Khammailee Vangxaolee (Laos – GLODEP Cohort 2022–2024)
My name is Khammailee Vangxaolee (Lee), and I am a graduate of the GLODEP Class of 2024 from Laos. Driven by a passion for social development in my home country, I joined this prestigious program to gain a global perspective on development, economics, and international studies.
Just one month after my graduation in June 2024, I returned to my hometown of Luang Prabang, Laos, to join the Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC), the only free pediatric hospital in Laos, supported by the US-based nonprofit Friends Without a Border. As the Visitor Centre Manager within the Development and Communications Department, I present the hospital’s projects and key activities to stakeholders, international tourists, and private donors, enabling them to contribute to and support its mission. I also co-lead local fundraising campaigns and engage with both local and international stakeholders to support the hospital, which treats more than 45,000 patients per year in Laos. Moreover, I assist my team in managing the hospital’s social media platforms, sharing patient stories, staff achievements, and key milestones and activities.
The GLODEP program provided me with the global mindset and analytical depth necessary to understand complex development challenges. The program’s strong focus on communication and presentation skills has been indispensable in my daily work, where I effectively engage with stakeholders from both local and diverse international backgrounds. My experience of living and studying across Europe through the Erasmus mobility scheme has also given me a unique professional advantage. As many of our visitors are from Europe, I can easily build rapport by sharing experiences from their home cities and countries. This cultural agility, combined with the resilience I developed while navigating different educational systems, has been a significant asset in my career.
Beyond the academic foundation in data analysis and research, GLODEP was a transformative personal journey. I learned as much from my diverse classmates through sharing culture, food, and perspectives as I did from formal lectures. From adventurous trips across European countries to inspiring discussions in class, the memories and lifelong friendships I formed reinforced that these two years abroad were truly worthwhile. I am incredibly grateful to be part of the GLODEP family, a community that has profoundly shaped my professional path and global perspective.
Today, I continue to apply the management and communication skills I developed during my studies to lead fundraising projects and manage donor relations in Luang Prabang, bridging the gap between global support and local healthcare impact for the thousands of children we serve each year.