Rehabilitation is a key health strategy for the entire population addressing the broad needs of people who have difficulties in functioning across the human lifespan, not just for persons with disabilities.
After a six-week training on essential rehabilitation services at Chiang Mai University, supported by USAID and World Education Laos,13 health and rehabilitation professionals commonly known as core trainers are now ready to train more than 150 doctors and nurses from provincial and district hospitals. Equipped with their new pedagogical and training skills and rehabilitation knowledge, they are now working with USAID Okard to develop and deliver in-service training, which they will then provide to 150 doctors and nurses across Laos. This will make these much needed life-saving services cheaper and available to access for communities at every district, regardless of cause.
On 18-19 January 2023, 13 core trainers debuted their first training sessions observed by Chiang Mai University to health professionals from central hospitals to learn about the introduction to rehabilitation, key concepts related to it, and how it is important for the growing local need for rehabilitation connected to the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative recommendations and the objectives of the Ministry of Health Rehabilitation Medicine Strategy (2018-2025).
USAID Okard, funded by USAID and implemented by World Education, Inc., in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion, improves access to quality rehabilitation and economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, and supports design and implementation of disabilities inclusive policy.
Another important step for the LAWANG “Beware” Project: Expanding the Scope of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education in Laos phase II, funded by the U.S. Department of State.
In December, a workshop for developing the EORE curriculum for Non Formal Education (NFE) and EORE Handbook for Village Education Development Committees (VEDC) and Youth Volunteers (YVs) occurred in Vientiane Province. The meeting was Chaired by the Honorable Mr. Visan Somphong, Deputy Director General of the Non Formal Education Department and Mrs. Rebecca Derry, Country Director of World Education (WEI) in Laos. Also in attendance were representatives from NFE, General Education, the Department of International Organization, Lao Youth Union, the NFE middle center, the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action (NRA), and the NFE center from Xieng Khouang Province and from Paek District, along with WEI staff.
The success of the workshop includes: The Draft of EORE Curriculum for Primary NFE level 1, level 2 and level 3; And the draft of EORE Curriculum for upper and lower secondary NFE; Lastly the draft of EORE handbook for VEDC and YVs. All curricula and handbooks will be approved by the Department of Non-Formal Education, Ministry of Education and Sports before it is piloted in 5 target provinces: Xieng Khouang, Khammouan, Savannakhet, Salavan, and Sekong.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Demonstration Model
Impact Assessment–Endline Survey
RFP No: AID–486–A–17–00004–RFP–2
The USAID Okard Activity, implemented by World Education, Inc., is soliciting proposals for the Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Impact Assessment– Endline Survey. The USAID Okard Activity is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is subject to all applicable Federal regulations and provisions.
Please submit your most competitive proposal in accordance with the instructions to offerors and terms of reference. Any award issued as a result of this RFP will be subject to all instructions, terms of reference/ specifications, certifications, terms and conditions and funder required clauses.
For more information, please find in the attachment.
All proposals, inquiries, and correspondence pertaining to this solicitation are to be directed to the attention of:
USAID Okard
Attn: Meredith Lunsford, Senior Program Officer
World Education
44 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA 02210, USA
Tel: +1–617–385–3812
Email: meredith_lunsford@worlded.org
Attachment:
On December 3, Vientiane residents came together to celebrate the contribution of people with disabilities in honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The celebration raised awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and to mobilize support to promote their dignity and wellbeing.
This year’s theme is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”, which focuses around the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering in three different interactive dialogues the following thematic topics: innovation for disability inclusive development in employment, innovation for disability inclusive development in reducing inequality and innovation for disability inclusive development: sport as an exemplar case.
The Lao Disabled People’s Association (LDPA) organized the celebration which was co-funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, LDPA, Disability Service Center, Lao Association of the Blind, Hands of Hope, Humanity & Inclusion Laos, the Fred Hollows Foundation with funding support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), World Education, and other organizations supporting persons with disabilities.
