Louny is a 47-year-old woman from Kern Tai village in Vientiane District, a mother of two, and a staff member at the Women with Disability Association. Living with a physical disability since early childhood, her life has been shaped by resilience and a strong determination to ensure that people with disabilities are not only included but recognized as leaders within their communities.
Growing up in a poor family with nine siblings, Louny had limited access to education. She dropped out of school at a young age due to long distances and lack of transportation. As she grew older, she also faced social stigma and rejection from her husband’s family because of her disability. However, through perseverance and mutual support, Louny and her husband built a stable life together raising their children, managing their household, and gradually earning acceptance. Their journey proved that disability does not define a person’s value or potential.
Despite years of work experience, Louny continues to face barriers due to her lack of formal education. Rather than allowing these challenges to hold her back, she has focused on strengthening her skills, confidence, and leadership through practical experience and continuous learning. She has participated in several capacity-building workshops organized by government agencies and International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs). These opportunities not only expanded her knowledge and skills, but also helped her witness a meaningful shift in attitudes—where Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles are increasingly reflected in real practice.
Another significant turning point in Louny’s journey was her involvement in the Driving Down Dengue in Lao PDR (DDDiL) project, supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the World Mosquito Program and the Lao Ministry of Health. Through this initiative, Louny strengthened her understanding of dengue prevention and, importantly, found a platform where her voice and leadership as a woman with a disability were genuinely valued. For the first time, she was not only a participant, but an active contributor and advocate—helping raise awareness and protect communities, especially children, from dengue.
The DDDiL project intentionally promoted inclusion, ensuring that people with disabilities could take active leadership roles in community engagement and prevention efforts. This experience reinforced Louny’s confidence and demonstrated how inclusive programming can unlock the potential of those often left behind.
“This project reminded me of the illness that changed my life,” Louny shared during a community session. “But it also gave me a voice—to protect others and to show that people with disabilities can lead change.”
Today, Louny continues to use her lived experience to promote dengue prevention while advocating for inclusion and dignity for people with disabilities. Her journey illustrates how inclusive, community-based initiatives like DDDiL can transform not only knowledge and behaviour, but lives—turning experience into leadership and challenges into strength.
