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.
in international finance and marketing, Koulabdara began her nonprofit career with The United Way of Central Ohio, where she served as senior relationship manager for four years.
Koulabdara first launched her career in Lommel, Belgium, as an international business consultant, completing projects in over 10 countries, including Kuwait, Ghana, and South Africa.
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.
In 1994, the Mennonite Central Committee initiated a humanitarian demining program with private funding, in collaboration with the Lao government and the Mines Advisory Group.
[4] The U.S. and other governments began to support the demining efforts, with U.S. contributions averaging $2.5-$3.0 million a year, far below the estimated amount required to properly address the problem.
[9] Signatory countries to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions decided on a plan of action to be used by all states to complete the legal obligations of the treaty, including support for clearance, stockpile destruction and victim assistance.
Legacies proactively reached out to key journalists traveling with Clinton, resulting in unprecedented media coverage of the UXO sector in Laos as well as a successful request of $10 million for fiscal year 2013 from the U.S.
The tour, which stopped in twelve different cities, sought to generate dialogue about the impact of the UXO issue in Laos with the goal of raising awareness, inspiration, and funding for the cause.
[14] Legacies also secured $12 million for fiscal year 2014, with bill language noting a U.S. commitment to support a multi-year strategy for UXO clearance in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, where such ordnance was dropped by the United States.
[18] During the summer of 2016, in anticipation of U.S. President Barack Obama's September visit to Laos for the ASEAN summit, Legacies ran a campaign to raise awareness surrounding the UXO issue.
This funding is currently being used for ongoing bomb clearance, victim assistance, and risk education, as well as to conduct a countrywide survey of unexploded ordnance in Laos.
The full exhibit includes 30 original historic drawings, a narrated video of the drawings, a display of Laotian artifacts, a community healing arts project, a collection of oral histories from bombing survivors, contemporary photos of surviving victims from renowned photographer Phil Borges, and interactive displays that show the dangers of unexploded cluster munitions.
Refugee Nation features live performances of theatre, dance and poetry based on oral histories collected from Laotian community members.