Engaging in group activities with fellow students at the National University of Laos.

A rural student’s path to university in the capital

Across Laos, in villages nestled between rice fields and forested hills, many young people grow up with dreams far bigger than their surroundings. In these remote areas, the path to higher education is not only long but lined with poverty, pressure and uncertainty.
Students walk for hours to reach school, study by candlelight, and often share textbooks with siblings. For them, reaching Vientiane or any city to pursue further studies isn’t just progress – it’s a leap into another world.
For Soudjai Khounlaneuk, a young man from Soukhouma district in Champassak province, that leap came with sacrifice, determination and moments of heartbreak. Born into a family of farmers, he grew up in a household where every kip counted.
Life was simple, but harsh. His parents worked the fields from dawn to dusk, and from a young age, Soudjai understood that education was a luxury his family could barely afford. But he also believed, with quiet conviction, that it was the only way to change his future.

Soudjai delivers a speech during a public speaking contest held at the American Center in Vientiane to promote youth-led community projects.

As a child, he dreamed of becoming a teacher. That dream nearly ended in secondary school when his mother, overwhelmed by financial pressure, asked him to drop out. Many in his position might have accepted that fate, but not Soudjai. “I told her, if I have to go to school barefoot, I will,” he recalled. “I won’t ask you for money. I’ll find a way.”
Soudjai’s first goal was simple but ambitious: To finish high school and become the top student in his district. “That was my only hope then,” he said. “If I could just graduate, maybe something better would come along.”
It was a promise born of quiet defiance and an unshakable belief in the power of education.
Years later, while Soudjai’s classmates prepared for university entrance exams, he had nearly given up. He was working for a Chinese employer near his village, selling cars and resigning himself to a life without higher education. But then his sister – his greatest supporter – told him about a six-month vocational training programme in Vientiane, offered through the IV-Japan scheme. It focused on hotel services and caring for the elderly. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Soudjai applied.
It was his first time leaving home. “I had never even imagined myself in Vientiane,” he said. The adjustment was difficult but the experience opened his world. He found the course enjoyable and studied with determination. Just as things were beginning to look up, Covid-19 struck. Hotels closed, job opportunities vanished, and once again, the future seemed uncertain.
Then, hope returned. Soudjai’s sister discovered a scholarship opportunity from the Children’s Dream Foundation, which supports underprivileged youth across Laos. She urged him to apply and helped him prepare the documents. Weeks later, Soudjai received life-changing news: He had been selected, one of just 25 students nationwide.
“It wasn’t just happiness,” he said. “It was everything – relief, pride, disbelief. It felt like a door to a new life had finally opened.”
The scholarship covered tuition, accommodation, food and health insurance, lifting the financial burden that had once threatened to end his education. Soudjai enrolled in the English Department at the Faculty of Letters, National University of Laos. He didn’t choose English out of passion, but practicality.
“I believed that if I could speak English, I’d have better job opportunities,” he explained. “That was enough for me.”
But life in Vientiane wasn’t easy. Everything was expensive, and the loneliness of being far from home weighed on him. In his second year, he took a part-time job at a buffet restaurant, working seven to eight hours a day, often without a single day off. The schedule was brutal, and juggling it with studies left him physically and emotionally drained. “There were nights I cried silently,” he admitted. “But I never let myself give up. I kept thinking about my family, about how far I’d come.”
What sustained Soudjai wasn’t just resilience. It was the support of others. He found community among fellow scholarship students, many of whom shared similar stories. “We were like a family of strangers – from different provinces but with the same dream,” he said. They encouraged each other, shared meals, and helped one another survive the challenges of city life.
Beyond academics and work, Soudjai threw himself into volunteer work. Through the Children’s Dream Foundation and youth development networks, he joined training sessions, social projects and community outreach programmes. These experiences broadened his perspective and gave him a way to give back. “Volunteering helped me realise that education isn’t just about what you learn in class,” he said. “It’s about what you do with it.”
Now in his final year, Soudjai is looking ahead. He wants to stay in Vientiane after graduation, find a stable job, and support his younger siblings in their education. But he also dreams of returning to his village one day to give back in a more meaningful way. “I want to help children like me, those who have dreams but no means,” he said. “Even if I can help just one, it’s enough.”
Looking back, Soudjai says the scholarship didn’t just fund his education, it reshaped his life. “If I had listened to my mother that day and left school, I wouldn’t be here,” he reflected. “Every hardship made me stronger. Every person I met helped me grow. Every disappointment pushed me forward.”
To other students facing hardship, Soudjai’s message is simple and powerful: “Don’t compare yourself to others. Walk your own path. And don’t let your dreams stay dreams. When life gets harder, it means you’re growing.”

Soudjai seen with classmates and teachers at the National University of Laos.

By Sengchalean Phommakhan
 (Latest Update May 21, 2025)