Funded by USAID, the Okard project aims to improve and sustain the optimized functional ability and independent living of persons with disabilities in Lao PDR. World Education is guided by the philosophy of Disability Inclusive Development (DID) and the belief that no one should be left behind and uses a gender sensitive and socially inclusive approach to development of the rehabilitation of victims of trauma and people with disabilities.

The project has three main components – 1: Health; 2: Economic Empowerment; and 3: Stakeholder Engagement, and World Education is implementing a series of interrelated and cohesive interventions that are designed to improve and sustain the independent living and functional ability of persons with disabilities with mobility limitations and their households in Lao PDR, regardless of factors such as age, sex, gender expression, ethnic origin, indigenous status or cause of impairment.

USAID Okard directly addresses the health, livelihoods, and social needs of persons with disabilities through the Community Based Inclusive Demonstration (CBID) model, where CBID facilitators utilize the developed Modular Tool to track and demonstrate tangible change in communities and the lives of persons with disabilities.

Between 1964 and 1973, more than 240 million cluster bomb sub-munitions were dropped in Laos. 80 million of these bombs failed to explode and continue to pose a hazard to civilians. Since 1964, approximately 20,000 people have been killed or wounded by unexploded ordnance (UXO), many of them in remote and rural areas. Medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, and mental health services are extremely limited throughout Laos, and poor communications and transport networks prevent survivors and their families from accessing services, which are concentrated in provincial capitals.

NRA and WEI staff with UXO survivor families
WEI and NRA staff present WVMF support payments to families in November 2018.

Since 1996, World Education has supported UXO survivors through administering the War Victims Medical Fund (WVMF), funded by the U.S. government. More than 1,000 UXO survivors have received support from the WVMF for their emergency and ongoing medical costs. Since July 2016, World Education operates the fund in partnership with the National Regulatory Authority, the government agency in charge of UXO issues.

The fund provides essential support to anyone injured by UXO nationwide, covering

Immediate and ongoing medical care
Surgery costs
Dental services
Assistive devices
Transportation within Laos
Accommodation during hospital stay
Food allowance during hospital stay (including two family members)
Contribution towards a religious ceremony or funeral
View the WVMF Pamphlet in English or WVMF Pamphlet in Lao for more details.
For more information about accessing the WVMF, contact the NRA hotline at 1603 or World Education at (856-21) 214524.

The WVMF does not cover the cost of other services that enable UXO survivors and their family members to sustain their livelihoods and resume their daily activities. Some victims cannot return to working on the farm and benefit from vocational training to learn a new trade. Children may need additional support to return to school. World Education works with local partners to provide these additional skills and assistance through funds raised by private donations. Please click here to make a donation. After you enter a donation amount, select “Donate to a specific project,” and enter “War Victims Medical Fund, Laos” in the corresponding box.