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Traveling With Kids in Vientiane, Laos

Laos was not technically involved in the Vietnam War.

However, the fighting spilled over it’s boarders. U.S. pilots attempting to bomb the Ho Chi Minh trail succeeded in dumping more bombs onto tiny Laos than on any other country in the history of warfare.

Much of the bombs remain imbedded in the soil of Laos, lying dormant until grasped by a curious child or disturbed by the spade of a farmer.

When a person is injured by this UXO (UneXploded Ordinance), there is not much in the way of proper health services available.

Many become helpless, and dependant on family and friends for basic daily functions, like eating or going to the toilet.

The COPE Center (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) is an admirable organization attempting to fill this void.

They provide prosthetics and mobility devices for those people who require them, free of charge if they cannot afford to pay for them.

COPE also spreads the word about services available, and provides training and support to local staff to provide a high quality service.

We took the whole family (4 year old Jojo, 2 year old Deeds, Nick and myself) to tour the COPE museum and learn about their admirable mission.

At the museum, lots of UXO (now deactivated) is on display. All of it has been collected from different provinces in Laos.

Jojo has a favorite, locally printed book called A Football In The Bush. It is a picture book about a boy playing soccer with his friends.

When the ball gets kicked into some thick brush, the boy goes to retrieve it, ignoring the warnings of his friends. He steps on UXO and loses a leg.

The story continues about how the village children come up with an idea to help their now-disabled friend be included during their daily football games.

It might seem like a harsh lesson not suited for picture books, but it is something of which children who live near UXO should always be conscious.

With this background knowledge, Jojo has an interest in UXO and disabled people.

At the COPE Museum there is the option to go into a comfortable room and watch one of several different movies about COPE and patients in the past.

We chose a 20 minute, child-appropriate film about a young boy from Northern Laos who lost his foot at the age of 3 from UXO.

In the video he was 11 years old and making the trip to COPE for the first time to be fitted for a proper prosthesis.

Jojo was very interested and asked lots of questions about the boy, who prior to getting his prosthesis had been using a homemade peg leg.

After the movie we looked at other homemade prosthetics worn by different people who were able to “trade them in” for a proper prosthesis at COPE!

Both of the boys enjoyed trying out the wheelchairs and hand bike, adapted for handicapped riders.

The wheelchairs are specially designed for developing country situations, made from sturdy materials and outfitted with tires that don’t need air.

Right inside the museum is a replica of a typical Lao house. Once inside, you can read information on the walls and listen to a recorded narration.

The gift shop at COPE is stocked with anti-UXO t-shirts, books, and handicrafts. Proceed support COPE, of course!

We were all set to make a donation; only $50 buys a prosthetic for someone in need!

We did some serious shopping and came away with 3 t-shirts, a unique elephant rag doll with crutches and an amputated leg, and a booklet.

You can also visit a snack bar and have delicious shakes for a good cause.

Jojo requested two read-throughs of the booklet before bed that night.

He also asked if we could visit COPE again the following day! We will definitely go back again.

Visit http://www.copelaos.org to learn more.

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