Internships support ethnic minority groups in Laos

Most people in Laos’ Bokeo province are from ethnic groups – which puts them at a disadvantage in the job market against the majority Lao Loum. While 80% of girls in Laos are enrolled in school, only 46% of girls from ethnic groups are. Many do not even speak Lao.

In 2009, Plan started an internship program to support young people from ethnic minority groups in Laos. The program focuses on recruiting women and girls, with no educational prerequisites, which has long been the biggest employment hurdle for many ethnic groups.

Community development trainees join Plan for 3 years, are given a living allowance, and take part in at least 4 weeks of formal training per year.

Pa Lee

“Because of my hard work and desire to develop my village, Plan gave me this opportunity,” said Pa Lee, a 19-year old ethnic Hmong who had only studied through grade 5 at the primary school in her village. Prior to applying, she had spent 3 months as a village development volunteer.

In May of 2009, Plan selected Pa Lee as a community development trainee, responsible for 4 villages and working closely with Plan staff and children in her own village.

“If I didn’t get this internship, I would have remained a girl who worked on a farm and stayed at home, as most ethnic Hmong women do,” said Pa Lee.

Hopes for a better future

Pa Lee is one of 19 community development trainees - 13 women and 6 men working 40 hours a week with Plan.

“This experience is really inspiring for me,” she said. “Now that I have had this good opportunity with Plan, I would like to share it with others by working for children. I want them to have better education than I had. I would like to become a good community development worker in the future.”

Plan expects to increase the number of interns to 40, and after 3 years, hopes to see its graduates placed in jobs with NGOs and the government, or chosen to become village leaders.

Learn more about Plan's work in Laos.