6, 2022, targeting 20 villages across four districts: Nambak, Ngoy, Viengkham, and Phonthong. With financial support of US$ 567,581 from Save the Children Hong Kong, the project aimed to protect young people—particularly girls from ethnic groups in remote rural communities—from early and forced marriage.
The project successfully reached 8,853 beneficiaries, including 4,977 women, encompassing central, provincial, district, and village-level government partners. Its overarching goal was to ensure that young people, especially girls, could exercise their rights and realise their full potential in all aspects of life.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update December 16, 2024)