Kommaly Chanthavong

Early life and education Kommaly Chanthavong was born on 16 March 1944. Her father is a farmer from eastern Laos. She learned weaving and silkworm raising from her mother and grandmother when she was six years old. Amidst the Laotian Civil War, She fled to Vientiane after her village was bombed by the Americans in 1961. Her father died during the war.

Chanthavong was able to obtained a diploma in nursing in 1966 at the Ecole des Infirmiers et Infirmieres in Laos. She trained at the Sriracha Hospital in Thailand for six months as a nurse in 1971. It has grown to become the Phontong Handicraft Cooperative with around 450 members across 35 villages.

She advocates for international regulations to protect traditional weaving cultures in developing countries.

Chanthavong was among the five recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2015. She was recognized for "her fearless, indomitable spirit to revive and develop the ancient Laotian art of silk weaving, improving livelihoods for thousands of poor, war-displaced Laotians, and thus preserving the dignity of women and her nation’s priceless silken cultural treasure"

Personal life She is married to Noulieme Chanthavong, with whom she has three children.