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CDEA Lao PDR joins Homenet Southeast Asia

Training on marketing, participated in by 24 persons from four villages of Xaythani district, .

The Community Development and Environment Association (CDEA) has formally accepted the invitation to join Homenet Southeast Asia as a network concerned with homebased workers’ issues in Laos. CDEA has been conducting activities sponsored by Homenet Southeast Asia and implemented in partnership with Homenet Northeast (part of Homenet Thailand) in 2005 and early 2006. CDEA also participated in the subregional assembly, subregional workshop on social protection, and gender and governance workshop held in Bangkok in October 2005.

In Lao PDR, the work of the CDEA draws together sustainable community and environmental development that acknowledges the co-dependency of people and their environment. CDEA also provides guidance and support to grassroots community groups and not-for-profit community based projects in Lao PDR.

One of the objectives of the CDEA is to empower women by creating a strong platform for building income generating activities and social welfare initiatives. In pursuance of the said objective, CDEA through its coordinator, Mr. Khantone Phamuang, networked with Homenet Thailand and other Laos NPOs (not for profit organizations) and women’s union. CDEA began undertaking occupational skills development training for women in year 2004, with support from Homenet SEA through Homenet Thailand (specifically, Ms. Lukkavin and Ms. Suntaree Saeng-ging). A number of women from the villages and members of the Lao Women’s Union of Xaythani district have participated in skills training on dish washing liquid , shampoo, soaps, and powder production; natural dye silk and cotton fabric making; marketing and business management; organic fertilizer (natural); and doll making from used fabric.

Shown below are some of the skills training and income generating activities undertaken in cooperation with the Women’s Union of Xaythani district, Vientiane Capital , Lao PDR.

Participants of farming groups from three villages attend training on organic fertilizer	Women participants in a skills training on doll making using recycled fabric.