Laos Women’s Shelter Visit

New Day Meeting, November 1st 2007

The Shelter

Established in 2006

Only shelter of its kind in Laos

Location and lay-out

Located approx 25 k outside Vientiane

Well kept property of approx 2 acres – gifted by the Lao government

Walled and gated Compound

comprises of four separate buildings

Running of the Shelter

Run by the Lao Women’s Union Provides legal, psychological and health

counseling Drop-in/call-in counseling as well as live-in

care Women and children accommodated Victims come from all over Laos Referred by the LWU national network

Dormitory for victims of domestic abuse

Main building – Offices, counseling centre, New Day multi-purpose room!

Activities of the Shelter

Victims are involved in sewing, weaving and organic farming

Children attend daily classes at a local school All staff and victims are involved in the day-

to-day running and care of the Shelter Staff are involved in meetings and training

with local police, health workers, LWU members and community leaders.

Soudalack and Liza

Drawings of past and present child victims

Interior of dormitory

Shelter staff

Madame Thoummaly of the LWU is the Director of the Shelter – responsible for its general administration and fundraising

Nine full-time staff are all involved in legal, health or psychological counselling as well as vocational training and the general care of the victims

Three staff are on duty every night All staff and victims are responsible for the day-to-

day running of the Shelter and the care of the children

Madame Thoummaly, Lek and Soudalack

Full staff complement

New Day multi-purpose room

Our grant will provide:

Complete outfitting of multi-purpose room to include all necessary equipment and furniture to conduct training and educational seminars

Room will have secondary function as a meeting place outside the small confines of the dormitories Grant money will go to purchasing basic requirements: Air-conditioning Tables and 50 chairs Lock-up cabinets LCD projector and screen White Boards Microphones and speakers Voice recorder Other equipment deemed necessary

The multi-purpose room will be used for: Receiving groups of visitors from outside

organisations and agencies Staff training Case management meetings that involve

large groups (police, public prosecutors, victims’ families, medical experts, etc)

Venue for the multi-disciplinary task-force on domestic violence (1st of its kind in Laos).

Main room – Activity and Training centre

Needs of the Shelter

Scarce resources mean constant fundraising The Shelter operates on a shoestring budget

and struggles to meet daily needs of victims Basic furnishings, computers, office

equipment, stationery and toiletries are all in short supply

What follow-up?

New Day’s cheque has been deposited in The Asia Foundation’s trustee account

The money will be paid out to the LWU They will purchase all items according to TAF

procurement policy All receipts will be handed over to TAF and to New Day,

if we so wish Liza and Chris will keep in contact with the Shelter on a

regular basis to monitor the progress of the investment and the overall success of the shelter

Lessons for New Day

We CAN make a difference Every bit helps There are advantages and disadvantages to

a one-off contribution to a project. A site visit is a very real and rewarding

experience!