Training, Economic Empowerment, Assistive Technology and Medical Rehabilitation (TEAM) project

It is estimated that approximately 8% of households in Laos have a family member with a disability. The Training, Economic Empowerment, Assistive Technology and Medical Rehabilitation (TEAM) Project seeks to develop the very limited medical and rehabilitative services available to people with disabilities and improve their access to employment opportunities.

Over the past 20 years, World Education has improved emergency medical care, vocational opportunities, and the economic status of unexploded ordnance (UXO) accident survivors and people with disabilities in UXO-impacted provinces in Laos. The Lao TEAM Project combines World Education’s successful experience in assisting Lao UXO survivors and people with disabilities with our understanding of how to manage sub-grants, build the capacity of local organizations, and coordinate local and international organizations working for the same purpose.

Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Lao TEAM Project will coordinate efforts to assist people with disabilities and organizations working towards a common goal: to enable people with disabilities (PwDs)—especially women and girls—to attain and maintain maximum independence to fully and equally participate in all aspects of life.

The TEAM project currently provides funding to 15 sub-recipients (dispersed over three rounds), both local nonprofit associations and international NGOs. Each project addresses at least one component of TEAM in a comprehensive, socially-focused approach that is designed to improve services and have a positive effect on quality of life and social inclusion for PwD. All sub-recipients collaborate to enhance the overall impact of all projects and create an environment in which PwD will be able to access a wider range of services.