I was able to volunteer overseas in my parent’s home country of Laos. There I worked extensively with a nonprofit organization called the Lao Disabled Women’s Development Centre, which provides resources to disabled women in Lao PDR. Among many resources, like housing and meals, the Centre provides an array of vocational and technological lessons. I was designated as assistant English instructor thanks to my proficiency in English and my knowledge of the Lao language due to using it to communicate with my parents at home. I got to meet many amazing women, all of whom were extremely enthusiastic to learn English. I got to work very closely with the director Madame Chanhpheng Sivila as well as many of the other administrative staff in promoting the Centre.
At the Centre, I was able to gain another insight in life which I would attribute to spending time with many of the inspiring women at the Centre. It really influenced what I plan on doing in my career, since I was motivated to work in humanitarian causes. I have plans to return in two years, but for the time being, I am in the process of developing outreach programs as a representative for the Centre. Additionally, I am coordinating different fundraisers for the Centre which will go towards supplies and classes for the women at the Centre. I hope that I will be able to gain support from fellow YYGS alumni on some of these projects since it is something I am very passionate about and I cannot wait to return.