Following the phenomenal success of last year’s first ever TEDx event, the Vientiane Global Shapers will organize the second TEDx event in Laos. This year, TEDxLaneXangAveWomen will focus on the theme Reimagine with the objective of empowering and celebrating women nationwide. The event will be part of the official worldwide TEDxWomen 2017 Conference and will take place on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane Capital.
Tickets to the event sold out on the first day, testifying to the immense popularity that the TEDx brand has in the country.
Benjamin Soo, Vientiane Global Shaper (an initiative of the World Economic Forum) Curator, explains the the rationale for hosting the event.
“If you step back into history and look at the very fabric of Lao community and history, you’ll see that Lao women had a lot, if not everything, to do with the progress we’ve made as a country today. We’re thrilled to organize an event that not only empowers but also celebrates women all over Laos because of the role they play in our community. I’m so proud to be leading my team at Global Shapers Vientiane because of everything they stand for and want to cultivate in our communities to make this city a better place for the future generations to come and this event is a step forward towards that direction.”
“We are extremely excited to host the first of its kind female empowerment forum in Laos. Speakers from culturally and professionally distinct backgrounds will take the stage and share groundbreaking ideas and inspiring stories. This event will put the spotlight on dedicated Laotian women who have worked tirelessly to tackle local pressing issues such as human trafficking and mental health. It will serve as a platform to allow these women to voice their messages and share their experiences with our community. In addition, we will also hear from inspiring women in the fashion and textile industries who have, in an endless effort to preserve Lao culture, brought global recognition to Lao textiles. The involvement of these speakers in the Lao community is truly inspirational. Each of these women lead by example and serve as role models to women worldwide,” adds Vientiane Global Shaper, Mary Bounthalath.
This year’s TEDx event will showcase the following incredible women and their motivational journeys: the founder and designer of Naree Handbags, Ms Manothip Siripaphanh; National Project Coordinator for the UN action against Human Trafficking, Ms Xoukiet Panyanouvong; Co-Founder and Co-Director of OckPopTok Textiles, Ms Veomanee Douangdala; psychiatrist and program manager at Basic Needs Org, Ms Chantharavady Choulamany and the first and only horror film director in Laos, Ms Mattie Do.
The Vientiane Global Shapers have partnered with the Office of the Embassy of Canada and British Embassy to host the TEDxLaneXangAveWomen event in Vientiane.
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.
To learn more about the TEDxLaneXangAveWomen event, please visit their official facebook page.
