By Hanako Iwamura | Head of Laos Office, Terra Renaissance
Dear Supporters and Friends,
Thank you so much for your continued interest and generous support. Because of you, we are able to stand beside the people of Laos every day, working toward a safer future.
Today, we are thrilled to share a very special report with you—a historic moment that brought tears of joy and renewed hope to our team and the communities we serve.
A Historic Visit Brings Hope On November 19th, hearts in Laos beat a little faster. We were overjoyed to welcome Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko of Japan on her very first solo overseas visit. Her choice to visit Laos was a profound gesture of friendship, but her destination in our capital, Vientiane, highlighted a critical reality.
Princess Aiko visited the COPE Visitor Center, a facility dedicated to the victims of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). There, she witnessed the silent tragedy that still haunts our beautiful landscapes.
The Reality We Face As many of you know, Laos holds the tragic title of the most heavily bombed country in history per capita. Between 1964 and 1973, approximately 80 million bombs failed to detonate. Even today, these "sleeping" bombs lie hidden in rice paddies and schoolyards. The war ended decades ago, but for the families here, the battle for survival continues.
A Special Honor for Our Team During this significant visit, Terra Renaissance had the distinct honor of being the only NGO permitted to host an exhibition booth at the center. This was a proud moment for us, and it is a testament to the trust we have built—trust that your donations have helped us establish.
We presented two life-saving solutions to the Princess:
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE): Teaching children how to identify and avoid bombs.
Beekeeping for Livelihoods: This is close to our hearts. Many farmers risk their lives digging contaminated soil to grow crops. We offer a safer alternative: raising bees. This allows families to harvest honey without digging the dangerous ground.
The honey we displayed to the Princess wasn't just sweet; it represented safety, peace, and a life free from fear.
Let’s Keep the Momentum Going Princess Aiko’s visit has opened a window of opportunity, drawing the world's eyes to the challenges in Laos. But when the cameras leave, the bombs remain.
We need to turn this awareness into action. We urgently need to reach more remote villages in the Xieng Khouang region with risk education and safe livelihood support.
$50 helps us run a safety workshop for a village.
$100 provides a family with beekeeping equipment, stopping them from "digging for danger."
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together with the people of Laos, let’s make sure that peace and safety are not just a dream, but a reality.
With deep gratitude,
The Terra Renaissance Team
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