Sombath Somphone was born into a farming family in Khammouane Province, Laos, and is the eldest of eight brothers and sisters. In the early 1970’s he received a scholarship to study at the University of Hawaii where he received a BA in Education (1974) and an MA in Agriculture (1978).
Returning to his home country after the establishment of the Lao PDR, Sombath’s initial work was demonstrating low-cost methods of improving farm production and food security. Later, he pioneered the use of participatory rural appraisal techniques in Laos. In 1996, he was given permission by the Ministry of Education to establish the Participatory Development Training Center, PADETC, to provide training for youth, and local government officials in community-based development.
You can find out more about Sombath’s professional life by selecting ‘Sombath’s Work‘ from the menu. Continue