International
On the Spot: Newsletter from the Americas – June 2021
Our bi-monthly e-newsletter On the Spot highlights important updates from our programs and from our organizational network. If you’re already signed up, it’ll be in your inbox, if not, you can sign up here! Thanks for reading.
New Project: Closing Gaps in Medical Care and Mental Health for Venezuelan Migrants & Host Communities
The largely rural state of La Guajira is home to over 150,000 Venezuelan migrants and has only three hospitals servicing a population of nearly 1 million people.
In response, we are partnering with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), to provide primary medical care and mental health care to Venezuelan migrants and refugees, Colombian returnees and uninsured Colombians, in these diverse, multi-ethnic communities.
In Riohacha, the department’s capital, we are building the region’s first mental health support center, which will open this summer.
Since the project’s launch, we’ve provided 7,600 medical consultations, 1,750 psychological consultations and reached 5,800 people with public health information.
Lianett’s Story: From Circus Performer to Health Advocate
A recognized circus performer, Lianett, was forced to leave her home in Venezuela due to the country’s economic woes. Migrating to Colombia two years ago, she had to adapt to a new life and new challenges, struggling to find food, living day-to-day, forced to endure the brunt of misplaced xenophobic outburts. The journey to Colombia was itself a challenge, full of danger, theft, and uncertainty.
Lianett’s spirit as an outgoing performer never abated, however, and earlier this year, she started putting that energy into one of our new programs, becoming a health promoter for her neighborhood. Read more about her story and how she’s helping her new community in Colombia.
A Day in the Life of an MI Americas Volunteer in NYC
As our Covid-19 clinics in the New York area come to a close, our Spring Intern, Pablo Vargas, took some time to reflect on his experience volunteering with us, and the impact these clinics have had on the volunteers and communities we serve.
New President for Malteser International Americas: Thomas A. Wessels hands over to John E. McInerney III
After serving for four and a half years as the President of Malteser International Americas, Major General (ret.) Thomas A. Wessels is ending his tenure this month and handing over the role to John E. McInerney III, KM.
Hurricane Season 2021: Invitation for Emergency Response Induction Course
Natural disasters – whether hurricanes, earthquakes, or storm surges – often strike people without warning. Comprehensive preparedness and training are key to respond effectively to resulting humanitarian needs and mitigate the often-devastating consequences of large-scale disasters.
The MI Americas’ Team will train members of the Order of Malta, Auxiliaries, and friends of the Order during a two-and-a-half-day Induction to Emergency Response Course. The course will: 1) provide an overview of MI Americas’ scope of relief and development work; 2) introduce participants to the international humanitarian aid system; 3) discuss common challenges and best practices in emergency response; 4) offers participants a practical understanding on how to support relief efforts abroad by providing the knowledge and tools to conduct needs assessments and how to initiate and to serve in relief operations.
The course will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from November 12th to the 14th. If you’re interested in learning more and applying, click the link below, and follow the steps to register on our Volunteer Hub.
MI Americas Years in Review 2020
In 2020, Covid-19 led the story. Together, we adapted.
Thanks to our incredible donors, we were able to adapt all of our programming to meet the needs of our beneficiaries across the Americas. Grounded in the conviction that all life is precious, we responded quickly to the pandemic and nearly doubled the volume of our programs, reaching more than 300,000 people in need.
