Breathing New Life
How Project Sinxay: UPSHIFT is helping youth develop innovative solutions to address air pollution in Savannakhet province.
Farming is the way of life for the villagers of Xok village in Savannakhet province and for 19-year-old Phetlakhone Norboubphasavanh, otherwise known by his nickname James, it is a way of life that he was expected to follow as well. From a young age he followed in his parent’s footsteps and learned the value of farming by helping them cultivate the land. However, as he matured, he noticed something - the air quality in his hometown is seemingly getting worse each year.
“I think the air pollution is getting worse every year because of the way we farm, especially the practice of burning straws leftover after harvesting rice to clear the land. We do this because it’s the fastest and cheapest way to prepare the land for the next round of rice or vegetable planting.”
Burning, although a common farming practice, has contributed to worsening air pollution in rural areas throughout Lao PDR and Xok village is no exception. James feels its effects firsthand, not only in the air but also in the soil quality. “After burning, the soil becomes harder and less fertile. We need to add more fertilizer to keep the crops growing,” he noted.
James is not alone in his concern for his community and the environment. He is joined by a group of friends who share his passion for improving their community’s well-being. Together, they took part in Project Sinxay: UPSHIFT, an accelerator programme led by the Lao Youth Union in collaboration with UNICEF and XMT designed to empower young people aged 18-25 with the skills to drive meaningful change for their communities.
“I saw a social media post about the initiative on Facebook and invited my friends to join me. I’m really excited because this is the first time I’ve seen an opportunity like this in Savannakhet province,” James shared.
Under the initiative, a bootcamp was held in Savannakhet in early February 2025. James and his friends learned many new skills related to social innovation and entrepreneurship during the bootcamp: from critical thinking and problem-solving tools to examine community issues to how to prototype their solutions, all of which are based on the globally recognised UPSHIFT methodology.
James and his friends decided to focus their efforts on addressing the harmful effects of burning straws left over after the rice harvest. They named their team “The Phoenix Fold” after the mythical bird that can regenerate itself from its ashes. Likewise, the group of friends plan to breathe new life into the neglected rice straws found throughout the fields of Xok village.
“This is my first time doing something like this and it is crucial to ensure that we are doing the right thing for the villagers. They are also excited to see young people like us stepping up and wanting to make a difference.”
To help them better understand the issue, James and his team went back to their community to talk with the villagers. “The farmers told us the rice straws could be useful because they can feed it to their cows. However, when there is too much leftover, they burn it to clear the fields. Our group had the idea of turning these rice straws into something useful,” James said.
The villagers’ feedback provided crucial information for The Phoenix Fold’s mission. James believes that with the right knowledge and resources, farmers in Xok village can learn more sustainable ways of farming that won’t harm the environment and would benefit them. From this, James and his friends developed the idea of promoting the reuse of these rice straws and turning them into useful products such as shock-proof packaging for items, book covers and egg baskets.
The Phoenix Fold later pitched their project idea to a group of panelists at the bootcamp where their ideas garnered great interest. Next, they are poised to apply for a micro grant to turn their ideas into a reality, taking the first step toward making a lasting impact.
The efforts of James and his friends go beyond helping transform leftover agricultural byproduct into useful products – their efforts serve as an inspiring example of youth leadership and how young people can help bring innovative solutions to community challenges.
“I feel proud that I can contribute towards positive change in my own hometown. With my experience in farming, I’m able to contribute to something that can truly make a difference in the place I’ve grown up.”
