World Education Supports Disability Inclusion in Laos
July 3rd, 2021 | News
World Education and Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) signed a grant agreement on June 28th, 2021, which will provide $500,000 between April 2021 and July 2022 to support the provision of orthotic and prosthetic devices in Laos. Funded by the USAID Okard Project, the grant aims to help persons with disabilities and mobility impairments access life-changing medical devices.
USAID Okard is a five-year project that seeks to promote disability inclusive development in Laos, empowering people with disabilities to lead healthy, independent lives. A growing number of people are experiencing mobility issues due to diseases, UXOs, and other accidents, all of which make participation in society on a day-to-day basis more difficult. With this funding, COPE will be able to increase services and support, as well as rehabilitation for persons with disabilities, such as children with cerebral palsy.
World Education country director Sarah Bruinooge and COPE program manager Metta Thippawong signed the grant, accompanied by witnesses Dr. Peter M. Haymond, U.S. Ambassador to Lao PDR, and Michael Ronning, USAID Country Representative to Lao PDR. Read the article about the signing, U.S. Provides $500,000 to COPE to Improve the Well-being of Persons with Disabilities, in the Lao News Agency.
