What a pleasure it is to see the results of the efforts carried out together with our Laotian partner.
For nearly 10 years, we have been supporting street children in Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Often very young, children leave their family homes, driven by hunger and/or domestic violence, in search of a better life. And yet, life on the streets often leads to deep disillusionment and dangerous situations: harmful encounters, drugs, prostitution, and more. The Peuan-Mit centre welcomes these young people, helps heal their physical and emotional wounds, and, for the youngest, supports their return to school and their reintegration into their families. For older youth, aged 14 and above, when the gap in schooling is too wide and returning to the formal education system proves difficult, vocational training can offer a particularly promising path.
By enabling a gradual entry into the world of work whilst pursuing structured training, this model provides real opportunities for the future and helps to establish vocational training as a strong and valuable pathway for many young people.
Whilst remaining housed in the reception centre, the young people take part in six-month training programs in hospitality or mechanics. The Mini-Makpeth (Vientiane) and Khaipheen (Luang Prabang) restaurants, run by manager Noi and chef Kai, serve as a nurturing environment for talented young people. Beyond learning a trade, it is also a return to social life, a restoration of confidence, and a renewed sense of self-worth… Highly valued for their skills, professionalism, and strong motivation, the youth then quickly find employment in restaurants across this beautiful town along the Mekong River. This commitment is shared among three parties: Peuan-Mit ensures ongoing support to the youth, employers provide guidance and pays the employee a fair wage (around 100 to 120 dollars a month), and the young people themselves actively engage in their work and contribute equally with their employer to the cost of their accommodation.
Testimonial (Anne Simon) : During my visits, I have the opportunity to dine in the restaurants involved in our programme, and I am always deeply moved by the professionalism of the young people who welcome and serve customers, as well as by the pride they take in their work.
I also particularly value meeting former cohorts to see how they’ve progressed and to hear about their experiences. This year, I visited a very popular restaurant in Luang Prabang, where I was welcomed by the manager, Ms. Suong (name changed). I met the head chef and sous-chef of her establishment, ‘Villa Puck Luck’, both former participants in the vocational training programme: Boua, 24, and Kasia, 20 (pictured from right to left).
Boua arrived alone from the particularly poor mountainous region in the north-east of the country. After several months of wandering, she joined the centre and soon entered the training programme. Under the guidance of head chef Kai, she developed a passion for cooking and decided to make it her career. She has now been working at “Villa Puck Luck” for five years and has no intention of leaving. Her salary, now around four times the minimum wage, has allowed her to save money and start planning for the future. Her dream is for her young husband, a driver in the north, to join her so that they can one day run a restaurant together.
Kasia, for her part, has had to overcome personal challenges that made travelling alone more difficult. Thanks to her salary, she was able to save money and buy a small electric motorbike, her pride and joy. “I feel much safer getting around,” she says, “I feel free on my motorbike, and it truly makes me happy!” Working alongside Boua and under the attentive mentorship of Ms. Suong has helped her gain confidence, progress in her job, and feel fully independent.
Congratulations to Boua and Kasia, who, through their courage and determination, are reinventing their lives and opening up new opportunities.
With the right support, caring guidance and concrete opportunities, young people can transform their paths and build stable, self-directed lives. A profession can truly change a life.
Thank you to everyone who makes these successes possible.