Dear Supporters,
In the past few weeks, we have seen small yet significant strides towards positive changes in Venezuela. In this newsletter, we share the impactful work we’ve undertaken in the past quarter. With your help, we have made a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities across Venezuela. Join us as we tell the stories of resilience, perseverance, and transformation.
Thank you for your continued generosity and compassion.
Since we began working with the community of Guaraunos in Sucre State in 2019, they have amazed us with their determination to provide a better future for their children.
Thanks to our food programme and their commitment, the malnutrition rate in the village has significantly decreased, school attendance has increased, and the mental and financial strain on households has been alleviated. This has given the community a renewed sense of hope and optimism. During Q1, we provided 10,800 healthy meals to 100 children.
To further this goal, we launched a Direct Debit Campaign this quarter, allowing individuals to donate £5 per month. Just think: for the price of a coffee, you can feed a child for a week!
If you want to join our Nourishing Hope Campaign, please click the link: https://healingvenezuela.org/nourishing-hope/ or copy and paste it on your browser.
Thank you on behalf of the children of Guaraunos!
When we decided to address malnutrition, we aimed to set up programmes that could be self-sustainable. COVID delayed our plans and at last, in November 2023, we launched ‘Small Steps for a Better Future,‘ a loan scheme that provides a starting kit for micro-farming to women in Guaraunos.
The kit includes chicks, medicines, and food to grow. The participants repay us by providing chicken meat to the food programme. As these small businesses progress, the village will become independent from us. During Q1, six women successfully managed to start repaying the loan.
As the picture shows, Ms. Marcano was delighted to receive the kit. To date, the ‘Small Steps for a Better Future‘ scheme has already given back 171 Kg of meat to the food programme and produced an income for the participants.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) have always been at the core of Healing Venezuela’s mission. Since 2019, we have installed treatment plants to provide potable water in three large hospital kitchens and smaller ones in three critical areas of the Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Caricuao, a populous area of Caracas.
Apart from maintaining them, we also upgrade the facilities whenever needed. During Q1, we extended a pipeline from the Hospital Jose Manuel de los Rios’s kitchen to the baby bottle preparation room to make it safer and more hygienic for mothers to prepare their babies’ food.
Also, during Q1 approximately 60,000 litres of potable water were produced, benefiting around 5,000 people.
Helena is one of the hundreds of junior doctors we have supported over the last five years to complete their education. We asked her what she thought of Healing Venezuela’s sponsorship.
She said: ‘Being part of this programme has taught me the value of kindness and humanity. There are many people abroad who believe in us and bet on us to continue with our goals. Your support has provided monetary assistance and has taught me about commitment, humility, humanity, and dedication. I am not as anxious about solving so many things as before and can focus on achieving higher academic performance to maintain your monthly support.’
During Q1, the doctors we sponsor have performed around 33,000 consultations in state hospitals.
A big thank you to the donors who continue to help us keep this programme alive.
When we were approached last year by Dr Kate Chebly with an incredible idea, we couldn’t say no. As a Fellow at New York University, Dr Chebly proposed we purchase portable ultrasound devices to provide diagnoses at the point of care.
A prompt assessment can save a life, which is why, as part of our mission to provide the best possible medical care to those in need, we followed Dr Chebly’s advice donating three portable ultrasounds to the Razetti School of Internal Medicine in Venezuela.
Dr Chebly has delivered the training based on the New York University curriculum. A few days ago, 20 senior doctors graduated from the programme and will teach other doctors to use the devices. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Chebly and NYU for their support. And congratulations to the 20 doctors!
At the heart of Healing Venezuela’s growth and success are our volunteers. Despite their busy and sometimes difficult lives, they continue supporting the country they left behind. Non-Venezuelans also play a significant role, which is particularly moving.
This quarter, we were again inspired by their dedication. Some undertook extraordinary sports challenges to raise funds for Healing Venezuela. Erika Cordero participated in the Palace Half Marathon on March 24th, while Marilena Segnini Wilkinsons, a grandmother of eight, continued to astonish us. This year, she returned to Venezuela to be part of a challenge in Los Andes mountains, running 45 km at an altitude between 3,800 and 4,250 metres!
We also had the chance to visit Salesforce thanks to Jesenia Esposito and Sara Rondon, always ready to give us a hand with a big smile on their faces.
A big GRACIAS to our volunteers and donors!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Small or large, every donation makes a difference
CORPORATE GIVING
Get your company involved by participating in a Matching Programme or Corporate Grants.
VOLUNTEER
Help out in person at any of our events, or donate your time and skills to assist our operations.
