Asian Philanthropy Forum

Profile: Channapha Khamvongsa of Legacies of War

I met Channapha Khamvongsa at the Laotian American National Conference earlier in April. She serves as the Executive Director of Legacies of War. She previously worked at the Ford Foundation and Public Interest Projects. Channapha was appointed to the Seattle Women's Commission and served on the boards of the Refugee Women's Alliance and Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership. Please find below a short interview of Channapha and her work with Legacies of War.

1. What is the mission of Legacies of War? What are your goals?

Legacies of War is the only U.S.-based organization dedicated to raising awareness about the current devastation that has resulted from the Vietnam War-era bombing in Laos. Our mission is to advocate for the clearance of unexploded bombs and provide space for healing the wounds of war. Since our founding in 2004, we have worked with Laotian Americans, bombing survivors, veterans, artists, non-governmental organizations and others bring people together and create healing and transformation out of the wreckage of war. Our work has resulted in the first ever U.S. Congressional hearing – held in April 2010 - on the current devastation of unexploded ordinance in Laos. We are asking Congress to increase funding for bomb clearance and victim assistance in Laos. According to the U.S. State Department, it spends between $2 to $3 million a year. Compare this to the $17 million per day it spent bombing Laos for nine years. Put another way, the U.S. spent more in 3 days bombing Laos than it has spent in the last 15 years cleaning it up.

2. How did Legacies of War come about? 

The secret U.S. bombing of Laos resulted in Laos being the most bombed country in history per capita. It began in 1964 and ended in 1973. This was the same year I was born in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. When I was six years old, my family left Laos due to the country’s political instability. We spent a year in a Thai refugee camp and eventually resettled in the U.S. Many of the 400,000 Lao refugees who now reside in the U.S. have similar stories. We were fortunate to resettle in America, but were sad to leave behind family members and friends who we feared we might never see again. Much has changed since then. Over the past ten years, improved relations between the Lao and U.S. governments have allowed me to travel back to Laos numerous times. Like thousands of other tourists who visit Laos every year, I feel a deep affection for the people, culture and land that I barely remember from my childhood. Reconnecting with my Lao heritage included discovering the dark history and lingering effects of the Secret War in Laos. This discovery led me to establish Legacies of War. 

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Looking for Social Entrepreneurs in Asia

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is searching for outstanding social entrepreneurs in Asian countries where we do not currently have national competitions.  Schwab Foundation is looking for social entrepreneurs who are innovators implementing practical and sustainable solutions on the ground to address problems in a wide variety of areas, including (but not limited to) health, education, poverty alleviation, the environment, financial inclusion and enterprise development.

In terms of benefits, the winner(s) will join the Schwab Foundation’s community of accomplished social entrepreneurs around the world – a community that shares knowledge and experience while exchanging best practices. The Schwab Foundation seeks to help social entrepreneurs showcase their innovative, market-based social impact initiatives, thus, enhancing opportunities for business growth. Our social entrepreneurs have access to the meetings of the World Economic Forum (our sister organization) and are provided with an unparalleled platform to connect with government, corporate, intellectual and media leaders.

Candidates working in the following countries are encouraged to apply: China, South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

To apply or to view the criteria, selection process and benefits, please visit: http://www.schwabfoundseoy.org/asia.  Competition closes on 31 March 2010.

Photo courtesy of oleg.kellerhof

Greatest Needs: Preventing Children From Living on the Streets in Laos

Every six months, Give2Asia features several projects that require immediate funding in their Greatest Needs catalogue.  These projects have been vetted by Give2Asia and then broken into scalabe sizes for donors to invest in.  The purpose is to showcase needs in the region, highlight the work that local, on the ground, organizations are doing and then provide a mechanism for those that choose to act. 

Partner: Friends-International  (Peuan Mit in Laotian)

Cost: $55,000 gives 1,000 children access to education, health care, and family services that protect them from living on the streets.

The Challenge.  On any given day an estimated 600 children live and work on the streets of Vientiane. Street children survive primarily by scavenging, begging and sex work. These children are often deprived of an education because of pressure to earn an income for their survival and, in some cases, the survival of their families. Children living on the street are highly susceptible to substance abuse, violence, HIV/AIDS and human trafficking.

The Goal.  To create lasting social change by ensuring access to education for children and youth at risk of entering street life. To sustain this change through holistic support services for their families.