Together We Can Do It – Walk, Run and Bike for Skills: Empowering Lao Youth for a Brighter Future!

The European Union, in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR, brought together over a thousand participants on Sunday, 25 January, for the “Together We Can Do It - Walk, Run and Bike for Skills” event in Vientiane. The initiative highlighted the shared commitment to equipping Lao youth with the skills needed for decent jobs, entrepreneurship, and active participation in a greener and more digital economy.

Ms. Veerle Smet, Head of Cooperation of the EU to Lao PDR, joined Ms. Vilayvone CHANTHALATY, the Vice-Mayor of Vientiane in welcoming participants. “Whether walking, running, or cycling, today’s activities go beyond sport - they celebrate International Education Day and remind us of the many children still without access to schooling,” she said. “This is a moment to come together with one message: Together we can do it.”

With more than half of Laos’s population under 25, human capital development is central to sustainable growth. The EU and Team Europe, under the Global Gateway strategy, are working with the Lao Government to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). 

Flagship programmes such as Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry (STAF) are improving training infrastructure, fostering employer cooperation, and expanding access for disadvantaged groups, helping thousands of young people gain skills that match real job opportunities.

Sunday’s event was designed not as a race but as a celebration of unity. Every step and pedal carried a simple yet powerful message: “Together we can equip Lao youth for a brighter future”.

Background of the event:

The “Together We Can Do It - Walk, Run and Bike for Skills” event is part of the EU’s broader support under the Global Gateway strategy to foster inclusive and sustainable growth in Laos through education, skills development, and public-private partnerships.

EU in Laos

EU in Laos

EU in Laos

EU in Laos