MAG’s female teams play a crucial role in enabling us to understand the lives of women living in communities contaminated with unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Like the majority of our staff in Lao PDR, team members are recruited from the districts where we work, giving them a greater understanding of the impact UXO has on their day-to-day lives.
Women make up 33 per cent of MAG Lao’s total workforce. In many areas they have few other opportunities to generate income for their families. Employing women, and proving their ability to undertake demanding work in difficult conditions, raises their status in the community and, in time, should help encourage other employers to hire female staff.
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Mrs Vilaphan Soukvilay (aged 23) "There is a Laotian proverb saying women are always one step behind men. It’s not true. Look at how we did today – we cleared more than 3,500 sq/m of land! At first I was Team Leader in a mixed team. Sometimes it was hard to tell the men what to do, especially those who were older than me. I am much happier now I am in a female team. There is a good atmosphere and we work very well together. We have found UXO in the village school we are clearing, and also on the agricultural land. What’s great about this job is that when we find UXO, we destroy it. It feels good to know we are making these villages safer.” |
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Miss Phongchan Bangkham (21) "I have been working for MAG for three years now. I was a farmer before. In my village, we had lots of UXO in the paddy fields, and when MAG first came to clear it, I wanted to be part of that work. I know how important our work is – I have seen several accidents in nearby villages. People died or had their legs or hands blown off by UXO. I am glad to be working to make things safer." |
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Miss Armkha Phaouthai (41) "I am happy that I have an important job and have received good training. We have strict safety rules and we follow them, so we are safe when we work. It is nice to work in a female team. Women are much easier to talk to than men and we understand each other." |
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Miss Kindalom Phaouthai (22) "Even though I had so much training, I was scared when I first came across UXO on the land we were clearing. I almost ran away. But with experience I am now used to it. I’ve found ten pieces of UXO since I started a few months ago. I feel proud knowing we are destroying UXO." |
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Miss Laphonesy Boungnasack (18) "My family were proud when I got this job, but also worried that I might have an accident. I reassured them that I was well trained and that safety is always a priority here. It’s good working in the female team. We understand each other and work together well." |
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Miss Nang Linsygnom (21) "Being in the female team is like being with sisters. I like working here – it’s easy to talk to each other and we all get on well. I feel proud of myself and MAG as we are protecting villagers from danger." |
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Mrs Jalunee Phongleuangdy (19) "I got married two months ago. Of course, I miss my husband when we are working in the camp, but we get a good break every month, so I see him then. I’m happy to be with the women in this team. We work well together, and we work hard." |
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Miss Thiphaphone Phaouthai (22) "I want to keep working for MAG and one day be the team leader. Lao people think that women are always weaker than men. But by working like we do here, we prove that we are equal, or better! I joined MAG because I needed the money, but also because MAG is helping villagers by destroying UXO. I feel good knowing that we have destroyed UXO that could have injured or killed villagers in the future." |
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Miss Khanthong Doneseangvong (19) "Destroying UXO enables villagers to use more land for cultivation. That means a lot. What we do is very valuable to them." |
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Miss Khankeo Soukvilay (20) "I applied for this job because my sister [Vilaphan] is the team leader and I heard how much she liked working here. Sometimes I worry that she is watching to see if I am working hard enough! But when we are working we become team mates, so it is the same as working with the other women here." |
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Miss Khammouan Soupha (22) "Previously, I was a nurse in the provincial hospital. I saw patients with UXO injuries in hospital – it made me want to be part of this project. The MAG team can’t work without a medic, because they have to be sure there is someone on site if an accident happens. So I know I am an important part of the team." |
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Mrs Sayasouk Bouakeo (22) "My husband works as a medic for the male team. There is friendly competition between the male and female team. I laugh about it with my husband because I know the women’s team is better!" |
| Team funded by: |
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