COPE: "Helping People Move On" in Vientiane

18 February 2012 

Vientiane

The most memorable aspect of our time in Laos’ capital, Vientiane, was the visit we made to COPE, Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise, a nonprofit group devoted to helping victims of cluster bombs in Laos. According to their literature, per capita, Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world.  Between 1964 and 1973, Americans dropped over 260 million bombies—that is the equivalent of a plane load of or bombs every 9 minutes for 9 years—over the country. It’s estimated that 30% of these bombs failed to explode, which means there are at least 78 million active bombies in the country today. And these bombs are killing and maiming Laotians.

Cluster bombs

There's a lot of red on here.

We were introduced to the center and taught a little history of the bombs and then ushered into a video room where we saw a public service announcement. The movie shared the stories of four children who had all been injured by bombs: one child was looking for scrap metal, another was digging for worms, the third made a fire on the ground with her sister in order to cook the fish she had just caught, and the final child was playing with his sling shot when he came across a bomb on the ground. After a dramatization and recounting of each child’s story, each child would look very seriously into the camera and explain how his or her life had been limited by the injury. Each segment ended with the child warning the audience: “Children, be careful when you are digging for worms, or you could end up like me.” Or, “Children, only build a fire in a place where you have before or above ground, or you could end up like me.” The video was moving, and for me, the most heartbreaking part was, none of these kids was doing anything that a child should not be doing. Sure, in the US you can tell a child not to take candy from a stranger or not to play with fireworks, but how do you tell a kid not to dig for worms?

COPE provides rehabilitation and prosthetics for people injured by cluster bombs at subsidized costs or for free. I’m not really big into promoting causes in this blog, but what I saw at the center really left an impression on me, and I’d like to share the information. So… If you would like to learn more about this organization or buy someone a leg (yes, a leg), check out their website: http://www.copelaos.org/.

COPE also sells ice cream.
How great is that? You can give back by eating your favorite food.

Our evening in the Laos capital ended with dinner at a Markphet, a restaurant opened in 2006 by Friends-International with a goal “to inspire the youth we work with—to teach them how to build themselves a new future.” The restaurant employs marginalized youth and gives them restaurant skills. The program has been a huge success, and the students have “spearhead[ed] the revival of their own food culture which they are so proud of.” The food was delicious.

Family style dinner

Dessert :)

Before our flight to Hanoi, Vietnam the following day, we explored a few sites and markets of the city. The photographic evidence:

The Presidential Palace

Wat Si Saket--the oldest temple in Vientiane

Outside Si Saket

Trying to be artsy with some of the 6,840 Buddhas housed in Si Saket 

More of the 6,840

Wedding photos. I was tempted to get my photo taken,
but I didn't have a groom available.
Now I have a visual record for when I do.

I'm not sure why I decided against getting my portrait done here.

Duck bills, anyone?

What about chicken feet?

Patuxai--An Arc de Triomphe knockoff.
According to Wikipedia, it's a bit higher than its
French  inspiration, "to spite the French."

All around the temples and monuments I saw people getting their pictures
 taken with monks. I would have done the same, but it wasn't
clear to me if the monks were charging for the privilege.

 Vietnam, here I come!

Bag lady on the move