WHO WE ARE

Our Story

In 2014, a handful of Venezuelans living in Britain decided to do something extraordinary about the health crisis in Venezuela. They banded together, collecting and sending essential medicine. From this moment, Healing Venezuela was born! As the humanitarian crisis deepened, so did the support. By 2016, Healing Venezuela was already registered as a charity in England & Wales. Today, Healing Venezuela is classified as an Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), working from 4 different locations with over 30 volunteers, and helping hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans.

Throughout this time, Healing Venezuela has never wavered from its core principles: to provide life saving aid to Venezuela. With just 2% of our income going towards administration, the rest goes directly to those who need help. The organisation’s strict non-political affiliation, adds to its reach. Healing Venezuela is proud to be working with partners across various states within Venezuela. Above all, Healing Venezuela is a charity run by volunteers, with a clear PLAN – EXECUTE – MEASURE – IMPROVE framework to ensure long-lasting success.

Our People

Prof. Michael Adler

Patron

Prof. Michael Adler

Patron

Michael Adler is the Emeritus Professor of Genitourinary Medicine/ sexually transmitted infections and HIV at the Royal Free Hospital and University College London. He has been an adviser to the British Government, the WHO, the UN and the EU. He was also Chairman of the National Aids Trust. He has served on the Board of Lepra and Care International UK.

Lord Nigel Crisp

Patron

Lord Nigel Crisp

Patron

Lord Nigel Crisp is an independent crossbench member of the House of Lords where he co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. He works and writes extensively on global health. He also co-chairs Nursing Now, the global campaign on nursing. He was previously Chief Executive of the English NHS – the largest health organisation in the world with 1.3 million employees – where he led major reforms between 2000 and 2006. He was at the same time the Permanent Secretary of the UK Department of Health. He has written several books including “Turning the World Upside Down – the search for global health in the 21st century” and, edited with Francis Omaswa, “African Health Leaders – making change and claiming the future”. He has also chaired a number of reviews and commissions including, most recently, the Gulbenkian Commission on the Future of Health in Portugal and the Commission on the Provision of Acute Psychiatric Care for Adults. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, an Honorary Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Medicine. More information at nigelcrisp.com and @lordnigelcrisp

Rupert Pennant-Rea

Patron

Rupert Pennant-Rea

Patron

Rupert was editor of The Economist and later its Chairman. He was Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England and Chairman of several financial institutions. He has been involved in the charitable sector both in the UK and internationally.

⋆ UK Team ⋆

Cinzia De Santis

Chairwoman

Cinzia De Santis

Chairwoman

Cinzia is a Venezuelan biologist with a Master in Public Policies. She had a career as an environmentalist working for NGOs and international oil companies. In her last post, she was Head of Health, Safety, Environment for a FTSE100 company. Cinzia has been involved in non-profit organisations in the UK and Venezuela and founded Healing Venezuela in 2016.

Gabriela Mendoza

CEO

Gabriela Mendoza

CEO

Gabriela was born in Venezuela where she graduated in Journalism and Law at University Católica Andres Bello. In 2007 she moved to London where she runs a family office and has obtained an M Phil. in Contemporary Art and Connoisseurship and she is a member of the Tate Latin American Acquisitions Committee. Her philanthropic experience includes collaborating with the British Red Cross International Fundraising Committee.

Mayra Sánchez

Deputy CEO

Mayra Sánchez

Deputy CEO

Mayra is a Venezuelan from San Cristobal, Táchira state, with a degree in Mass Media from the Universidad de los Andes-Táchira obtained 11 years ago. She has worked in several radio stations in her city and currently runs a podcast ("Vida de emprendedores") in La Nación Radio de San Cristobal, which is also present in different podcast platforms. She has written articles for the newspaper La Nación and, currently, for Frontera Viva. She also has experience in the educational field, from pre-school to university level, specialising in Spanish, Literature, Religion and Culture. She currently lives in London where she works as a coach at the Bay Tree Foundation, as a volunteer and ambassador for Healing Venezuela and collaborates with the Venezuelan senior citizens group "Los Robles".

Prof. Alejandro Arenas

Senior Medical Advisor

Prof. Alejandro Arenas

Senior Medical Advisor

Alejandro is Senior Clinical Research Associate at University College London, working on infectious and tropical diseases. He was Assistant Professor of medicine at the Jose María Vargas Medical School in Venezuela. He also teaches clinical research methodology in collaboration with academic institutions in various countries in Latin America.

