A series of talks by Lao youths to highlight the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people in Lao PDR
On 27 January 2022 – Today, UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT), the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union (LYU), the National University of Laos (NUOL), ChildFund in Laos and Global Shapers organised a series of talks by Lao youths to highlight the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people in Lao PDR.
The Lao Youth Talks event, which was organised under the central theme of “Reimagining the Lao Generation 2030 – building back a better, greener, more sustainable post-pandemic world for every child”, gathered seven talented and passionate Lao youths from a diverse background all across the country to present their perspectives on the most pressing issues affecting children and young people in Lao PDR, including topics related to education, climate change, health, child protection, nutrition and gender equality.
The event was organised at Lao Youth Union as a hybrid event, with key personnel attending the event physically while the majority of viewers joined in to watch a livestream of the event through online and social media channels.
“The Lao Youth Talks is especially relevant now as many of the topics explored are becoming more prominent due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr. Biju Abraham, Country Director of ChildFund in Laos. “It is clear that children are among the hardest hit by the pandemic, ranging from missing out on learning experiences at school crucial to their development to having their access to key health services disrupted. Thus, it is important that we hear from youths and children to ensure that our pandemic recovery efforts are inclusive.”
The partners behind this event recognize the importance of youth and children’s participation and engagement as agents of change. The Lao Youth Talks represent an important milestone in the development and promotion of a dialogue platform where young people in Lao PDR can actively participate in discussions aimed at creating a Lao PDR in which no child or youth is left behind.
