Mano a Mano - What We Do, and How You Can Help
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Transcript of Mano a Mano - What We Do, and How You Can Help
mano a mano
OUR MISSION
To create partnerships with impoverished Bolivian
communities to improve health and increase
economic well-being.
A CALL TO ACTION
In October of 1994, Segundo and Joan Velasquez sounded a call to action
to a small group of family and friends because they wanted to do
something about a glaring incongruity. Each year, health care providers
and suppliers in Minnesota dispose of hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of usable, but no longer needed, medical inventory. At the same
time health care providers in Bolivia, where Segundo was born and where
Joan had served in the Peace Corps, are unable to provide essential care to
the poor because they lack the most basic supplies and equipment.
Thus was born Mano a Mano ("hand to hand"), a nonprofit organization
founded on the simple premise that committed volunteers can reach
across national boundaries to make a dramatic difference in the lives of
others. Today, what began with Joan and Segundo’s friends and family has
grown to a large network of volunteers and staff members in both the US
and Bolivia who work “hand to hand” in countless ways to improve the
health and economic well-being of some of the world’s most impoverished
communities. Mano a Mano’s remarkable journey affirms renowned
anthropologist Margaret Meade’s observation: “Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is
the only thing that ever has.”
In 2008, Joan was awarded the Peace Corps' highest honor: the Sargent Shriver Award for
Distinguished Humanitarian Service.
In 2012, Segundo received a prestigious Opus Prize Foundation award for innovation as a
social entrepreneur.
PICKING UP SUPPLIES
MOVING PALLETS IN THE SNOW SORTING IN DRIVEWAY
STORING OUTSIDE
FROM MINNESOTA
Starting with nothing but commitment to a vision, Mano a Mano’s volunteers began by collecting 500 pounds of surplus medical supplies. Within a few years this had grown to 200,000 pounds yearly, all sorted and packed in our founders’ home and stored in their backyard.
TO BOLIVIA
Bolivian staff and volunteers unpack and distribute these materials to Mano a Mano clinics and others who serve the poor.
SORTING SUPPLIES IN BOLIVIAN WAREHOUSE USING SUPPLIES DURING MEDICAL TRAINING
DISTRIBUTING WHEELCHAIRS
USING SUPPLIES DURING AIR MEDICAL RESCUE MISSION
MANO A MANO INTERNATIONAL Since its founding in 1994, St. Paul-based Mano a Mano International has grown enormously. As the NEED became more apparent in Bolivia and as donations of medical supplies flooded in through Minnesota networks, the organization’s growth made it imperative to support these volunteer efforts with paid staff. For many years, the organization was supported entirely by volunteers—led by Joan and Segundo Velasquez. Until 2012, Mano a Mano International operated out of their home. Today the organization manages:
Almost all projects in Bolivia begin with seed money raised in the U.S. Executive Director, Dan Narr (left),
with Crystal, New Hope, Robbinsdale Rotary Club.
FUNDRAISING
Office Manager, Dana Dallavalle (middle), sorting medical supplies with an Urban Immersion youth
volunteer group.
MEDICAL SURPLUS
Director of Communications and Research, Nate Knatterud-Hubinger (striped shirt), leading trip to Bolivia
with Duluth and Superior-area Rotary Clubs to show the projects
they’ve supported.
RESEARCH & REPORTING
Our New Facility
Joan and Segundo remain involved, contributing a combined 80 hours of
volunteer support per week.
CREATING PARTNERSHIPS IN THE U.S.
VOLUNTEER TRIPS TO BOLIVIA—TEACHER TRAINING
Mano a Mano International also coordinates several volunteer and introductory trips to Bolivia for U.S. volunteers and donors, manages research partnerships and student engagement with local universities, a strong volunteer and internship program at the St. Paul office, a youth program (Niño a Niño) in Minnesota schools, and collaborates with local corporations in volunteer efforts.
VOLUNTEERS FROM THE MEDTRONIC RETIREE ORGANIZATION
CHILDREN FROM HIGHLAND PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL RAISING MONEY FOR NIÑO A NIÑO
2013-14 INTERNS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA & MACALESTER COLLEGE
OUR BOLIVIAN COUNTERPARTS
MANO A MANO BOLIVIA is independently incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Bolivia. Its work
focuses primarily in the areas of health and education. It is operated entirely by
Bolivians who build each clinic, co-administer the clinics, organize staff, distribute the
donated medical supplies, improve rural roads, manage a stellar continuing medical
education program and more.
We construct rural community clinics, set up their programs and co-
administer them along with the municipality and community leaders,
and stock them with medical supplies.
HEALTH CARE
We build bathrooms with showers next to schools to reduce the
spread of infectious disease and improve hygiene. We improve access to communities through road expansion when needed.