John O' Driscoll

Treasurer

John O' Driscoll

Treasurer

We are delighted that John has agreed to join our board as a Treasurer. He has a BA in Political Economy & National Economics and a Master of Business Studies. John was Head of Tax & Treasury and BG Group plc and was a director of the boards of over 20 subsidiary companies within BG Group. He has been Trustee of several organisations, including an employer-nominated Trustee of BG’s Pension Scheme.

Yocelyn De Abreu

Infrastructure Director

Yocelyn De Abreu

Infrastructure Director

Yocelyn was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. She left the country after finishing her Bachelor degree in Accounting to pursue her studies abroad. She obtained a MSc in International Finance at Westminster University, London and is a member of the Association of Corporate Treasury (ACT). She is a Treasuty professional with over 14 years of expertise in treasury operations, controls and cash management within different FT100 companies. As Venezuelan, Yocelyn had always felt the need to help people in her country, which led her to become involved with Healing Venezuela as Ambassador. Yocelyn has joined the Board in 2020.

Andreina Townsend

Events Director

Andreina Townsend

Events Director

Andreina was born and raised in Valencia, Venezuela. She left Venezuela after finishing her Bachelor's degree in Law to pursue further studies in the USA. She obtained an MSc from Boston University in Administrative Studies with a specialisation in Multinational Commerce. Upon moving to the UK in 2000, she has volunteered for various NPOs, including as a chairwoman. In 2019, Andreina began volunteering for Healing Venezuela, where she has been a trustee since 2023. Her skills and experience have made a substantially positive impact on the lives of Venezuelans most in need.

Thania Cao

New Projects

Thania Cao

New Projects

Thania was born in Valencia, Venezuela where she lived happily obtaining her degree in Accounting at the University José Antonio Páez, and later postgraduate degrees in Fiscal and Financial Management at the University of Carabobo. At the same time she gained professional experience in the administrative and accounting area with various companies. Upon moving abroad, she obtained a degree in Business Administration and Management and completed a Master's Degree in Banking and Finance at the University of La Coruña, Spain. Thania is very grateful to have the opportunity to add her collaboration to this noble cause that Healing Venezuela represents.

Alberto Peña

Financial Accountant

Alberto Peña

Financial Accountant

Alberto Pena studied Public Accountancy in Universidad Central de Venezuela and graduated in 2013. He moved to Dublin, Ireland in that same year to study English and then moved to the UK in 2014. He started to study for his ACCA professional qualification in 2016 and became a Chartered Accountant in 2018. He has 7 years of experience working in finance, specialising in auditing, financial management and financial reporting. Alberto started volunteering with Healing Venezuela in July 2018 and helps the Charity in respect to the preparation of statutory consolidated annual accounts, interim accounts and provides financial guidance on new endeavours.

⋆ Venezuelan Team ⋆

Andrés Ortiz

Chief Medical Officer

Andrés Ortiz

Chief Medical Officer

Medical Degree from the UCV, with postgraduate studies in Internal Medicine at the Maternidad Concepción Palacios and Gastroenterology at the Hospital de Lídice, Caracas. Member of the Board of Directors of the Venezuelan Society of Gastroenterology (2015-2016), Associate Editor of the Journal of the Venezuelan Society of Gastroenterology (GEN), with multiple presentations at national congresses and publications in national and international journals. Peer reviewer of international journals. Father, husband, marathon runner and home brewer.

Miglene López

National Project Coordinator

Miglene López

National Project Coordinator

Miglene is a Venezuelan business administrator with a specialisation in corporate finance from the Central University of Venezuela. She is currently completing a doctorate in management at the same university. She is a highly determined person who has taken on professional challenges, becoming an entrepreneur in its different facets. She has extensive experience in the administrative and financial area, as well as in real estate. Her professional experience has been developed in Venezuela, always focused on improvements, changes, achievements and teamwork where ethics, transparency, respect and collaboration prevail. Her brief stays abroad have allowed her to visualise ways and means to contribute to the improvement of her country. She is proud to be part of Healing Venezuela.

