Elizabeth Son

Tiffany Mitchell

Yennifer Gonzalez

Brittney Pinson

Geography

• South East Asia

• Bordering countries

Burma, Cambodia, China, Thailand,

and Vietnam

• Divided into 3 regions

Uplands, Midlands, Lowlands

History

• Theravada Buddhism

Big influence in Laotian culture

introduced in the fourteenth century

• 1637 Golden Age of Laos

Buddhism and arts flourished

Capital Vientiane became intellectual

center

• Countries invaded Laos

1479, Vietnam

1565, 1570, and 1752 Burma

1778, Siam

• 1955 Laos obtained full power, joined

United Nations

• 2000 Lao intellectuals, politicians,

students, and workers est. the FREE LAO

ALLIANCE

promotes democracy for Laos

Human Rights

• Women Rights

Constitution: men/women have equal rights

NOT practice: tradition/culture

• Civil Liberties

Freedom of speech and press

Freedom of religion: buddhism, Christianity,

Islam, and Baha’I Faith

• Worker Rights

Federation of Lao Trade Unions

Workweek: 48hrs/week with 1 day/week

Overtime: cannot exceed 30hrs/month

Environmental Status

• Land locked country

• Lowland flood plain region

food crops and aquaculture

• Midlands/plateau region

industrial crops

• Upland region

largest area, only suitable for shifting

cultivation

• Diverse Climate, varies through out months

Millennium Development Goals

• Improve Maternal Health

Trying to reduce unwanted pregnancies

28.5% of women do not get

medical/maternal care

• Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Provide regulations and plans for

environmental protection

Expanding clean water for sanitation

• Reduce Child Mortality

Improving medical treatment for universal

access to good health care and providing

immunizations

• Combat HIV-AIDS, Malaria and Other

Diseases

0.2% of people 15-49 yrs old have HIV.

Fewer blood transfusions

Provide medicine

Millennium Development Goals continued….

• Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Poverty rate from 46% to 33%

Population: 5 million 80% living in Poverty

W/ poverty rate = malnutrition to kids

40% of children under 5yrs old,

underweight

• Achieve Universal Primary Education

Improve education and provide better

and more trained teachers

• Promote Gender Equality and Empower

Women

Focus on developing women basic human

rights

Description of Need

• Poverty Rate: 27% of Laotians live below

$1/day

• Clinics: Un-staffed, unequipped, and

unsupplied

85% - Poor conditions, no access to

clean water or electricity

• Maternal Health

Mortality rate per 10,000 live births is

66

Highest rate out of surrounding

countries

• Malnourishment

40% of children under five are

underweight

“Stunting”

Diet deficiencies

• Child Mortality

rate: under 5yrs old 75 per 1,000 live

births

rural areas: 350 per 1,000 live births

35% of children die before 5yrs old

diseases, respiratory infections,

diarrhea

Project Proposal

• Trade center in capital

• Women artists and craft makers

• Establish contracts

• Items process at trade center and

exported

• Associates with Pier 1 Imports and Cost

Plus

• Expanding to other outer countries

• Mekong River: Transportation system to

Laotians

• Air planes for exporting

Short/Long Term Goals

• Short Term Goal

Help women produce better income

while

being self-sufficient

More $$ to community to pay for vitals,

health care, and maternal care

Reduce maternal and child mortality

• Long Term Goal

Empower Laotian Women

More respect

More control

More independent

Impact

• Ripple Effect

Women’s income into community

As women spend money, money

spreads

Continued cycle all over

• Negative effects

Shipment safety: extreme seasonal

variations

Slow progress in beginning

Project Implementation

2010: Est. contracts with foreign retailers

Auditions with Artists

Contract with 1st 250 women

Begin collecting/processing/exporting

2011: Contract with 1000 women

Officially open trade center to world

2012: Continuing to expand and promote

Conclusion

• Ripple effect,

benefits ALL laotians while

empowering women.

• New found income =

More vitals and necessities for laotians

Lower poverty rate

Better health and maternal care =

Reduce mortality rates