VIENTIANE (ILO News) – Advanced tailoring skills gained by Lao trainers are being transferred to women at the local level, expanding the reach of skills development and strengthening local capacity to deliver vocational training.
Five teachers from the Lao Women’s Training Center who received advanced tailoring training at Dongguan Technician College in China in May 2026 have applied their newly acquired knowledge to train members of the Lao Women’s Union from Sekong and Salavan provinces.
Held from 17 to 25 August 2026, the training brought together 15 participants and provided practical instruction in suit making and the production of document folders and laptop bags.
By the end of the programme, participants had learned techniques for cutting and sewing laptop bags, demonstrating the practical skills acquired during the training.
“The programme aimed to enhance the technical skills of trainers while strengthening the capacity of the Lao Women’s Union at provincial, district, and village levels. A total of 15 participants completed the training and are now equipped to transfer their skills to others and create unique products that reflect their local identity,” said Chansamone Senghalath, Deputy Director of the Lao Women’s Training Center, Lao Women’s Union.
The training builds on collaboration between the Lao Women’s Training Center and Dongguan Technician College, supported by the ILO–China Partnership Project on Strengthening Skills Development in ASEAN through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
“The initiative illustrates a multiplier approach to skills development: trainers acquire advanced skills through South-South cooperation, transfer their knowledge locally and equip more women to pass those skills on to others. In this way, this initiative has created greater opportunities to promote women’s employment, improve livelihoods and enhance productivity,” said Tian Feng, Project Manager of the ILO-China Partnership Programme.