A Voice For the Voiceless

The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. We recruit graduate students to volunteer as Peace Fellows with partners.

The Impact of Service



"Speaking with locals and living in a country is the best way to learn about the real lives of citizens, not just the stories in the mainstream media. I will be more critical of what I read as a result of this experience. I also feel even more grateful for my education, and I feel a stronger responsibility to assist others who do not have resources or access to opportunities in their communities."

Maria Skouras (New York University) volunteered in 2011 as a Peace Fellow for eHomemakers in Malaysia.

For more 2011 feedback click here.

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Partners > Asia > Association for E...

Association for Empowerment of People with Disabilities



AEPD
Association for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Issue: Disability Rights
Region: Asia
Location: Dong Hoi, Vietnam


Background
The Association for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (formerly Landmine Survivors Network) is a local non-profit organization working in Quang Binh Province, Central Vietnam. AEPD aims to improve the quality of life of Persons with Disabilities in sustainable ways through economic and social empowerment and access to health care. AEPD’s vision is an inclusive and barrier-free society where people with disabilities can fulfill their potential, enjoy equal opportunities, and contribute actively to their communities.

Vietnam – one of the most heavily bombarded countries worldwide - has an immense number of disabled people. Around 5 millions or 6.3 per cent of its whole population have to live with a disability. In Quang Binh province alone there are around 40’000, or 4.7 %. Among them many who survived the bomb raids, cluster munitions and landmine explosions, as well as victims of Agent Orange - the legacy and long-term impact of twenty-five years of war. Since the end of the “American War” in 1975, at least 100’000 Vietnamese have been killed or seriously injured by unexploded ordnances (UXO). Three million were affected by the dioxin-contaminated herbicide Agent Orange - at least 150’000 children with congenital malformations and birth defects.

Most disabled people live in rural areas and below the poverty line, especially in Quang Binh, one of Vietnam’s poorest provinces (average per capita income is around 15 Dollars a month). Only few people with disabilities have stable jobs and regular income, access to health care and education. Economic, social and environmental barriers prevent most handicapped from fully participating in society.

AEPD, founded in summer 2010, grew out of Survivor Corps/Landmine Survivor Network (LSN-V), an international humanitarian organization, which has been working in Vietnam since 2003. Committed to continue LSN-V’s legacy of assisting landmine/UXO survivors in their recovery and rehabilitation process, AEPD aims to expand the scope of work to all people with physical disabilities.
 
In order to empower persons with disabilities and to improve their lives comprehensively, AEPD uses Survivor Corps peer support methodology, which has been successfully applied in many countries. In Vietnam it is unique. AEPD employs outreach workers, themselves physically disabled, who assist directly other disabled people in overcoming their complex of inferiority, become economically independent, and to reintegrate into social life, by sharing experiences and providing consultancy.

AEPD works alongside people with disability to find solutions, which are tailored to the specific needs of every individual. AEPD provides a range of services in three sectors:

Access to Health Care: Provision of information on limb loss and disability issues; Mental and spiritual assistance in recovery and rehabilitation process through peer support; Links and referrals to existing local service providers; Capacity building of local hospitals through trainings and equipment.

Livelihood Opportunities: Vocational/Business Trainings and Workshops, provision of in-kind support, seed money and individual consultancy to start and expand small businesses (animal husbandry, incense making, carpentry, fish sauce and honey production), creation of business groups of disabled people, Links and referrals to local employment opportunities, promotion and sale of high-quality products through fair trade.

Social Inclusion: Creation of self-help clubs for disabled people, organization and participation of sport and social events and activities for and by disabled people, advocacy workshops and trainings on disability rights, peer support.

Meet the volunteers who work for the Asociation for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.


Telling The Story

Photographs:

View AEPD's photo gallery
View the photos of 2011 Peace Fellow Ryan McGovern on Flickr

2010 Peace Fellow Simon Klanstschi with AEPD worker Ms. Hue. Photo by Simon Klantschi. The AEPD Team at the Founding Conference in 2010. Photo by Simon Klantschi.

Videos:

Watch 2009 Peace Fellow, Gretchen Murphy's interview with Nguyen Van Thuan.

Peace Fellow Blogs:

Read about Ryan's work with AEPD in 2011


Media Coverage:

AEPD's First Conference was reported on by Quang Binh Provincial TV on November 8, 2010. The video is only available in Vietnamese.

In 2008 the Landmine Survivor's Network produced two videos about AEPD: Part One, Part Two.



Taking Action - AEPD's Work
Mr. Can, UXO Survivor and Military Veteran shows off his favorite Bonsai tree. Photo by: Ryan McGovern

Donate to the Association for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Support AEPD in Vietnam:
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Contact the Association for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Visit the AEPD website

Mailing Address:
48 Lý Thường Kiệt - Đồng Hới -Quảng Bình - Vietnam
Phone: +84 (0)52 3843 184
Fax: +84 (0)52 3843 186
Email: info@aepd.org.vn

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