SANITATION & ACCESS
We construct rural public schools and housing for
teachers. We send school supplies and books to distribute to students.
EDUCATION
Our continuing medical education and health
promoter training programs lead to excellent quality care in our clinics
and beyond.
TRAINING
MANO A MANO BOLIVIA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
MANO A MANO BOLIVIA:
Dr. José Velásquez
RESIDENTS MOVING ROCK FOR CLINIC CONSTRUCTION IN THE
COMMUNITY OF CANTAR GALLO
MEDICAL EDUCATORS FOR LATIN AMERICA (MELA) TRAINING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
FINISHED CLINIC DEDICATION CEREMONY IN THE COMMUNITY
OF LEQUE
MANO A MANO NUEVO MUNDO (NEW WORLD), an independently incorporated Bolivian nonprofit
organization, focuses on rural economic development and food security. Its all-Bolivian staff builds water
reservoirs, roads and other community infrastructure projects.
OUR BOLIVIAN COUNTERPARTS
We build reservoirs to retain rain water for crop irrigation during the dry
season. With access to water, subsistence farmers can raise enough
produce to feed their families and have enough left over to transport it
to market for sale.
WATER PROJECTS
We build roads to increase access and connect rural
communities to urban centers.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Because farmers have water to irrigate their fields
from our water retention projects and roads to
transport goods—incomes can double or triple.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MANO A MANO NUEVO MUNDO
PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF
MANO A MANO NUEVO MUNDO:
Sr. Ivo Velásquez
CATERPILLAR MACHINES CARVING ROADS OUT OF MOUNTAINS
COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WORKING HAND TO HAND MOVING ROCKS FROM A WORKSITE
OWING TO A FLOODED RIVER CROSSING, THESE TRUCKS WAITED AS THE ROAD WAS FINISHED AND WERE...
THE FIRST TO USE THE COMPLETED ROAD MAKING A SAFE TRIP TO THE COMMUNITY OF EL PALMAR
MANO A MANO APOYO AEREO (AIR SUPPORT), also incorporated as an independent nonprofit
organization in Bolivia that is directed and staffed by Bolivians, operates an aviation program that
supports the work of our other counterparts. The aviation program raises funds to support this work by
offering charter and cargo transport services to businesses and private individuals.
OUR BOLIVIAN COUNTERPARTS
We air rescue ill and injured persons and fly them to emergency care in city hospitals. The majority of emergency air rescues occur in the region of Beni
in the Amazon basin.
EMERGENCY AIR RESCUE
In collaboration with Mano a Mano Bolivia, we transport volunteer
health care professionals to conduct weekend clinics in remote
regions that have no health care programs.
SUPPORT WEEKEND CLINICS
Air travel can reduce a trip from 20 hours to 2 hours, making it possible
for us to serve more isolated communities and speed the
delivery of needed supplies or equipment parts.
FLY STAFF & VOLUNTEERS
MANO A MANO APOYO AEREO
RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THEIR
OWN AIRSTRIPS FOR EMERGENCY LANDINGS
CHILD WITH CLEFT PALLET BEING TRANSPORTED TO MEDICAL TREATMENT WITH HELP OF BOLIVIAN SAVE AND RESCUE TEAM VOLUNTEERS
MANO A MANO RESPONDING TO DEVASTATING FLOODS IN THE
REMOTE REGION OF BENI
MANO A MANO APOYO AEREO:
Capitán Ivo Daniel Martinez
MANO A MANO INTERNACIONAL, our fourth nonprofit organization counterpart, also independently
incorporated in Bolivia, seeks funds from businesses and other organizations within Bolivia, hosts foreign
visitors and pilots new initiatives such as our recently opened Center for Ecological Agriculture (CEA).
OUR BOLIVIAN COUNTERPARTS
Travelers visit Mano a Mano projects, work alongside beneficiaries and
witness the impact of our programs. Many see this experience as one that
transforms their lives.
HOSTS TRAVELERS
We search for funding opportunities from
embassies, businesses and individuals in Bolivia.
SEEKS DONATIONS WITHIN
BOLIVIA
Current pilot projects include the Center for Ecological Agriculture where subsistence farmers learn
best practices for irrigation, use of natural fertilizer, water filtration
processes, and use of bio-digesters to turn manure into cooking fuel.
