Finding Purpose in Compassion
How the Child Protection Network is empowering the most vulnerable children in Attapeu Province of Lao PDR.
When she got married, Konsavanh decided to relocate from her home province of Vientiane Capital to Attapeu, Lao PDR’s southernmost province.
But when Konsavanh moved to Attapeu, little did she know that it will be the centre of a humanitarian emergency in 2019, when the province was hit by severe floods from the sudden collapse of a local dam. Following this tragedy, Konsavanh’s responsibility was no longer only to her three children as she began dedicating time to helping vulnerable children.
After serving as a village committee member for a while, she became part of the Child Protection Network following the recommendation from village authorities. The network is responsible for identifying vulnerable children in communities, and preventing and addressing child protection concerns. As part of the network, Konsavanh does regular home visits, provide direct services to families and help refer cases of abuse to the appropriate social services.
Although she had no previous experience in child protection prior to joining the Child Protection Network, Konsavanh was able to gradually build up her skills by regularly attend trainings supported by UNICEF.
"The training I received has been significant in helping me support the children and the community, especially when it comes to identifying and managing child marriage cases."
With UNICEF’s support, she has been engaged in a continuous learning process and has continued to serve as a member of the Child Protection Network since 2019. Reflecting back on her experience, she says it has been a rewarding one – one that also gave her a sense of purpose.
"The best part about becoming a member of the Child Protection Network is knowing that my efforts will help build a stronger and more prosperous community for children. I am proud to be part of this effort and to witness the positive changes it brings."
UNICEF has been supporting the strengthening of the child protection system and the capacity of the social service workforce as part of the KOICA-funded "Integrated Programme for Climate Resilience and Empowerment in Attapeu Province (2020-2023) - child protection". The programme will contribute towards achieving the goals set out in Lao PDR's first ever National Plan of Action for Child Protection System Strengthening.
Most recently, UNICEF conducted a refresher training under this programme for members of the Child Protection Network in Attapeu, including Konsavanh. The training helped equip the members with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively handle child protection cases within their communities and better support vulnerable children and families.
