Australia extends support for children in Xieng Khuang
The Australian NGO ChildFund, operating through ChildFund Laos, is extending a grant for community development with a focus on the well-being of children in Nonghet district, Xieng Khuang province.
This second phase of the project will run from January 1, 2012, to June 30, 2014, in 12 villages of the district, with financing of about US$1.87 million.
A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed in Xieng Khuang provincial capital on Monday between ChildFund Laos Country Manager Mr Chris Maspiglio and Xieng Khuang provincial Integrated Rural Development Office Deputy Head Mr Chandy Pathamvongsa. The signing was witnessed by provincial Deputy Governor Mr Khampien Sinouanthong and government representatives including district officials.
The objective of the project is to improve the quality of life for children and their communities by addressing local development needs through multi-sector development activities that support government deve-l opment policies and contribute to Millennium Develo pment Goal achievement.
In the first phase, ChildFund Laos worked on the Nonghet Child-friendly Education Promotion Project from January 2010 to October 2011 with funding of about US$250,000 in five villages, Mr Chandy said.
Through experience in the district as well as research conducted in the area, other key priorities for the community, such as health, water and sanitation, food security, nutrition and a continued need for improvements in education access and quality were identified.
In the second phase, the project will expand to seven more villages in the district.
ChildFund Laos will work closely at the district and village levels to support development, targeting the poorest people in those communities, Mr Maspiglio said.
ChildFund Laos' inter-vention aims to ensure that in the long-term partner communities are able to sustain their livelihoods and reduce their reliance on external inputs whilst increasing their resilience to challenges in their daily lives.
In the education sector, the project will improve the well-being of children and youth by supporting communities and local government to provide a range of quality, locally-appropriate education services that build on existing community strengths and capacities. This will be achieved by repairing and constructing schools, building capacity among teachers and village authorities, creating child-friendly environments in schools and communities, and providing teacher scholarships.
The ‘community voices' plan aims to provide opportunities for children, their communities and district authorities to identify, manage and implement activities that positively change the lives of children by supporting capacity building for partners, providing grants for child-led initiatives, developing life-skills for children and youth, and connecting Lao and Australian children.
The ‘community strength' plan aims to improve community well-being by partnering with local stakeholders including children to ensure communities have access to improved health services and livelihood options.
This will be achieved by repairing the district hospital and community health clinics, improving the health equipment available and providing training opportunities, providing water supply and facilitating hygiene promotion, and promoting food security and market linkage support.
