(KPL) The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) program, an AusAID funded volunteer scheme, has been sending skilled and motivated young Australians on assignments to the Lao PDR, according to press release of Australian Embassy on 5 November. Through these assignments, young Australian volunteers strive to build capacity and provide support to key development organisations in Laos. A further 12 new volunteers arrived in Laos mid October as part of Intake 23, bringing the number of AYADs mobilised over the past 10 years to over 150. At a welcome reception the Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Dr Michele Forster, expressed her support for Australia’s ongoing, strong relationship with Laos and encouraged the volunteers to make the most of their experiences in Laos. During their orientation, the AYADs also met with government officials from the Department of International Co-operation (DIC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Khouthong Sommala from DIC said he was pleased to be associated with the AYAD Program and is grateful for the contribution Australian volunteers have made to Lao PDR’s development. AYADs in Laos are currently working in a number of key development fields. AYADs Tristan Skinner and Gabriella Tauni are currently on assignment with the Water Resources and Environment Agency (WREA) in Vientiane, helping build the capacity of government staff whilst also developing a national water policy. Jacob Cawthorne, from Sydney, will spend 12 months working with officials from the National Economic Research Institute (NERI) gathering data and training research staff. Jacob looks forward to sharing the knowledge he gained whilst working in China and the region. He is also interested in learning more about the economic challenges facing Laos.. Heading to a one-year assignment in Champassack with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Erin Parham will be spending extended periods in remote rural areas to work with provincial government officials to develop forestry and land management plans. For more information on the AYAD Program and Australian volunteers please contact the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).