#35 Bridging Lao Youths with the World
How Dee hopes to inspire change among Lao youths through international exposure and sustainability initiatives
Welcome to SEAmplified’s newsletter where we amplify the voices of youths and unravel our shared culture and lived experiences in Southeast Asia.
In our second edition of the Reimagining ASEAN-China-India series, we follow along the journey of Bounnhalath Saenbouttalath (Dee), a Laos youth leader who participated in a regional Sustainability Summit in 2023.
He advocates for the transformative power of international experiences and strives to inspire Lao youth to broaden their horizons, embrace sustainability, and foster global connections.
Reading time: 5 mins
An unexpected journey
Bounnhalath Saenbouttalath (Dee) almost missed out on the ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit (ACIYLS) in 2023. The summit is an annual sustainability startathon fostering connections and ideas amongst youths from ASEAN, China, and India.
He wasn’t interested in it initially but joined because his friend was.
But little did he expect his initial reluctance to turn into a journey of growth and transformation.
Dee’s journey began at the qualifying round in Laos, where his team proposed an initiative to partner with organizations supporting underprivileged groups, especially ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
These groups are known for creating stunning handicrafts from recycled materials like coffee packets and scratch cards.
“In Laos, we used scratch cards to top up our data packages. They’d pile up as waste everywhere,” Dee explains. “When these groups collect and transform them into handbags and hats, it reduces waste and gives these communities a source of income.”
Their idea impressed the judges, which landed them a ticket to the grand finals in Singapore, where Dee became part of a multi-country team that wanted to tackle wastewater management in the Philippines.
It was an issue close to his heart.
Dee previously collaborated with Japanese companies and the government to develop filters made from recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics for his final-year project in Laos.
“The initial project in Laos used old electrical wires as the main material,” Dee explained. “But I realized plastic bags could work just as well.”
Their process was simple but effective: separate LDPE from general waste, repurpose it into water treatment materials and implement systems tailored for hotels and restaurants.
But why implement it in The Philippines?
Dee explained that while Laos has a budding environmental policy framework, the Philippines was a more practical choice for their pitch.
“The Philippines has data showing gaps in wastewater treatment, and the food industry there often pays fines instead of treating their waste. It’s a market with untapped potential.”
Growth and takeaways
With that, Dee’s perspective on entrepreneurship evolved.
“For me, entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business,” he says. “It’s about identifying problems, solving them, and creating value for people.”
Through ACIYLS, Dee discovered a deeper sense of purpose—whether it’s supporting local communities in Laos or envisioning scalable solutions abroad.
Another takeaway for Dee was personal growth.
For instance, Dee found it challenging to communicate his ideas clearly and effectively in a team where everyone’s fluency in English was at varying levels.
It wasn’t just about communicating. It was about breaking down ideas in a way that bridged the language and culture barrier. “That gave me a sort of teacher or educator mindset,” he shared.
Beyond that, Dee also saw the value in teamwork.
“My team was amazing,” Dee recalled. The team’s collaborative spirit enabled him to focus on the technical aspects of their pitch. It made him realize that collaboration can be more effective than working in silos.
Another highlight was the valuable connections Dee made with mentors like Dr. Tan Eng Han, founder of OSG Youth Alliance, and Russ from Social Collider. Dee had the chance to collaborate with Russ and his team to assist Singaporean students to navigate around Laos as they conduct their social work projects there.
“It was really fun,” Dee recalled.
The Power of Going Abroad
Having spent three years in the United States and traveling to various countries, Dee strongly believes in the transformative power of traveling across borders.
He was drawn by the vastness of the world and its interconnectedness.
Dee’s interactions with people from diverse cultures taught him how different experiences shape perspectives, which also allowed him to develop his own opinions about societal problems.
“You gain so much perspective and see so many things, and it will inspire you to do things differently, especially the way you act,” he explained.
Living in the US shaped Dee’s communication skills and his mindset on sustainability. “That’s where I got my sustainable mindset from,” he shared.
Meanwhile, Dee realized that many Lao youths are limited by what they observe in their immediate surroundings. A lack of exposure to a different environment also means that it’s less likely for them to realize how things could be done differently.
“Sometimes, all it takes is one conversation with someone from another country to change how you think about your life,” Dee said.
He also believes that small experiences, like riding an efficient transportation system such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) can inspire new ideas.
With that, Dee wants to help Lao youths broaden their perspectives in life, and the summit was seen as the perfect platform to make that happen.
“It creates questions for them, and maybe they will get inspired,” said Dee.
So when ACIYLS returned for its second edition this year, he encouraged Lao youths to take up this opportunity and was later invited back as a volunteer.
Apart from spreading the word, Dee shared that the country round was held at the National University of Laos (NUOL) and it was hard for students not from NUOL to apply due to administrative problems.
That didn’t stop Dee from trying though.
“If [my friend] applies alone, he has no chance. So I told them to go apply and make sure to have a team of 5 people. I will deal with the rest.” Dee shared.
Dee had always been actively helping the NUOL offices with events, so when the idea of involving Lao youth in the summit came up, he knew exactly who to approach.
As an ACIYLS alumnus, Dee also had ties with the summit's organizing team. This enabled him to facilitate communication between both parties, successfully paving the way for Lao youths to participate in the country round.
It was all about bridging gaps and creating opportunities.
“I kept thinking, ‘If just one person goes and comes back inspired, it’s worth it,’” he said.
And his effort paid off.
The only Laos team comprising members from various universities, including the Laos American Institute and the Banking Institute of Laos, got through the country round and made their way to Singapore for the grand finals.
Dee noticed a significant shift in the delegates after the summit.
“Before the program, they were not active in their community. But after, everyone started joining volunteering programs and became very active.”
This transformation reaffirmed Dee’s belief in the value of exposing Lao youth to international experiences and fostering their growth as global citizens.
The connections he had didn’t just provide opportunities, they reinforced Dee’s commitment to building bridges between people and countries.
His journey reminds us that impactful ideas can start small, grow fast, and inspire change across borders.
This edition was written in partnership with the 2024 ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit, co-organized by OSG Youth Alliance and Resolute Communications.
Find out more about the summit here.
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