U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Paul Mayer and a team from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane traveled to Phongsali Province December 16-20 to meet with provincial and district officials, and to deliver warm clothing, books, and toys worth nearly 8 million Lao Kip to the children of Phongsali.
The team met with the Vice Governor of Phongsali Province, Mr. Angphu A Ly, along with Phongsali Province Chief of Foreign Affairs Mr. Khamlek Setyaseng, Phongsali Province Chief of Education and Sports Sanvanxay Sengmany, and several other local leaders. The team presented Phongsali officials with boxes of clothing and blankets donated by U.S. Embassy personnel in response to news stories highlighting the need for cold-weather clothing in the province. DCM Mayer and Embassy staff also met with district leaders from Gnot Ou, Boun Neua, and Boun Tai Districts.
The U.S. Embassy team visited five schools around the province, providing each school with books and sports kits for the students and, on one occasion, played soccer and volleyball with middle school students in Boun Neua. In rural Gnot Ou District, Embassy representatives also provided a cash donation to purchase chalkboards for the school’s classrooms.
The U.S. Embassy’s visit to Phongsali is part of a broader program of outreach throughout the Lao PDR, designed in part to highlight areas in which the United States and the Lao PDR can cooperate on issues related to education, development, and public health.
