Our Work

Economic Support for UXO Accident Survivors (McKnight Foundation)

Through support by the McKnight Foundation, Thongphet received training in animal husbandry after he was injured by a piece of ordnance that exploded under a fire he built.

Survivors of unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents in Laos often become physically or emotionally disabled after their accidents. For many UXO survivors, injuries prevent them from returning to work, and their families fall into hardship because of medical costs and decreased income. The McKnight Foundation has supported World Education since 2005 to help build the capacity of UXO and landmine survivors and their families in Xieng Khouang and Huaphan provinces to achieve long term economic self-sufficiency in a variety of ways.

McKnight Foundation has assisted more than 40 child UXO survivors return to school and has provided emergency medical funds for 61 accident victims. World Education staff have surveyed the physical, psychological, and economic needs of survivors, and subsequently implemented vocational skills training in animal husbandry, tailoring, and weaving. The project arranges for children UXO survivors to receive tutoring assistance and meet with peer discussion groups to support their adjustment back into schools and return to a healthy, normal life. McKnight Foundation funds have also enabled World Education to develop systems to increase donations to the War Victims Medical Fund, which helps to defray medical costs for UXO survivors.