The celebration was conducted in two sessions, with the morning session being held at the Center for Medical Rehabilitation and the evening session taking place at Chao Anouvong Park with thousands of people from all walks of life with and without disabilities.
In the morning, there were a variety of sporting and cultural activities, including a wheelchair basketball competition, a blind football match, petanque, drawing in the dark, a braille reading contest, a sign-language contest and a talent show.
The evening event was open to the public and included exhibitions from many organizations for people with disabilities showcasing their efforts to improve the lives and well-being of persons with disabilities in Laos. The event featured activities such as wheelchair dance performance, singing, games, sign language dance, K-pop dance, panel discussions on inclusive employment.
USAID Country Representative to Laos Mr. Michael Ronning highlighted the importance of the contribution of people with disabilities. “USAID is proud to partner with the Government of Laos to improve the health of people with disabilities, provide economic opportunities and facilitate dialogue on policies that impact people with disabilities,” said Mr. Ronning.
The celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a meaningful event to promote disability inclusive policies so that no person is left behind and celebrates persons with disabilities in Laos.
“Children, Youth are the most valuable resource for the Nation. Therefore, we need to teach them the dangers from UXO ” said the U.S. Ambassador, Dr. Peter M. Haymond.
On November 14, 2022 in Vientiane, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Silinthone Sacklokham, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Sports, and Ms. Rebecca Derry, Country Director of World Education (WEI) in Laos signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project called LAWANG (“Beware”): Expanding the Scope of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education in Laos phase II, funded by U.S. Department of State. Also in attendance were the honorable Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Sisouk Vongvichit; U.S. Ambassador, Dr. Peter M. Haymond; Dr. James MacNeil, the Vice President of WEI’s Asia Division; and Mr. Chomyeang Phengthongsawat, the Director General of the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action. The representatives from the concerned departments of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Department of International Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and 10 provincial Departments of Education and Sports and Foreign Affairs witnessed the MOU signing via zoom conference along with WEI staff.
The goal of the LAWANG project is that children, youth, and people living in high-risk communities in Lao PDR will have the knowledge and skills to keep themselves and their families safe from explosive ordnance.
Evidence-based practice is the foundation of rehabilitation to optimize the patient’s outcomes.
Rehabilitation professionals from the Center for Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) in Vientiane, participated and co-facilitated the training on measurement of functioning with support from USAID Okard. Improving persons’ functioning means the success of rehabilitation services This training is part of the USAID Okard support to the CMR to implement the National Rehabilitation Strategy 2018-25 and to align rehabilitation practices in Laos to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative.
The monitoring and on site coaching has been planned to make sure that this activity has been smoothly started. This important data will also help CMR monitor the effectiveness of rehabilitation services and to advocate for increasing its financing.
USAID Okard, funded by USAID and implemented by World Education, Inc., in partnership with Humanity and Inclusion improves access to quality rehabilitation and economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, and supports design and implementation of disabilities inclusive policy.
C.C: U.S. Embassy Vientiane, ສູນຂ່າວສານການແພດສຸຂະສຶກສາ Centre of Information and Education for Health
USAID Okard is profoundly impressed with the outstanding performance, dedication and evolution of our Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) teams from Quality of Life Association (QLA), Xieng Khouang and Association for Rural Mobilization and Improvement (ARMI), Savannakhet since the beginning of the project.
From 12 – 15 September 2022, USAID Okard invited the CBID teams to a four-day training to pause and reflect on what they have accomplished so far, review implementation of the current work plan when supporting the communities we work with to conduct their Income Generation Activities (IGA), to develop capacity of CBID teams in improving participation of persons with disabilities in project activities. In addition, the teams also learned and reflected about gender inclusion development and intersectionality to understand the different backgrounds of people we work with, to respect each other regardless of individual beliefs and/or gender.
USAID Okard, funded by USAID and implemented by World Education, Inc., in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion improves access to quality rehabilitation and economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, and supports design and implementation of disabilities inclusive policy.
C.C: U.S. Embassy Vientiane, Quality of Life Association, Armihouse