Laos

World Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Laos to improve their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their children, families, and communities. World Vision is working in six out the country's 18 provinces. Highlights include:

• Raising awareness in southern communities about the dangers of human trafficking.
• Building early warning and response system to help protect communities affected by disasters.
• Improving farming techniques to increase crop yield and food security.
• Distributing books, building school facilities, and training teachers to increase the quality of education through partnerships with local communities and the government.

World Vision began work in Laos in 1969, but was forced to suspend relief and child sponsorship work at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. World Vision resumed work in 1981, and opened an office there in 1991. Since then, some of World Vision’s major accomplishments have included:

• Increasing access to healthcare in rural areas by building a clinic and several hospitals during the 1980s.
• Providing emergency relief to southern communities affected by drought in 1990.
• Improving care for disabled people and providing them with prostheses during the 1990s.
• Focusing on improvements in food security, education, healthcare, economic development, and water and sanitation since the beginning of the 21st century.

Geography and people

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic, also known as Laos, is located in Southeast Asia. Laos shares its borders with Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

One of the longest rivers in the world, the Mekong, forms much of the western border with Thailand and flows for nearly 1,000 miles through Laos. Mountains cover most of the terrain. The tropical monsoon climate has a rainy and a dry season.

Natural resources include timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, and gemstones.

The Lao people make up over half of the population, with over 100 other ethnic groups making up the rest of the population. Lao is the official language of the country; Laotians also speak French, English, and a variety of ethnic languages.

About 80 percent of Laotians work in agriculture. Some crops that they grow include sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, and sugarcane.

Laotians value courtesy and respect; they try not to criticize an individual in front of others. They take a relaxed attitude towards life and enjoy each moment as it comes, despite the problems that they face.  (Source: CultureGrams) 

History

Laos gained independence from France around 1953. Conflict between Laos and the communist Pathet Lao group from North Vietnam during the 1960s ended in a coalition government.

The conflict between the United States and North Vietnam during the 1960s and early 1970s left Laos devastated by heavy bombing. In 1975, Pathet Lao invaded Laos and renamed the country the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Laos’ government began a return to private enterprise and economic reform in the late 1980s. A new constitution in 1991 allowed for government elections, but the country has retained a mainly one-party government so far. Laos joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1997.

Please pray for the people of Laos and for peace and stability in their country.