New Japanese volunteers dispatched by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently arrived in Laos to support socio-economic and human resource development across the country.
The 12 volunteers will focus on helping communities in remote areas of target provinces in various fields, including health, education, agriculture and community development.
They consist of 10 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) and two Senior Volunteers (SVs) who have been dispatched by JICA for a period of two years.
The volunteers will be assigned to various provinces, with one each in Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong and Attapeu provinces, two volunteers going to Luang Prabang province, while three will be volunteering in the capital.
Working side-by-side with Lao counterparts throughout the country there are now 61 JOCVs and 7 SVs. These volunteers continue to help establish and foster friendship and understanding through the technical transfer of knowledge and skills and the sharing of their experiences.
Since 1965, over 944 JOCV/SVs have been dispatched throughout Laos in the fields of health, education, sports, agriculture, culture, environment engineering and community development.
The dispatch of this latest group of volunteers reaffirms the commitment of JICA to vigorously pursue its positive contribution to the social and economic development of Laos.
Before heading off to their various assignments, the volunteers paid a courtesy visit to the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment, yesterday.
Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Ms Sisomboun Ounavong, said Japanese volunteers have been providing assistance to local communities, especially young people, in the target provinces.
The volunteers will continue human resource development in Laos, by not only supporting the technical side but by also helping to establish and foster friendships through sharing their experiences, Ms Sisomboun said.
She mentioned the different conditions of the target provinces where the volunteers will be assigned, saying that each province would have different facilities as some areas were far from towns and had poor roads which would make travel difficult.
I believe that these volunteers will be strong and work together to help upgrade the living standards of residents in these communities, Ms Sisomboun said.
Source: Vientiane Times
