Legacies of war
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Channapha Khamvongsa |
| Type | Non-Governmental Organization |
| Location | |
| Mission | to raise awareness about the United States' Vietnam War-era bombing in Laos |
| Website | www.legaciesofwar.org |
Legacies of War (Legacies) is a non-profit, non-partisan project dedicated to raising awareness about the history of the Vietnam War-era bombing during the Secret War in Laos. Through the use of art, culture, education, and advocacy Legacies works towards the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO), providing medical services for victims of UXO, and promoting a lasting legacy of peace and hope in Laos.
From 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped over 2 million tons of ordnance over Laos in 580,000 bombing missions, the equivalent of one planeload every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years. As a result, Laos became the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history, with about 30 percent of the cluster munitions failing to detonate, diminishing the chance of development in Laos.
Legacies' primary goals are to:
Legacies is a fiscally-sponsored project of NEO Philanthropy, a New York-based nonprofit organization that funds a variety of organizations that share a vision of a society that ensures justice, dignity and opportunity for all people.
Legacies receives funding from the contributions of individuals, foundations and corporate supporters. Legacies does not receive any government funding. The government funding which Legacies advocates for goes to on-the-ground organizations such as The HALO Trust, Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Health Leadership International, World Education, and others.
Channapha Khamvongsa is the founder and executive director of Legacies of War. Previously, she worked at the Ford Foundation and Public Interest Projects, focusing on immigrant and refugee rights, global civil society, civic engagement, capacity building and transformational leadership. She was previously appointed to the Seattle Women’s Commission and served on the boards of the Refugee Women’s Alliance and Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL).
Khamvongsa is joined by a Board of Directors based across the United States. Serving as Chair of the Board of Directors is Titus Peachey, a lifelong advocate for humanitarian demining projects in Laos.
Additionally, Legacies is assisted by committed volunteers, an Honorary Committee that features three former US-Ambassadors to Laos, and a broad international Advisory Committee which includes artists, writers, poet laureates, professors, and executive directors.
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