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SDC Delegation and MoES Representatives Visit VTESS Activities in Two Provinces

Laos
Initial vocational education and training
LAOS Phetsila Phoumbandith23.05.2025
From 12–14 May 2025, a delegation from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), and Swisscontact visited VTESS project sites in Xayabouly province to observe progress in vocational skills development and entrepreneurship support.
The delegation and Swisscontact team visiting the Director General of the Provincial Education and Sports Services of Xayabouly province

In Xayabouly, the delegation met with graduates from the Integrated Vocational Education and Training (IVET) School who are now employed in car and motorbike repair services. They also engaged with Enterprise-Based Training (EBT) participants, including a woman with a daughter who has opened her own beauty salon. In addition, the group visited three seed money recipients who have successfully launched small businesses in tailoring, barbershop services, and mushroom farming. These beneficiaries are now generating income and contributing to their local economies.

Visiting a Seed Money Recipient, who is now opening his own barbershop in Xayabouly province and has extended his shop within a month
Visiting a Seed Money Recipient, who is now opening her tailoring shop in Xayabouly province
Visiting a Seed Money Recipient, who owns a mushroom farming business in Xayabouly province and significantly improved himself under VTESS
Visiting an IVET Training Beneficiary in Light engine Repairs, who is now an assistant mechanic at a Car Repair Shop in Xayabouly town

The delegation held discussions with the Deputy Governor of Xayabouly, representatives from the IVET School, the Provincial Education and Sports Services (PESS), and the Provincial Office of Labour and Social Welfare (PoLSW). These exchanges emphasized the importance of collaboration between local authorities and the VTESS project in promoting inclusive skills development and employment.

The delegation and Swisscontact team meeting with the D-Governor of Xayabouly province
Seeing Income & expenses record book of a Seed Money Recipient in Xayabouly province
Visiting an IVET Training Beneficiary in Light engine Repairs, who is now an assistant mechanic at a Car Repair Shop in Xayabouly town

The visit of MoES representatives and Swisscontact team continued to Oudomxay on 15 May 2025, where the team met two additional seed money recipients in tailoring and barbershop services, as well as two EBT participants who are now working in car repair and running a beauty salon. These success stories reflect the growing impact of vocational training and self-employment support under VTESS.

Visiting XBL IVET School on 12 May 2025 and ODX IVET College on 15 May 2025
Visiting XBL IVET School on 12 May 2025 and ODX IVET College on 15 May 2025

We thank our partners in Xayabouly and Oudomxay for their warm hospitality and continued commitment. Through strong collaboration, we are strengthening youth livelihoods and building resilient communities.

Pic 10: Visiting a woman with disability, who became a Seed Money Recipient and now has opened a tailoring shop in Oudomxay province 
Visiting an IVET Training beneficiary, who is now employed at a car repair shop in Oudomxay province
Visiting an EBT beneficiary, who has now opened her beauty salon shop in Oudomxay province
Visiting a Seed Money Recipient, who is a father with four children and has now opened a barbershop in Oudomxay province
2019 - 2027
Laos
Initial vocational education and training
Vocational Training and Employment Support Services in Laos
The VTESS project aims at vocational training and labour market insertion or re-entering of schooling of the main project beneficiaries, who are people between 15 and 35 years of age, have completed primary and/ or lower secondary education only (early school leavers), and are subjected to income poverty. The main objective of the project is to improve the income and, ultimately, the livelihood of its beneficiaries.
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