Promoting Women Education and Self-esteem for
Leading Holistic and Sustainable Development in
Lao PDR
Project Number: 22-0510-24
Project Period: 2009-2013
Project Holder:
Science Associates for Development Programme (SADP) and Action for Women in Remote Area and Mountain Programme (AW-RAMP) are selected to implement this project due to their commitment to fully apply VBHCD in the project areas, proved by their effort to train target villages on VBHCD, PSRP and Cornerstones. The training was co-funded by German Development Service Organization. They also have initiated SHG formation in alignment with VBHCD. The groups have been formed as saving groups.
The project will be implemented by the 2 NGOs in Vientiane and Xieng Khoung provinces with close support from the Northeast Regional Office of Heifer Thailand. Heifer Thailand in collaboration with the project partners will select community facilitators, identifying needy families, and provide support for planning, monitoring and evaluation on the project. The project partners were selected from 5 potential partners. Eventually Heifer Thailand has provided a series of trainings including the VBHCD approach, Cornerstones and proposal writing to ensure effective application of VBHCD approach to the new projects.
The new project will be implemented in alignment with VBHCD approach in 2 targeted communities by strengthening the capacity of SHG to increasing household incomes, improving food security, promote natural resource management and sustainable agriculture as well as encouraging small farmers to participation in a holistic development of the community.
Project Profile:
This project will be implemented in Xarm Meun village in Feung district, a mountainous area of Vientiane province, and Boua Neua village in Khoun district, an area with a high rate of landmine accidents. Heifer Thailand will partner with local non-profit organizations to promote sustainable community development and self-reliance of poor families by adopting Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development approach. This project will affect 460 families—210 original and 250 through passing on the gift—by building the capacity of poor women to participate and lead the development of their communities as well as to enhance their knowledge on gender equity. Families will receive 220 goats, 175 cows, 10 pigs, 75 weaving material sets, 685 saplings, 1,400 pounds of crop seeds, and 22 pounds of vegetable seeds Nine self-help groups, including four women-only groups, will be formed and the project will provide them a series of trainings on VBHCD, Cornerstones, Participatory Self Review and Planning (PSRP), gender equity, saving fund management and animal raising techniques. In addition, the project will provide various trainings on occupational and livestock skills. By the end of the project period, the original groups will commit to help form and mentor nine more self-help groups, including another four women-only groups.
Project areas: Vientiane and Xieng Khoung provinces, Laos, PDR.
Local Conditions & Opportunities for Assistance:
Boau Neua Village in Khoun district is located in an area with high numbers of UXO accident cases. This district has been identified as one of 47 poor districts which are a priority for development within the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES).
The village has been struggling with insufficient food and low income with average household income being 144 USD annually. Additionally, 70% of the villagers have undergone primary school education. This limits their opportunity to earn enough income elsewhere. Also, appropriate skills on agricultural production are lacking, which is one of the major problems faced by community. Moreover, access to the village is limited due to poor road conditions, obstructing their opportunities to receive services from the government or other agencies. Nonetheless, the villagers are cooperative in public activities.
The second target village, Xarm Meun, in Feung district, is located in a mountainous area of Vientiane province. Its population consists of different ethnic groups who were relocated from other provinces. There are three major groups including Lao Loum (Lowland group), Lao Soung (Mong group) and Lao Teung (Highland group). The villagers have a traditional livelihood, mostly earning their living from rice cropping, livestock raising, weaving and gathering non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The average income is KIP 200,000 person/month (24 USD).
Project Goal: To promote sustainable community development and self-reliance of poor families by adopting Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development approach.
Objectives of Strategic Plan(s) related to this Project:
KEY ISSUE 1: INCREASED CAPACITY OF HEIFER THAILAND PROGRAM
- Increase leadership and management capacity of project partners and community groups in such areas as project planning, management and financial management.
- Increase technical management capacity of project partners and community project groups on an animal-based holistic development approach, including gender equity, agro-ecology, HIV/AIDS, improved animal management, youth at risk, etc.
KEY ISSUE 4 : RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING
- Develop networking with like-minded organizations( Government agencies and NGOs)
KEY ISSUE 6: GENDER EQUITY
- Promote gender equity among project partners
- Integrate gender equity into all programs
Passing on the Gifts:
Livestock
For every animal received, the recipient will pass on one offspring of the same size and value in good condition to the next qualified recipient family. Pass-on animals and agricultural inputs ceremony will be conducted and witnessed by the project partners, SHG members and Heifer representatives.
Farm inputs
For farm inputs and supplies such as seeds, planting materials, seedlings, etc., the recipients will pass on the same values.
Knowledge, skills and values
Project families will pass on knowledge, skills and values acquired from the project to the next in-line recipient or other members of the group. Passing-on will be done through group training, mentoring and/or coaching.
Funding source: Heifer Project International
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