Lao People's Democratic Republic
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Concern Worldwide has worked in Lao since 1992. However, due to financial constraints we made the difficult decision to leave Lao in December 2010. We’re proud of the work we’ve done over the past 18 years, and the contribution we’ve been able to make.
Our charity work: handing over
We have worked tirelessly with a team of dedicated and loyal staff to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people in Lao. However, in an effort to use our financial and human resources to best effect, we had to reduce the number of countries in which we operate. Reluctantly, we decided to end our work in Lao. We have handed over our programmes to local partners who will continue the work we started.
Earning a living
Despite a number of challenges, Concern helped people earn a living. This work has had a steady impact, recently improving the lives of 60,352 people.
Health services
We continued to work in partnership with the National Institute of Public Health, building two new mother-and-child hospitals and delivering quality health services to an additional 2,500 people in rural areas. Our health education work reached 21,109 people.
Land entitlement
We helped 107 families gain temporary land entitlement certificates to nearly 180 hectares of land. Four new irrigation schemes helped farmers increase production, while a new variety of rice increased yields by nearly 50%. We established 11 community rice banks and trained 55 people in rice bank management.
Weaving success
We helped 90 women in six weaving groups with loans. Raw materials and tools were provided to improve their hand looms, along with marketing and management training. We built a permanent community market and encouraged communities to organise regular trade fairs, where they sold their products directly to consumers.
Training midwives and doctors
In district hospitals and village health clinics, we supported a number of staff to train as midwives and doctors. Innovative use of information technology facilitated medical treatment in remote communities, as village clinic staff used Skype via solar-powered broadband to consult with doctors.
Access to clean water
15,000 people gained access to safe, clean water. As well as building water systems and reservoirs, we ran awareness campaigns on personal health and hygiene.
