Due to superstitions about the separation of the human and animal realm, traditionally when a woman gives birth to twins the house is burned and the woman ostracized from the community. Identical born twins are considered ill omens. This belief brings humiliation to the family and as a result the parents often kill the twins. THE SAVE THE TWIN'S PROJECT sets out to help these twins by providing milk and clothing and an education programme enlightening the Akha about this belief.
                   

As well as the traditional belief that a mother should have only one child, it is also considered taboo to have a handicapped child. A handicapped child is seen to have negative connotations for the entire family, because it is viewed as having the potential of destroying every thing  from crops to the family’s home.  Others villagers will also view the birth of twins or a handicapped child in negative light, as a result, the family is often shunned and barred from any sort of community gatherings.
        

In an attempt to solve this problem AFECT has initiated a The Save the Twin Babies for Akha People Project. AFECT is currently supporting 92 children, both twins and handicapped. This is achieved with the provision of clothing, baby milk, blankets and hospital services for up to 6 months for each family. At the same time AFECT is continuously working to promote  the integration of twins and handicap children into Akha communities, and in the future hopes to change the traditional belief of killing twin babies and handicap children. 

Under our new MEKONG INTERNATIONAL FORUM we would like to support this project in Laos and Burma where there is no control of it taking place. Please email us about our SAVE THE TWINS AND HANDICAPPED CHILDREN in Burma and Laos Project.