The Marshall Legacy Institute

Overview

The Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) is a non-profit, international humanitarian organization formed on the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. MLI aims to extend the Marshall Plan's legacy to: Develop indigenous capabilities that apply technological; Encourage conditions that foster health, stability and security; Provide relief to the suffering; Facilitate scientific, educational and charitable activities with other organizations; Leverage resources by forming public-private partnerships.

Mission

MLI applies practical solutions to assist countries in easing the scourge of landmines. MLI provides mine detection dogs, management training, and mine awareness education to reduce suffering and restore hope to people, especially children, in war-torn countries. MLI also uses innovative technologies to improve the lives of landmine survivors.

Program

MLI established the K9 Demining Corps Campaign for the sole purpose of establishing efficient, sustainable programs to rid the
scourge of landmines. The K9 Demining Corps Campaign has evolved from a simple fact—that mine detection dog teams have proven to be among the very most valuable, versatile and cost-effective resources in humanitarian demining operations. Each dog costs MLI $20,000 and is matched almost three to one by the work of local and international partners. In 2005 alone, MLI has provided 26 lifesaving dogs to three countries: Azerbaijan (7), Bosnia (12) and Sri Lanka (7). In 2006, MLI plans to send at least 24 more mine detection dogs to severely landmine affected countries such as Angola, Azerbaijan and Bosnia.

MLI’s CHildren Against Mines Program (CHAMPS) fosters a sense of global citizenship and informs American youth about the plight of children in mine affected countries. Students have sent mine detection dogs named Apollo, Lilo and Wyoming, to help save and improve the lives of chilren in Bosnia and Sri Lanka.

Impact

MLI's programs help landmine affected countries restore hope, growth and stability to their populaces through: development of technology, information, and operational rograms to mitigate the effects of the global landmine problem; establishment of affordable, effective, and sustainable indigenous humanitarian demining programs; provision of resources and training to severely affected countries.

Previous programs have benefited Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Eritrea, Lebanon, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Zambia.

Countries of Operation

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, Iraq, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, United States, Viet Nam