
Laos
Phatsaline Vongsaly
Phatsaline Vongsaly is a passionate advocate for community-driven approaches to mental health and youth empowerment. As the Co-Founder and Strategy & Partnerships Lead of Gamlangchai, she is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people in Laos can openly discuss mental health, access support, and cultivate a compassionate and understanding community. Phatsaline co-founded Gamlangchai during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time when mental health concerns surged, exposing the urgent need for accessible resources and breaking the stigma surrounding mental well-being. Her personal journey, marked by the challenges of limited professional support and fear of judgment in Laos, inspired her commitment to grassroots initiatives that create sustainable change. Under her leadership, Gamlangchai has grown into a thriving movement, offering a variety of impactful initiatives such as the Wellness Festival, which leverages art and music to challenge mental health stigma, and Peer Support Program - a series of interactive workshops aimed at equipping young people with practical well-being strategies while fostering meaningful peer connections. Phatsaline's contributions have been recognized internationally, earning her the prestigious Youth Leaders Award from Global Citizen, highlighting her as one of 32 influential change-makers across the Asia Pacific region. She looks forward to learning and collaborating with fellows of the Equity Community, further advancing the mental health movement in Laos.