COPE Visitor Centre

Overview

The COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) Visitor Centre is a powerful free museum that documents the devastating impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos — the most heavily bombed country per capita in history — and the ongoing rehabilitation work for survivors.

Highlights

• UXO Documentary Film: A 30-minute film screens regularly, telling the stories of bombing survivors and the dangerous work of ordnance clearance teams.
• Prosthetic Workshop: Visitors can observe the workshop where COPE technicians craft prosthetic limbs for bombing survivors.
• Bomb Cluster Display: A powerful outdoor exhibit shows the types and scale of ordnance dropped during the Secret War (1964–1973).

History

Between 1964 and 1973, the US dropped over 2 million tonnes of ordnance on Laos — more than was dropped on all of Europe during World War II. An estimated 30% of the bombs failed to detonate, leaving 80 million unexploded bomblets across the country. COPE was established in 1997 to provide prosthetics and rehabilitation.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Entry is free, but donations are encouraged — proceeds directly fund prosthetics for bombing survivors.
• Tip 2: Allow at least an hour to watch the documentary and visit the exhibit. It is emotionally confronting content.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.