Laos
photo taken by Mike Fenema, CRWRC
Laos is one of East Asia's poorest countries. The Government of the Lao PDR is partnering with the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and ending its status as “Least Developed Country” (LDC) by 2020.
CRWRC has been involved in Laos since 1997 and received official registration in 2003. Through this relatively new venture, CRWRC is strengthening communities and helping community members improve their lives through programs in agriculture, community development, health, clean water, education, and literacy. CRWRC in Laos is somewhat unique as they are directly involved in implementing projects rather than working in an advisory or capacity building role among a variety of local partners as in most other countries where CRWRC works. The reason for this is that the government in Laos does not yet permit the formation of local non-government organizations (NGO's) and thus there are no potential partners who encompass the CRWRC vision and mission.
Fast Facts
Population: 6,834,942 (July 2009 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly larger than Utah
Literacy Rate: 68.7%
Life Expectancy: 56.68 years
Population below the poverty line: 30.7% (2005 est.)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $2,100 (2008 est.)
Religions: Buddhist 65%, animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.8% (1995 census)
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Ethnic Minorities: Officially 47 ethnic groups, but estimated to be over 138 unique minority groups.
Infant Mortality Rate (national average): 85 deaths/1,000 live births
Populations without access to safe water: 63%
Children under weight (at age 5): 40%
(From the World Factbook 2005, Global Human Development Report 2003, and Millennium Development Goals Progress Report Lao PDR 2004. For more information on Laos, CLICK HERE.)
CRWRC Partners in Laos
Concern and Unity For Development (HHP)
HHP is the acronym from the Lao name for CRWRC which the Project Management staff have recently selected. CRWRC is hopeful that as the situation in
- Khoun-Kham Community Development Project (KK-CDP)
Through the KK-CDP, CRWRC works with 20 mainly Hmong communities in - Phongsaly Community Development Project (PSL-CDP)
Through the PSL-CDP, CRWRC works with 13 ethnic minority communities (Iko, Laobit, in Mai District of Phongsaly Province in the far northeastern part of
Both projects have a similar integrated and transformational development approach which strives to improve lives and communities through activities in:
- Agriculture
Farmers are trained on improved techniques to produce, store and market cash crops. Key inputs such as improved varieties of seeds, tree seedlings, materials to improve drying and storage are provided. Small scale irrigation systems and small village access roads are designed and built together with the community. Training is provided for farmers to improve animal production systems. - Community Development
Members of communities form Village Development Committees (VDCs). VDCs develop a vision for their community based on community identified needs. Project staff then provide the VDC’s with appropriate training. - Health
Project staff help communities identify people who could become Village Health Volunteers (VHV’s). These men and women are trained in basic components of health care. Then they conduct training on hygiene, sanitation, family planning, and immunization throughout their village. Clean water systems are designed and constructed together with community members to improve quality and quantity of water available in the village. - Education & Literacy
Teachers and parents are trained on how to more effectively monitor students’ progress throughout primary school. Project staff also organize literacy classes for adults.
Relief Projects
CRWRC is implementing a CFGB funded project that is providing food for work for the construction of rural infrastructure- in particular, footpaths and roads. This project takes place in an isolated area with marginalized people groups.
This is one part of the larger project outlined above which seeks to provide effective community development for 20 Hmong and Khmu villages totalling about 4000 individuals. The entire project will improve family incomes, provide opportunities for elementary school education, train village health volunteers and traditional birth attendants, and help develop good community organizations.
CRWRC Staff in Laos
Contact Information:
PO Box 4224
Vientiane
LAO PDR
tel: 856-21-313-071
email: crwrclao@gmail.com
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