(KPL) On Feb 28, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the world’s largest university network, has presented the results of its project aimed at strengthening the economic autonomy of market vendors while promoting environmental responsibility through reduced plastic waste.

Funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and implemented by AUF Laos, the project focused on Nonkho Market—one of Vientiane’s largest fresh markets—encouraging vendors to reduce plastic bag distribution while simultaneously increasing their revenue.

Data collected throughout the initiative revealed that over 58 million plastic bags are used annually in the market, costing traders more than 22 billion kip.

The project’s communication campaign, “No plastic, it’s more chic!”, introduced several creative awareness-raising approaches, including a specially composed song, “The Young Woman from Nonkho Market”, created exclusively for the initiative, a documentary film, produced by ten students from the National University of Laos and the University of Health Sciences in collaboration with filmmaker Kiyé Simon Luang, training sessions for vendors, conducted by local environmental organizations Green Vientiane and Econox, an illustrated children’s book, “The Magic Basket”, with 4,500 copies set to be distributed in primary schools across Laos to educate young students on the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste.

To follow the project's news and videos, go to the AUF.Lao Facebook page

Link to the song :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR1gjdZ9oqc

KPL