Phasuk’s Story – A New Beginning
Phasuk, a 20-year-old student from the Lenten tribe in Northern Laos, has faced more than her fair share of challenges. Born with spinal tuberculosis passed down from her father, her condition caused her spine to deteriorate, forcing her to walk stooped over. In her small tribal village, where girls rarely study beyond primary school, Phasuk didn’t see much of a future for herself.
That all began to change when she was brought to a centre in Vientiane. With help from our partner, she worked on building up her strength and weight to prepare for life-changing spinal surgery. Visiting neurosurgeons removed the damaged parts of her spine and fitted a metal V-shaped brace to keep her upright. She stood taller, literally, and gained a few inches in height. She found a new sense of hope.
Thanks to support from Entrust, Phasuk is now in her third year of high school and on track to graduate next year. Her transformation has inspired not just her family, but her entire community.
“If it wasn’t for Entrust and your partner, I don’t know where I’d be,” she says with gratitude. Her journey shows that with the right support, even the most difficult circumstances can be overcome.
Gerad’s Journey from the Streets to the Salon
Gerad, now 18, is known for his cheeky smile and contagious laughter, but his past is one of incredible hardship. At just five years old, he was separated from his family after they moved to Kampala. Lost and alone, he spent his first night on the streets where he was beaten and robbed by older boys. A homeless man took him under his wing, teaching him how to survive by collecting plastic bottles—but also introduced him to drugs to cope with the pain.
For years, Gerad lived under a bridge in the heart of the city. Everything changed when a local church doing outreach met him and saw something special. They invited him in, offered him shelter, and in return, he cleaned the church. It was there that Gerad’s journey of healing and hope began.
When he was accepted into our partner’s vocational training course in hair and beauty, Gerad grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He now trains during the week and gains hands-on experience at a nearby salon on weekends. His dream? To open his own salon, rent his own home, and one day, pass on his skills to help other kids still living on the streets. Gerad is no longer just surviving, he’s thriving.