:: Stand Up For COPE Concert 2008 ::
COPE supports the development of prosthetic, orthotic and rehabilitation services in Laos. COPE are the only provider of these devices in the country. COPE was established by POWER International in 1997, bringing together relevant organisations working in the field of disability in Laos. So, COPE is a joint venture between the Ministry of Health and a number of NGOs (Non-government organisations). In the future the plan is for COPE to become a Lao organisation in its own right. All of COPE's administration is done from Vientiane.
Why is COPE in Laos?
Laos is still one of the World's poorest countries with a large group of people living at a subsistence level. The conflict in Vietnam spilled over into Laos in a secret war, leaving it the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world. Many of these bombs and other devices did not explode at the time. So, even though the war ended in 1975, the country is still littered with a significant amount of UXO (Unexploded ordnance) which also contributes to poverty, hunger and disability on a daily basis. It is difficult to say with certainty how many people in Laos are affected by disability from this and for other reasons in some way. Remote villages, poor infrastructure and inaccessibility contribute to people with disability being a disadvantaged group within an extremely poor society.
Hence the need to provide:
Prosthetics and mobility devices for those people who require them, free of charge if they cannot afford to pay for them.
Information to people about services available
Training and support to local staff to provide a high quality service
Assistance in developing longer term strategies for sustainability so that the service will always be here!
COPE is an organisation developed in Laos working with Lao staff for Lao people with disabilities.
http://www.copelaos.org/
:: COPE Concert 2010 ::
COPE stands for Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise and we provide prosthetics and mobility devices for those people who require them, free of charge if they cannot afford to pay for them. We also supply Information to people about services available, training and support to local staff to provide a high quality service, and assistance in developing longer term strategies for sustainability so that the service will always be here!
COPE is the only provider of prosthetic, orthotic and rehabilitation services in Laos. Established by POWER International in 1997, COPE is a joint venture between the Ministry of Health and a number of NGOs (Non-government organisations). In the future the plan is for COPE to become a Lao organisation in its own right.
:: COPE Concert 2012 ::
COPE stands for Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise. Founded in 1997, COPE is a local organization that works with the National Rehabilitation Center (NRC), Lao Ministry of Health and five provincial rehabilitatoin centres in an innovative partnership developing rehabilitation services across Lao PDR.
* COPE provides prosthetics and mobility devices for people who require them, free of charge if they cannot afford to pay for them.
* COPE supplies information to people about the types of services available.
* COPE supports the develpment of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program that includes physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
* COPE works to develop strategies to ensure that services are sustainable in the long term and always available.
COPE and the NRC together are the only provider of prosthetic, orthotic and rehabilitation services in Laos. All of COPE's administration is undertaken in Vientiane and is independently audited.
http://www.copelaos.org/
:: BEARS at Eastern Creek - 26th June 2009 ::
BEARS and supporting races at Eastern Creek Raceway
:: The 2011 Vientiane International Rugby 10s ::
A selection of images from the 2011 Vientiane International Rugby 10s
:: Vientiane Rugby 10s 2012 ::
:: Vientiane International Rugby Championship 2014 ::
:: Cheridan and Isla ::
This is our daughter and our grand daughter, Isla. It's easy to see where Isla gets her good looks. I'll keep this gallery updated as Isla grows.