Laos

Save the Children in Laos

Save the Children began its operation in Lao PDR in 1987, and since then we have developed a strong reputation as the leading child rights organization in the country. We strive to ensure that children’s rights to education, health, protection and participation are fulfilled at all times, including during disasters.

Save the Children’s vision is that children in Lao PDR have their rights equitably fulfilled and are healthy, protected, empowered, skilled and knowledgeable to seize emerging opportunities and mitigate threats in a fast changing environment.

The situation for children in Laos

Lao PDR is a unique country, made up of 49 ethnic groups with over 200 different dialects and languages spoken by a population of 7.4 million people. The four main ethno-linguistic groups are Lao-Tai, Mon-Khmer, Chine-Tibet and Hmong-Iu Mien all marked by different cultures, traditions and livelihoods.

Presently, the monitoring and implementation of the UNCRC is done by state agencies and National Commission for Mothers and Children (NCMC), with whom we work closely with in capacity building and ensuring that children’s rights are at the forefront of their work.

What We Do

A girl joining the LtR project's activity Save the Children Laos

Child Protection

Education

A boy receives the routine vaccination at the Mobile Vaccination in Luang Prabang Province. Save the Children Laos

Health and Nutrition

A girl sharing her voice during the CEFM's activity

Child Rights Governance

Humanitarian Response

Disaster Risk Reduction

2025 DIRECT REACH AND BUDGET

120,320

People reached through various programs

43,900

Children Reached

9 M

2025 Annual Country Office Portfolio

News & Stories

25 Feb 2026

Laos

Replanting Hope After the Flood

At 64 years old, Mr. Thitchanpheng, a retired teacher living with a disability in Sibounheuang village, Nan District, has spent his life serving his community. Despite living with kyphosis since infancy, he dedicated nearly 30 years to teaching before retiring in 2019. Today, he lives with his children and grandchildren, supporting his family by farming rice—work that is physically demanding but essential for their food and income.

“Disasters don’t respect borders”: Save the Children launches early warning, early action initiative to save lives in Southeast Asia

Save the Children is launching a child-focused €4.5 million regional initiative funded by the European Union to save lives ahead of climate-fueled emergencies in Southeast Asia. Working with partners and governments, the programme will help communities, schools, and local authorities across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam turn early warnings into early action, protecting children and families before floods, storms, and other extreme weather events become disasters.

Release Launch in the Northern Provinces: Wolbachia Mosquitoes Take Flight Across Laos to Fight against Dengue

In 2022, Save the Children Laos and World Mosquito Program (WMP) launched its initiative in the capital city of Vientiane to combat the growing threat of mosquito-borne diseases. Phase 1 of the project, which covered the Saysettha and Chantabouly districts, was successfully completed in August 2023. Following this success, Phase 2A expanded coverage to include the districts of Sisattanak, Sikhottabong, Hatxayfong, Naxaythong and Xaythany, concluding in January 2026.

Now entering Phase 2B, the project is scaling up significantly to cover approximately 37 km² across all nine districts of Vientiane Capital, alongside 25 km² across Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet, and Champasak provinces. This expansion will bring WMP’s protective, self-sustaining Wolbachia method to more than 1.2 million people.