Namfon

[padaek]

Namfon means "rain water" in Lao language. She's adopted a Lao nickname. She is a girl from the Lanten ethnic group, photographed in remote northern Laos about 20 kilometres from the Chinese border.

Namfon is 15 years old and wants to be a teacher. Twice a week she rides her bicycle 15 kilometres into Luang Namtha town for Lao language lessons. She has to be proficient in Lao language before she's even accepted into the local Teachers Training College.