Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) - Science, Technology and Environment Agency (STEA) and supported by the International Open Source Network (IOSN) ASEAN+3 Sub-Regional Node, the Lao PDR Linux Desktop Training of Trainers was held at the DoST-STEA E-Government Building, Vientiane Capital from July 2 to July 6, 2007.

Twenty one (21) participants coming from 17 different government agencies, 5 of which are women, attended the training. The participants will thereafter train others in their respective units on the installation with Lao language support, configuration and use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

Mr. Xayaveth Vixay, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA), Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was present during the first day to welcome the participants and the last day to distribute the training certificates.

According to Dir Gen. Vixay, the use of FOSS is an alternative “solution to the expensive cost of proprietary software especially in government and also for the small and medium business enterprises” in Lao PDR.

The training of trainers is also “one important step to overcome the challenges of the need for human resources and the rapid changes in IT” since the participants will later help “spread the knowledge” and “expand the Open Source Community in Laos,” according to Dir Gen Vixay.

Trainers were Anousak Souphavanh and Ariel S. Betan (also IOSN ASEAN+3 representative from the Philippines) with assistant trainers: Khamla Phoumink, Mino Sivilay and Phavanhna Douangboupha.

The training not only includes the Ubuntu (ver 7.04) Linux Operating System but also the Lao Versions of Linux called Laonux, Open Office Suite known as Xangdao, and Thunderbird Email Client which is called Salika in Lao Language. This was made possible also with the development of a Lao language keyboard layout.

The training event is the first desktop trainers training in the ASEAN+3 sub-region using local language versions of FOSS applications. According to Anousak Souphavanh localized versions of FOSS applications will make it possible for more Lao people to have access to the benefits of Information and Communications Technology since learning to use computers in the local language is easier than in a foreign language.

The participants were very enthusiastic during and after the training and are looking forward to a more advance level of training in FOSS. Networking and sharing of knowledge will also continue thru the Linux ToT mailing list, the iosn IRC channel at freenode.net and other venues like googletalk and yahoo messenger.

Aside from the desktop training of trainers, several FOSS events and activities are being planned for implementation in the near future:

- FOSS Master Plan
- FOSS for Small and Medium Enterprises
- FOSS for Education
- Linux Systems Administration Training of Trainers with LPI Community Exam