Bounsou Sananikone in her home

Bounsou Sananikone was born in Laos. She is a social worker and is an accomplished artist. She studied law in Vietnam, and also spent some time in the United States studying education. From 1957 to 1975 prior to her immigration to the United States, Bounsou worked in social services, improving education systems and living conditions of villages in Laos. At the time she left Laos, she was assistant director of Social Services Lao Public Health. She also worked with the Red Cross, the Peace Corps and many other organizations as a volunteer.

In 1975 when the communist takeover took place in many Southeast Asian nations, Bounsou and her family left Laos as refugees. In the U.S., she has devoted herself to helping members of the Lao community in Virginia. She does this through her work as an extent agent with Arlington County.

Quotes from Bouncsou Sananikone:

Just, that time, 1975, no comforts, we fled to Thailand.  From the border of Thailand, we arrived in Bangkok, and arranged to come to America.  For myself, it was very easy—I knew the American culture.  I read. I have been working with Americas, who I love.  We collaborate together as workers for humanity in my country.  [I worked] as [a] volunteer with the Peace Corps in Laos.  We work together.

But this time I feel a little inferiority than the other, because I have no home, no dishes, no anything to cook, but we manage.  And in 1976, I start working and very good and useful for my people who need to go to the supermarket, who need to talk on the telephone, pay bills, to take children to school.  So I start working for refugee folk at the Career Center [in Arlington, VA].  And, that time, you know, I feel I am not alone.  I am not alone to suffer, to think that I am a victim.  The whole Indochina, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, we are in this, we have people in the same boat.  We lost our countries the same month, the same period of time since the other regime came. .So I survive by working hard, working hard, forget myself, let myself go into the flow, the current of being useful, of thinking others are like us, living together, thinking of Iraq and other lands in trouble.  So we survive like that.

Bounsou Sananikone in her home (one of her drawings is on the table)