We Are Not Alone
Young People with Disabilities Finding Their Voice
Young persons with disabilities in Lao PDR often grow up facing barriers that many others never see - limited access to information, little participation in decision-making, and few opportunities to speak up in their communities even the opportunity to basic rights – education.
With support from UNICEF Global, young people with disabilities are beginning to change that story. Across the world, five global teams, four regions, and eight country offices came together to empower more than 50 young leaders with disabilities aged 16–24. Fourteen of them are now working directly alongside UNICEF, contributing to social policy, communications, and accessibility efforts in Mozambique, Tunisia, Mauritania, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Armenia, and Sierra Leone.
The program focused on advocacy, awareness-raising, policy engagement, and leadership - while prioritizing accessibility through multilingual support, inclusive facilitation, and strong safeguarding measures.
In Laos, youth advocate Khamta Sengmany played a key role as a trainer, supporting young people with disabilities to better understand their rights and speak up for themselves.
Bringing the initiative to Laos
“Many youths don’t know their rights or what is acceptable. Especially among young people with hearing impairments, there are cases of sexual harassment simply because they think it is normal or unavoidable”
Before the training began, UNICEF Laos organized consultations with young people with disabilities to understand their existing knowledge and needs. This included a one-day in-person consultation and an online survey conducted with support from teachers.
“That helped us adapt the global training materials to the local context,” Khamta said.
Learning, growing, and finding confidence
During the Young Leadership Consultation on Disability Rights, participants showed strong motivation and leadership potential. However, the data also showed gaps in knowledge, confidence, and practical understanding of disability rights and advocacy, especially compared to young people without disabilities.
This time, the training is designed based on the assessment from youth consultation to respond directly to these gaps. Using the Young Persons with Disabilities Leadership Training Manual from UNICEF Global, the Youth Advocacy Guidebook, and real-life experience-based learning, the sessions focused on building practical advocacy skills, peer learning, and collective action.
The change was visible
“We can clearly see the difference between round one and round two. The youths are more confident, more open, and more willing to share their experiences,”
The atmosphere was warm and familiar, more like a “family” than a classroom, allowing participants to share their experiences openly and be understood.
With strong experience in teaching and supporting young people with disabilities in their daily lives, the training was made possible by skilled trainers and facilitators who truly understand their needs. More than 10 teachers served as facilitators, creating a safe and supportive environment where young people felt comfortable expressing themselves.
For many participants, having a trainer who also lives with a disability made a powerful difference
"This training is the first step for us to speak up about our problems. Having a person with a disability as a trainer made me feel comfortable to be myself - like we come from the same society,”
“I like the session called ‘My journey’ that was shared by my teacher (Joy Phomvicith, a sign language teacher). It made me realize I am not alone. Many people struggle with their own problems, both disabilities and none. Everyone has their own story, but we can adapt, grow, and move forward through different stages of life.” For Padalor Vangthoua, a participant.
With the right support and empathy through listening, learning, and shared experience - these young people are not only building confidence but also shaping for a more inclusive future for themselves and their communities.
