Metta Thippavong
In 2003, when Metta Thippavong was about to graduate from Sikeut School for People with Disabilities, she heard from friends that Digital Divide Data had a program providing scholarships for young people with disabilities. Participants could work six hours and use the rest of the time to study. When she tried to apply, the slots were full. Since one of her friends worked the evening shift, she went with him to volunteer every day. After about two months, one person resigned and she became one of DDD Laos’s early staff members. The work was data entry, digitizing old books and newspapers, including archives from Harvard University, which she'd never heard of at the time. She still remembers what DDD’s Mai Siriphongphan taught her: "Always practice and train yourself to build knowledge and capacity. When you have skills, you can work anywhere. Knowledge stays with you forever." Sometimes she felt discouraged by her disability, but Mai reminded her not to let negative thoughts bring her down.
She worked in a variety of roles: operator, data entry, cashier, finance, and later human resources. She enjoyed introducing new staff to the organization's culture and goals. In 2011, after eight years at DDD, she left to work in finance with a relief project under an NGO. She noticed that she could work faster than others because of her stronger foundation in computers and typing. She now works as project manager at COPE. "DDD provides unique life skills—not just computer skills—that are truly valuable," she says. She keeps in touch with alumni regularly, exchanging ideas and perspectives, especially emphasizing to younger alumni the value of their opportunities. Her message for DDD: keep guiding younger people to think critically and remain open to learning so they'll be ready to face new challenges when they step out into the world.
