All posts tagged: Thouni Seneyakhone

Lao American returnee organizes first official Vientiane International Half Marathon

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It’ll be three years since Thouni Seneyakone permanently moved back home to the cozy capital of Vientiane. Almost a decade ago, we were just nimble freshmen at the University of Minnesota, learning the art of planning cultural events as board members of the Lao Students Association. From Laos to Minnesota at the age of 10 and now back to Laos as an adult, it’s been a journey that’s come full circle. “Returning to Laos to work and live here has always been my goal.” On a typical day at sunrise, you can catch an energetic Thouni and her running group ‘Team We Run’ jogging along the streets of Vientiane. An avid runner and sports enthusiast, Thouni and friends formed Events for Good, a socially-conscious sports event planning company based in Vientiane, which focuses on “organizing sporting events to promote healthy, active lifestyles and raising funds to help local communities.” This March 6th, Thouni is organizing the Vientiane International Half Marathon, the first in the capital city to be backed by many big supporters, including the Lao government. More than 500 local and international runners …

The women running the fight against human trafficking in Laos

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There are few Lao Americans who will go back to tackle human rights issues in their home country, especially human trafficking, one of the most universally pervasive human rights violations. Before leaving to live and work in Laos, Thouni Seneyakhone, a Lao Minnesotan, has been building awareness and momentum in a joint campaign with partners in Laos called the Run Laos Challenge. In collaboration with key organizations, The VillageRun Foundation (VRF) and Village Focus International (VFI), the challenge is a marathon relay that spans across three provinces in Laos in three days, with three women who are runners with roots in Laos. It starts on November 1st. Thouni, the campaign’s Co-Director and Nang Nonntharath Dunn, founder of VRF, are driving the spotlight on human trafficking with the goal of raising funds for a transitional housing and education program for survivors, called The Shelter Project. The Shelter Project is part of the Protection & Empowerment of Women and Children (PEWC) program, one of VFI’s programs. “The Shelter is a safe haven, providing protection and empowerment for …