Overview
A landlocked country located in the Indochinese peninsula, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) borders China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma. The Mekong River forms the border with Thailand and Burma, and it flows 932 miles through the country. The river is a vital source for food and is used for transportation.

Agriculture employs 80 percent of the population. Rice, corn, vegetables, tobacco, coffee, and other food crops are grown. Laos is a major exporter of teak and mahogany hardwood products. Other natural resources include hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, and gemstones. Laos has the reputation of being one of the world’s largest producers of opium. Many subsistence farmers harvest opium because it provides a consistent source of income. However, the government has cracked down on the opium trade by more than 45 percent since 2003.

With a population of 5.8 million and a labor force of one million, Laos is still considered one of the poorest countries in the world. Forty percent of the population lives below the poverty line. There are no railroads, the roads are grossly undeveloped, and Laos lacks a basic internal and external telecommunication system. Since the early 1900s, the agriculture industry has suffered tremendous blows from alternating floods and droughts. The country is heavily dependent on international aid and must import manufactured products and medicines.

World Vision’s Work
World Vision’s work in Laos began in l972 during the Vietnam War, when the organization was
involved in several small-scale projects focusing on the needs of children. Following the end of the war in l975, all projects were suspended until the l980s and were resumed under the management of World Vision’s Asia Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok. During this time, World Vision focused on improving health care by building a clinic and several hospitals in remote villages where health care was lacking.

Rural development projects are World Vision’s main focus in Laos, with small-scale interventions in health, agriculture, education, water, and income generation. World Vision also has built schools and funded prosthetics work.
Current activities include:
• Five integrated rural development projects focusing on primary health care, food security,
education, and income-generation.
• Four single-sector projects (water supply/sanitation, prosthetics, ordnance clearance, and a hospital extension).
• A community-based disaster management project.
• A training and capacity-building project.
• An HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention project.
World Vision is committed to ensuring that these programs make a positive difference in the lives of Laotians.