Phet Sounthonnavong is the Country Co-ordinator, Laos with Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Phet has over 27 years of experience in international development setting. She has worked in various sectors in Laos including six years of professional management of international volunteer program as a Country Program Manager - her knowledge of the local context, culture, and traditions enables her to provide exceptional care to international volunteers, and outstanding support to partner organizations. She has also worked in public health, agricultural relief, inclusive education, vocational training, and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)/mine action.
She has been well trained in Exploded Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) by Handicap International France, UNICEF, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, UNDP, and National Regulatory Authority (Mine Action Centre in Laos). She is a very experienced EORE practitioner and is passionate about Behavioural Change approach. She has implemented various EORE and UXO Victim Assistance projects for international non-governmental organizations. She has critical experience in the interplay between EORE and UXO Victim Assistance. She was instrumental in work on the epidemiological case-control study and played a key role in the UNDP EORE KAP survey conducted by RK Consulting (EOD) Ltd.
Phet is a dog whisperer and animal lover. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her dog, family and friends, traveling, and cooking her favourite meals and experimenting new recipes in the kitchen.
#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you inspiring stories from the field, showcasing the impactful work of our dedicated VETS program volunteers. Meet Dr. Riley Bauman (DVM), an Animal Health Advisor who spent two months in Kenya (April–June 2025), working alongside smallholder dairy farmers and Meru Dairy staff to promote animal health, gender equity, and sustainable livelihoods.
This article explores the persistent threat of anthrax and the critical need for community-led surveillance in preventing zoonotic outbreaks. It highlights how VWB’s One Health approach—through the COHERS program, CAHW training, and gender-responsive outreach—strengthens local capacity to detect and manage neglected diseases, protecting both human and animal health in vulnerable communities.
#VETSVolunteerVoices aims to bring you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. This blog was written by Guy Audet, a Business Development Advisor who supported our VETS program partner, WIPVaC-Apex, in Ghana from March to May 2025.
