Second Quarterly Report 2024

July 15, 2024

From the Chair & Founder

Dear Supporters,

Ten years ago, during a summer much like this one, my husband and I began collecting medical supplies from our local surgery to send to Venezuela. From those small beginnings, our journey has been incredibly fulfilling. Thanks to the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors, we have raised and distributed over £700,000, directly and indirectly benefiting more than 1.5 million people.We never expected this to happen.

It is a good time to pause and reflect on our journey. At the end of this newsletter, you will find a report that marks our 10th anniversary. It is also a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported us in various capacities and at different points over the years, too numerous to mention in a single newsletter.

Thank you for your generosity and compassion.

Cinzia De Santis

Public health programmes are central to Healing Venezuela’s mission. In the second quarter of this year, we continued to sponsor 60 junior doctors with a monthly allowance of $75 (their salaries are only between $50-$70), enabling them to complete their training and provide 63,000 consultations in 8 state hospitals across Venezuela.

Additionally, we made a significant contribution to improved patient care by refurbishing the microbiology laboratory at the Maternal and Infant Hospital Pastor Oropeza. This vital upgrade equips doctors with the tools they need to make accurate diagnoses.

Ensuring access to clean water remains a top priority for Healing Venezuela. Throughout the second quarter, our commitment continued with the regular maintenance of six water purification plants in state hospitals.

We’ve further expanded their reach by installing new pipelines to supply clean water to additional areas within the Children’s Hospital JM de los Ríos and the Maternal and Infant Hospital Pastor Oropeza.

During the second quarter of this year, these plants have provided over 60,000 litres of potable water, directly benefiting an estimated 5,000 people. This number will grow as the new pipelines come online.

One of the most tragic consequences of the economic crisis in Venezuela has been the dramatic increase in child malnutrition. We started our food security programme in 2018, and today we ensure that children at risk of malnutrition in the village of Guaraunos receive proper nutrition. During the second quarter, weprovided two meals and a healthy snack from Monday to Friday to 100 children – a total of 12,000 meals.

Guaraunos village has now demonstrated a willingness and commitment to become self-sufficient. In parallel with the food programme, we are now sponsoring micro-farms for some of the poorest inhabitants. The project’s beneficiaries are now starting to give some of the farms’ poultry meat to the food programme – 425 kg of meat during the second quarter of this year. Over time, this should become a sustainable model with the village taking charge of the meals for the children.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who ran, climbed, danced, and even boxed to raise funds for us. Particular thanks go to Valeria Garnica, Yensi Aguilar, Elle Simpson and Laura Alvarez for their incredible sports challenges.

We had a lot of fun at our Retro ’80s party. Special thanks to Avila London, Vida Bakery, Eat Yummy Bites, Canaima Food, Prem Dent, Danny Nobrega, UK Magical Balloons, and Aldiza Beauty for sponsoring us, as well as to Mayra Sanchez and the lovely group of volunteers who helped during the event.

In France and Northern Ireland, there were events too, and we want to say a big thank you to Jany Leseur and Marisol Giardina for organising them.

Part of our job is to raise awareness about the pervasive crisis in Venezuela, and we do this in different ways. This past quarter, we collaborated with two diaspora organisations – DEMAC, a consortium of international diasporas which published an article about our work, and Plan Pais, a Venezuelan outfit with whom we shared the results of a project to coordinate the Venezuelan humanitarian diaspora. We were shortlisted for the prestigious Global Good Award in the Humanitarian Category, along with other organisations including Unicef.

Thanks for highlighting our work and raising awareness about Venezuela.

As we say farewell until our next edition in 3 months, we invite you to read our 10th-year report by clicking the link: https://healingvenezuela.org/report-2024/. You have been there at some point in that journey.

Thank you so much for walking along with us, and please continue supporting our efforts. Below you will find links to donate or to help us in different ways.