Greeting from GDG Coordinator

Welcome to be a member of GDG!

Gender and Development Group is an affiliation of 18 international NGOs working in nearly every province of Lao P.D.R. It was started in 1991 in order to prepare Lao delegates to the United Nations World Conference of Women in Beijing and has continued from there.  Due to the fact that indigenous NGOs are not yet permitted in Lao P.D.R., GDG operates under the umbrella of Concern Worldwide.  GDG's overall goal is to promote equality between women and men in socio-economic development through improving the quality of life for women and strengthening their position in society.  We achieve this by focusing on specific projects that directly impact Lao people's lives.  For example we were just finished on a domestic violence research project.

The benefits of being a member of GDG are:

1. Tri-monthly meetings which provide a forum to exchange ideas and best practices with other organizations working on gender

2. Study tours that provide first hand knowledge of gender issues in Lao and Southeast Asia (in February we organized a study tour to Moukdahan, Karasin, Udothany province, Thailand with Border Esan Action Network for share and exchange the information of Gender and HIV/AIDS, GDG provided transportation, accommodation and food for our members to attend).

3. Opportunities to build skills and knowledge by participating in the implementation of our projects (On July 11-13, 2006 we provided the Violence Against Women TOT training to our members free of charge)

4. Access to gender information and conferences being held in the region

5. Opportunities for GDG to implement its projects in your target villages, if you are interested and feel it would be appropriate (for example, we were doing domestic violence research and awareness raising in the target villages of MCC, CUSO, VECO and WVL).

Many of our members have said that their staffs have gained significant gender experience by participating in GDG activities.

The annual GDG membership fee is $300 (U.S) per year.  This fee can be paid by cash at the GDG office, by cheque to "Women in Development" or by making a transfer to our account at BCEL.  Our account number is 010.01.4522008.00279.3.  If you choose to make a transfer please inform us when you do so.

GDG members are expected to designate at least one staff member (male or female) as their organization's GDG representative, but all staff are invited to participate in GDG activities.  The GDG representative is expected to be active within GDG by attending meetings, promoting GDG activities and participating in activities when he or she is able to do so.  The representative then reports back to his or her organization about what is going on at GDG.

GDG has a Board which is made up of three members: CUSO, Concern Worldwide and CARE.  We have a Coordinator, Ms Boutsady Khounnouvong, an Assistant Coordinator, Ms Manivanh Senyavong and a project coordinator Mr Thanongsone Saysongkham. We are based in Vientiane.
I hope this provides you with sufficient information.  Any questions or comments you may need please do not hesitate to contact me.  You are welcome to visit the GDG office anytime. 

Thank you very much!
Best wishes,

Boutsady Khounnouvong
GDG Coordinator

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