A Lao American from Minneapolis is returning to her native country to help the impoverished and to fight human trafficking, reports the Minn Post.
Thouni Seneyakone still clearly remembers the last words her grandmother whispered to her when she left Laos at age 5.
“Come back home when you finish school.”
She wants to return to live her grandmother’s dream of empowering the impoverished and finding a better life for those who have fallen into the sex industry.
“My grandma wanted me to get education in the states and use my education and talent to assist the needy,” Seneyakonem,28, said. “I’ll work with and train young people in Laos so they can become advocates for themselves.”
Thouni will work for Village Focus International (VFI), a non-profit focused on social change.
She’s already getting a head start on her work. Thouni is organizing a run to help promote greater awareness of human trafficking.