WASHINGTON - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality & Women's Empowerment Susan Markham will travel to Thailand and Laos October 2-7. Her visit will focus on USAID's development assistance, specifically examining Laos' programs to support the education and empowerment of women and girls.  

Markham will first visit USAID's Regional Development Mission for Asia, in Bangkok, Thailand. She will meet with Mission leadership on Let Girls Learn, advise on gender programs, and meet with UN agencies working in the region.

In Vientiane, Laos, Markham will meet with leadership from the Government of Laos including the Minister of Education and Sports, Director of Secondary Education, Director General of Policy and Planning, and Director of the Inclusive Education Center, to discuss gender issues, education opportunities for adolescent girls and relevant programming. In addition, Markham will meet with officials from the United Nations Population Fund and UN Women to learn about their work to empower girls in Laos and steps towards future progress. She will also visit rural schools and discuss education needs with teachers, parents and students.