Thanh Phuong was born in a Northern mountainous province of Vietnam. When 18 years old, she took backpack to Hanoi for her four-year study in sociology. In 1997, she graduated the faculty of sociology of Hanoi University. Right after graduated, she had a chance of working in field of community development in a non-profit organization. By this chance, she always makes her effort to accumulate her knowledge, skills served and devoted for her job in general and gender equality in particular as a leading priority. Still, to reassure all assignment complete significantly, she, and her family always keep the fire alight for our hearth that as married. Besides, discovering the cultures and indigenous knowledge of different areas and ethnic minorities makes her interesting by traveling or going to fields. In the long run, the above passions will help her create significant energy to do her best.

Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh Trung was born and grown up in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. She started to work for development programmes focusing on the field of child and women health and programme management since 2004. She then graduated the master degree, major in International Sexual and Reproductive Health in Liverpool school of Tropical Medicine – The University of Liverpool – United Kingdom, in 2010. She now works as a project officer and researcher for The Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP). She has been involved in the programme namely ‘Towards sexual and reproductive health and rights for all’, targeting vulnerable groups such as disable people, ethnic minority youth. Besides, she also participates in other research and trainings on gender, focusing on women empowerment, sexuality and sexual health and rights.

My work relate in plant protection, especially focus on Plant diseases and study friendly environmental method for control them.

Beside teaching, I do research, I am interest on plant diseases because there a lot of mystery thing in practical Agricultural system which farmers deal with.   In my department, I often meet farmers in provinces belong to Mekong delta, they come to my department for getting advice for controlling the plant pest, I am very happy to use my knowledge to help them

My hobbies: Firstly is my work, I love it very much and most the time now spend for it. In free time, I like to cook but I not cook well, playing volleyball, listen music and travel

My family: I live in big family. There are my parents, my brother family with two lovely nephew and niece, my older sister and me.

I am happy to participate in the exchange program and happy to meet you all.

Kittikorn Sankatiprapa is a lecturer in Development Education doctorate degree program, Graduate School, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU), Bangkok, Thailand.  Areas of interests are gender issues especially gender diversity and violence, women development, voiceless people  in the society, postmodern social theory, and qualitative research methodology. As a part of a research team on women in prison and sexual literacy and consumerism in a past few years, it has made her realize that number of things need to be done in the area of women development so that they achieve better health and life, which she very much hope that she could be a part of this development.

I work as a Coordinator of the Anti-Labour Trafficking Project (ALT), Human Rights Development Foundation. ALT provide legal assistance to trafficked person and cooperate with interagency to provide assistance as appropriate to trafficked person on food, shelter, medical treatment, rehabilitation, education, training etc.

I was born in Bangkok, central of Thailand. My lovely family consists of four members: two daugthers ,my husband and me. In the university, I made very good use of my time both in working , and in volunteer activities. I have been working in conjunction with Thai Muslimah Volunteer Group in Bangkok for 10 years. In 2010, I moved to work in Pattani, south of Thailand, I had the opportunity to join a network of women in civil society and Pattani Bay Watch. My Inspiration my mom Throughout her life she has been continually placed in leadership for Thai muslimah and she led me to understand the strength of family can overcome all problems. She said there is more happiness is giving than in taking.

My name is Kaysone Insiri. I have been working as an English teacher at the Faculty of Law and Political Science since I graduated in English Language from the Pedagogical University of Vientiane, now called National University of Laos in 1995. I have been Director of English Language Division, International Relations Department, Faculty of Law and Political Science since January 2010. I am married with two lovely daughters and my husband works for the Securities and Exchange Commission Office, Bank of the Lao PDR. I am responsible for the Faculty's English training language courses. In addition, I am a member of the Working Group for Educational Quality Management and a member of the Consulting Committee in charge for the Gender Group at the Faculty, which is made up of five teachers (two male, three female) and 20 students (six male, 14 female). During the Women's Empowerment Project, I will develop my expertise in the area of gender equality and awareness in the United States and study the best practices in the field. I also intend to acquire the skills necessary to develop a gender equality promotion strategy in my home country, particularly in the education sector. One of the most important things to me is my family and to make contributions to the development of my country as well as the education sector.

Noimaniphone Nou Lobliayao, Project Manager of VivNcaug(Sisterhood project). Prior to that she was an advisor and co-founder of VivNcaug. Nou received her Bachelor's degree in Economics Development at the University of Hanoi. After graduation, she began working for a non-governmental organization called the Center for Human Ecology Study in the Highlands (CHESH). After working with CHESH for nearly ten years, she went to work for ChildFund, an Australian based children’s sponsorship program. Nou is fluent in Lao, Hmong, Vietnamese, Thai and English. Nou’s husband is a medical doctor and they have a three and half year old daughter. She enjoys learning about new cultures and has a passion for helping others and become inspired by people who want to change the world to be a better place.

My name is Pen Bopha. I am from Prey Veng province which locates about 90km from Phnom Penh. I have four siblings and I am the youngest. I have grown up, studied and worked there till 2009. I am now living in Phnom Penh.  I hold Master degree of Master of Business Administration on General Management from Chea Sim University of Kamchay Mea in 2009. While, working at HEDC International as Training Manager, I am also a trainer of OPERACY-Key to Personal Empowerment, Success and Leadership course that aims to build personal effectiveness of participants to achieve of high working performance. I have experience working in such countries as Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and East Timor.  I volunteer for the Youth for Youth project, Board of Advisor member of Outstanding Youth Group of Cambodia, and a member of Cambodian-ASEAN Youth Association which I was appointed as one of youth leader of Cambodia by Cambodian Council of Minister to participate in ASEAN-China Youth Leader Symposium in June 2011.   My interest is to fully participate in life to improve my status as well as to promote women profile to stand on their own feet and prove to the world that women can do anything. I really want to see women are strongly empowered by themselves and supported by the society. Hence, I hope that this Women’s Empowerment Program will be the great opportunity for me with my Cambodian, Laos, Thai and Vietnamese friends to learn and share with the US friends to achieve our goal.

Hello my name is Mary Hem, called Mary. I am 31 years old. I live in Kampong Cham city. I have 6 siblings (4 girls and 2 boys) and I am the 4th child in a family. I live with my parents, a youngest brother, one widowed older sister and her 3 daughters and a son, totally 8 members in a family. I love my family because they are part of my life.  At weekends, I travel to Phnom Penh by bus to study my second year of Master’s degree in a Major of Master Development Management.  I am a Program Manager for Inclusive Education Program (IEP) at Kampuchean Action for Primary Education (KAPE) for 4 years. The project has placed a strong focus on the empowerment of women through its educational programming, particularly in advocating for gender parity in schools as well as in the government. One of the key ways this is achieved is through the provision of scholarships from primary school level to professional training and university level, particularly aimed at girls (approximately 85% of our scholarships go to vulnerable girls and minority), as well as other activities such as girls counselors, life skills aimed to attract girls to stay in school and girls clubs. It also builds capacity for Commune Education For All Committee members (CEFACs) to promote women and girls in education and skill-build programmes.   I am very happy to attend the Women Empowerment Program. It is important to my program and organization and also it is a good opportunity to develop long-term links with U.S and share goods ideas and best practice in the future.