![\"2015-05-14](\"http:\/\/www.friends-international.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/2015-05-14-11.23.14.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nVenny from our Lao PDR project contacted us with some great news this week.\u00a0 The program works with 120 children, youth and caretakers from scavenger families who live on the city dumpsite, KM36, outside the capital Vientiane. \u00a0Some of the families live there permanently, some come for seasonal work and some live in the nearby villages. Venny told us \u201cThe Peuan Mit team has succeeded in finding alternative work for one family and they have moved out of the landfill to be in Vientiane. Initially we helped the husband to find work, they already have one child that we’re supporting and they will be having another child soon so we’re also supporting the mother during her pregnancy and later on will also try to find work for her. \u201c<\/p>\n
Good news also for \u00a0three sisters who last week moved out of the dump into our Transitional Home in the city while the team prepare them for \u00a0family and school reintegration services. Venny said \u201cThe sisters were living with their older sister and her husband at the rubbish dump. The older sister also has a small child and the husband is struggling with drugs. The three sisters (aged 9, 13, & 14 years) had not been attending school for 2 years, but we’re hoping that the support we will be giving to them over the summer will help them to start school again in the autumn.\u201d<\/p>\n
During last year alone the Peuan Mit team (with support from the UK-based Small Steps Project<\/a>) visited the dumpsite regularly to provide services to the community living there \u2013 these included delivering 588 first aid, \u00a0622 nutrition and hygiene, 419 sexual and reproductive health and 452 Non-Formal Education services!<\/p>\n