My first week in Vientiane, Laos, volunteering with the Association for the Development of Women and Legal Education (ADWLE) is done. The rain has started to fall, so while waiting for a break in the rain let me introduce, ADWLE. Their mission is to promote gender equality, women’s rights and protecting women from human trafficking. They do this work through workshops and a legal aid center for vulnerable women. I found out about ADWLE through Accounting for International Development (AfID).
The AfID matches non-profit organizations around the world with accountant looking to volunteer their skills helping the organization with accounting and financial management. When I started the volunteer process with AfID I was looking to go to South-East Asia and work with an organization promoting women and girls rights and education or an cultural organization.
Everyone at ADWLE has been very welcoming and helpful in getting me settled in Vientiane. Being at the ADWLE takes me back to the type of financial management work that started me on my accounting journey – budgeting, forecasting and grant reporting in the not-for-profit sector. One of the key projects I’m working with Sonenaly, ADWLE’s Administration and Finance Officer, on is to develop and implement a cash-flow management and a reporting system that will help them manage the different programs they run.
My evenings have been filled with exploring Vientiane, its restaurants, coffee shops and beautiful sights like the Pha That Luang. This weekend I’m looking forward to exploring more of the city’s sights especially its textile studios and shops.
