"Without CL there'd be no information for MAG to base its clearance work on" - Toui
Picsouban Mankhounkham (Toui), a 26-year-old member of MAG Lao's Community Liaison (CL) team explains the crucial role of CL.
"Without Community Liaison there would be no information for MAG to base its work on. It would be impossible for us to decide where to clear without input from the community. Community Liaison is the first step in MAG’s UXO [unexploded ordnance] clearance process.
"It allows us to collect information and coordinate with the local community so that their needs are met. We collect information such as the history of the village, number of UXO accidents, and the living conditions of the people.
"When we assist the village to prioritise the clearance we look at many factors, but we try to help the poorest community members first.
"If there are many poor families then those who collect scrap metal are prioritised [in order to provide them with an alternative means of income generation].
"The part of my job I like the most is surveying surface bombs [bombs visible on the ground]. Clearing those bombs makes a lot of difference because it removes the possibility of children playing with them."
Links:
» More on MAG's work in Lao PDR
» Download MAG Lao's latest magazine
» One thing you probably knew about MAG Lao. And six you might not
14 February 08
MAG’s work in Lao PDR is currently funded by: DFID (UK Department for International Development); European Commission; Irish Aid; The Humpty Dumpty Institute; Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF); Jersey Overseas Aid; NZAID (New Zealand’s International Aid & Development Agency); USDA (United States Department of Agriculture); US Department of State; UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
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