Founded in 1963 as the National Rehabiliation Center, the Center of Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) is part of the Lao Government’s Ministry of Health, and provides and coordinates rehabilitation services across Laos. The CMR manufactures prosthetics and orthotics, and provides physical rehabilitation services. COPE’s offices and Visitor Centre are located on the grounds of the CMR. COPE is proud to be CMR’s implementing partner and support their work.
COPE receives financial assistance from these generous organisations:
USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. U.S. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America’s interests while improving lives in the developing world. USAID carries out U.S. foreign policy by promoting broad-scale human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies, creates markets and trade partners for the United States, and fosters good will abroad. USAID helps Laos modernize its economy while promoting sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. As trade opens Laos’ borders to increased goods and investment partners, USAID also works to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases and pandemic threats.
The Norwegian Government takes an integrated approach to Norway’s foreign and development policy. Our development policy is designed to promote economic development, democratisation, implementation of human rights, good governance and measures that can lift people out of poverty for good. Priority is given to education, humanitarian assistance, health and vaccination, private sector development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and human rights.
In 2018, COPE receives funding through the Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid Programme. The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants scheme for development activities, managed by the Australian Embassy in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The program aims to support projects with a strong development focus that complement Australia’s broader aid program which contributes to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
The funding will support the construction of advanced gait training areas in each of the five government rehabilitation centres in Lao PDR to support people receiving prosthetic and orthotic devices.
Irish Aid is Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries. Since its inception in 1974, Irish Aid has had a strong geographic focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Ireland’s aid philosophy is rooted in its foreign policy with it objectives of peace and justice, as well as its commitment to human rights and fairness in international relations. Irish Aid’s programme has always been completely untied, that is to say, it is not conditional in any way on the use of Irish goods or services. Irish Aid is strongly committed to ensuring aid effectiveness, based on the principles of partnership, support for locally owned strategies, better donor coordination and policy coherence.
A Leg To Stand On (ALTSO) is a non-profit organization working in the developing world, bringing free orthopedic care to children with untreated limb disabilities whose families cannot afford treatment. Our goal is to provide high-quality continuous care through the age of 21 for all patients treated under ALTSO’s program. Since 2003, through local treatment providers in Asia, Africa, and Latin America we’ve provided free orthopedic care to more than 20,000 children in need.
Ito Supporting Comity (ISC) is a non-profit organization established by the Buddhist community Shinnyo-en to help economically impoverished people around the world in line with the wishes of the company’s late founder, Master Shinko Ito. Master Shinjo desired to promote the welfare of humanity and build peace in the world. ISC nurtures the self-reliance of those whose needs are most often overlooked.
Global Development Group, established in 2002, is a Brisbane-based, Australian-founded non-government overseas humanitarian development organisation. Our passion is to provide comprehensive quality management to help achieve development effectiveness, together with our partners, in our aid and development projects and activities around the world.
Spellbrook is an Australian private charitable fund founded in 2015 by Gary Stafford. The fund supports projects in Laos and SE Asia with a focus on supporting specialist health care and positive youth development programs that improve in-country capacity and meet measurable objectives.
CBM is an international Christian development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world. Based on its Christian values and over 100 years of professional expertise, CBM addresses poverty as a cause and a consequence of disability, and works in partnership to create an inclusive society for all. CBM has been working in Laos since 1983 supporting Medical Eye Care through the Ministry of Health. The main focus of CBM support is rehabilitation services, both institutional-based and community-based in remote areas of the country.
Ito Supporting Comity (ISC) is a non-profit organization established by the Buddhist community Shinnyo-en to help economically impoverished people around the world in line with the wishes of the company’s late founder, Master Shinko Ito. Master Shinjo desired to promote the welfare of humanity and build peace in the world. ISC nurtures the self-reliance of those whose needs are most often overlooked.
Phu Bia Mining, PanAust’s Lao-registered company, has a Mineral Exploration and Production Agreement (MEPA) with the Government of Laos that regulates exploration and mining within the Phu Bia Contract Area, which is more than 2,600 square-kilometres. PanAust’s activities in Laos are centred on the Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation, the Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation.
Phu Bia Mining donated US$28,080 to COPE in 2018 to support people with disabilities to access life-changing prosthetic and orthotic rehabilitation services.
Australia’s aid and development program prioritises activities in the Indo-Pacific region. This sharp focus on Australia’s immediate neighbours is intended to make the most positive impact. The purpose of the aid program is to promote Australia’s national interests by contributing to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. The Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade pursues this purpose by focusing on two development outcomes: supporting private sector development and strengthening human development.</span>
Canada seeks to strengthen its deep and broad relationships across Asia and the Pacific at every level. Events in Asia-Pacific are of critical importance to a broad range of Canadian interests, including prosperity and freedom, regional stability and international security. It is in the interest of all Canadians to continue to develop connections—closer educational, cultural and people-to-people links—to Asia and the Pacific so that Canada can contribute to and learn from the region, while advancing Canadian values and interests there.
Established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. An independent and neutral organization, its mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The ICRC supports people with disabilities worldwide. As well as providing physical rehabilitation services, we help people with disabilities play a full part in society. This includes facilitating the setting up of small businesses, providing vocational training and promoting sport.
World Education improves the quality of life through education for half a million children and adults in 22 countries. World Education's programs promote individual and collective change: their training programs improve adult education, help displaced peoples, stem the tide of HIV, and reduce violence through conflict resolution. World Education is a leader in building the skills, knowledge and resources of local groups so they can accomplish their missions effectively. World Education has operated in Laos since 1992, implementing programs in refugee repatriation, health, agriculture, anti-trafficking and microfinance. Currently, the majority of program activity in Laos is focused on the unexploded ordnance (UXO) sector. UXO that were leftover from the Vietnam War era continue to maim and kill Lao people, most of whom were born after the end of the conflict.