Kate Otto Chelby

Ambassador

Kate Otto Chelby

Ambassador

Kate is a board-certified internal medicine physician and adjunct professor at the New York University School of Medicine. She lives in Caracas and works as an internist with the Internal Medicine service of the University Hospital of Caracas, and at the NGO Acción Solidaria. Dr. Chebly’s research focuses on global health equity, specifically tele-health innovations to improve public health services, including point of care ultrasound, and social determinants of health. Dr. Chebly has managed tele-health initiatives for the World Bank in Ethiopia and USAID in Indonesia, and she is the author of the book “Everyday Ambassador: Make a Difference by Connecting in a Disconnected World.” She is an alumna of NYU, where she earned her MD, MPA in International Health Policy & Management, and BA in International Relations.

⋆ Our Ambassadors Around The World ⋆

Jany Lesseur

France

Jany Lesseur

France

Healing Venezuela France was born from the initiative of a group of Venezuelan residents in Lyon, led by our ambassador Jany Lesseur. Since 2018 our French branch has been operating as an association maintaining close links with Healing Venezuela in the UK. Over the years, our group in France has organised various activities, including participation in a regional festival of international NGOs, sponsoring an international film festival and being the subject of studies by local universities. All this has been achieved thanks to the enthusiasm of a close-knit group of people committed to the plight of Venezuelans and in particular to the health crisis in the country.

Janin Barboza

Spain

Janin Barboza

Spain

Healing Venezuela Spain is a delegation of our charity in the UK with whom we have a very close relationship. Our commitment in Spain concentrates on organising fundraising and cultural events that highlight the Venezuelan cultural heritage. Aspart of our fundraising events and to celebrate our presence in the country, inNovember 2021 we held a gala in Madrid for our benefit. made possible thanks to the hard work of Janin Barboza, our ambassador and coordinator of our Spanish group. For the last quarter of 2022 we are preparing a participation in an auction of Latin American art and a collaboration with a prominent figure of the Venezuelan gastronomy, all with the aim of raising funds for our projects in Venezuela.

Marisol Giardina

Northern Ireland

Marisol Giardina

Northern Ireland

Marisol Giardina started in Healing Venezuela as a volunteer and soon, thanks to her enthusiasm and dedication, became one of our most active ambassadors. Not content with organising various events in Northern Ireland and raising generous donations, she has recently taken the necessary steps to register our charity locally. Her short term plans include organising sporting and social events with the aim of raising awareness of the situation in Venezuela and continuing to raise support for our programmes in the country.

Laura Ter Meer

USA

Laura Ter Meer

USA

Continuing with our expansion plans and thanks to the support of our ambassador Laura Ter Meer, Healing Venezuela has just started to take the necessary steps to register as a charity in the United States and, more specifically, in New YorkCity. Our main objective in the US is not only to have access to donations and grants in that country, but also to connect with local Venezuelan communities to learn about their needs and, if possible, to look for joint solutions.

Ernesto Calzadilla

Goodwill Ambassador

Ernesto Calzadilla

Goodwill Ambassador

Ernesto is one of the most successful Venezuelan public figures. A marine biologist with a distinguished career in TV, films and theatre, he has made his name nationally and internationally by participating in programmes in Venezuela, the US, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and Colombia. Amongst his many roles, Ernesto has been a long-standing presenter at the Colombian TV musical contest programme Yo me llamo, (My Name Is) as well as a leading figure in the popular TV series Amor en Custodia, (Love Under Custody). He is now one of the main characters in the hit Netflix series Palpito II (The Marked Heart), which launched on April 23. With a great career ahead of him, Ernesto has agreed to become our Good Will Ambassador. He will help us spread our message around the world, and we are thrilled to have him!

Jemelin Artigas

Goodwill Ambassador

Jemelin Artigas

Goodwill Ambassador

Jemelin Artigas has become the UK’s biggest Latin influencers since her TV debut on the apprentice UK. Originally from Venezuela and one of the only born and bread Latina to appear on the show, since then Jemelin keeps making headlines in the UK papers and has appeared on shows for ITV and TLC, being the only Latina to penetrate UK national television with a very inspiring story, also a businesswoman, entrepreneur, presenter, award winning motivational speaker, mental health advocate and an ambassador to many charities and great causes. She is definitely an inspiration to many Latinos in the UK and internationally.

Our Partners

Contact us

There are many ways to contact us, through social media, subscribing to our email list, or writing to us directly at:

[email protected]

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