HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to our KOUL-Mander in Chief, Sera Koulabdara, for being one of the 2023 recipients of the Unsung Heroes Award by our friends Asian Hustle Network.

This special award is given in honor of Sera’s passion and dedication to Legacies' mission. Under her leadership, funding for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam reached an all-time high at $73M. Legacies also earned the Humanitarian Award from the Lao PDR for our advocacy and educational initiatives.

Sera is relentless and has broken down barriers in establishments and spaces that lack the voice of someone who is directly impacted by the legacies of war. She earned a seat and became the first Lao-American to participate in the 20th Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention. By unanimous vote, she was elected to serve as the Chair of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions Coalition this year. Sera is the first BIPOC, millennial, and person with lived experience in an impacted country to take on this leadership role.

Special thank you to AHN for this wonderful recognition. Congratulations to all of this year's recipients as well.