PILOTS INITIATIVES
MANO A MANO INTERNACIONAL
COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM JIRONKOTA ATTENDING AGRICULTURE TRAINING
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, BUILDING BRIDGES
WORLDWIDE, IS VISITING A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNNITY OF SANCAYANI WHILE
COLLABORATING ON THE BUILDING OF A WATER IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN THE AREA
STUDENTS FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY HELPING AT CENTER FOR
ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
MANO A MANO INTERNACIONAL:
María Blanca Velásquez
THE MODEL
COMMUNITY REQUESTS PROJECT AND WILL OWN IT
The Mano a Mano model is community-driven and built on strong partnerships with clearly defined accountability. The U.S. organization provides resources and oversight while our Bolivian counterparts determine what needs to be done and how best to do it. Bolivian staff members and volunteers work closely with community citizens and government officials to forge a working relationship. We implement projects through careful attention to these essential elements:
COMMUNITY RESIDENTS CONTRIBUTE LABOR
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES CONTRIBUTE PARTIAL FUNDING, PAY CLINIC STAFF AND TEACHER’S SALARIES AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONGOING PROJECT MAINTENANCE
FORMAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THESE PARTNERS DEFINE THE PROJECT
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
This partnership model, sealed with a written agreement, ensures not only the successful completion of each project but also its ongoing sustainability. Every project initiated by Mano a Mano has been
completed and is still used for its intended purpose. 100% of Mano a Mano clinics are now self-sustaining.
MANO A MANO LEADS THE PARTNERHIP AND CONTRIBUTES FUNDS, EQUIPMENT, SKILLED LABOR, EXPERTISE, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
ALL PARTNERS PARTICIPATE IN THE OPENING CEREMONY WHEN THE PROJECT IS OFFICIALLY TURNED OVER TO THE COMMUNITY FOR OWNERSHIP AND TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY
CLINIC PERSONNEL PROVIDE SERVICES AND INITIATE NEW PROJECTS WHILE MANO A MANO
CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE SUPPLIES
AND PROVIDE ADVISORY SUPPORT
MANO A MANO DEVELOPS HUMAN RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THE LONG TERM
QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT
WHY BOLIVIA?
SO THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN CAN FIND A FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION
SO FAMILIES DON’T LEAVE DIRE CONDITIONS IN THEIR RURAL COMMUNITIES ONLY TO BE FORCED INTO URBAN POVERTY
SO FAMILIES CAN FEED THEMSELVES AND THEIR LIVESTOCK EVEN THROUGH THE DRY SEASON
SO MOTHERS AND BABIES SURVIVE CHILDBIRTH
SO CROSS-CULTURAL FRIENDSHIPS CAN GIVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
SO BOLIVIANS OBTAIN THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE
CHALLENGES IN RURAL BOLIVIA
2 OF EVERY 3 RURAL BOLIVIANS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE compared to roughly 2 of every 5 in urban areas
100 OF EVERY 1,000 CHILDREN IN RURAL BOLIVIA DIE BY AGE 5 compared to 57 of every 1,000 in urban areas
ADULTS IN RURAL AREAS HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 4.85 YEARS OF SCHOOLING compared to 9.98 in urban areas—one of the largest gaps in Latin America
2ND HIGHEST INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES IN WESTERN HEMSIPHERE
ADULTS IN RURAL AREAS HAVE THE 2ND LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY IN LATIN AMERICA
BABIES BORN TO POOREST 20% OF MOTHERS DIE AT NEARLY 3 TIMES THE RATE of babies born to the richest 20% of Bolivian mothers
RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE THE MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED
DURING NATURAL DISASTERS OR EMERGENCIES ARE THE LEAST
LIKELY TO RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT
MANO A MANO IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Access to quality health care for hundreds of thousands of rural Bolivians where none was available before
Water projects that improve nutrition and can increase income for Bolivian farm families
Schools and teacher housing that attract teachers to work in rural areas and provide a comfortable environment for students to learn
Roads that connect communities to markets for the first time and significantly reduce travel time
Training and continuing education programs that empower community residents and improve the effectiveness of projects
Cross cultural interchanges that transform lives
Sustaining infrastructure as all Mano a Mano projects continue to function as intended
...And there is so much more to do
TOGETHER WE PROVIDE...
AMPLIFYING YOUR DONATION
MANO A MANO’S CAPACITY & PARTNERSHIPS
DONATE Your donation is the seed money that allows
projects to become a reality.
VOLUNTEER
Our office staff in the US and Bolivia depend on your help to stretch our resources as far
as possible.
MANO A MANO We are the bridge that brings these
disparate groups together, so that we can achieve results that nobody could
do on their own.
COMMUNITIES IN BOLIVIA
Communities are our partners; they request each project, contribute 3-5% of funding and the volunteer time to build it, and ultimately manage each
project.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN
BOLIVIA They are significant supporters
of each project and typically contribute anywhere from 20-
50% of project costs.
BOLIVIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SPORTS
Our health clinic program is part of the national health care system
and is eligible for reimbursement for vaccinations, maternal-child care, and other areas of primary
care. 82% of all clinic staff salaries are funded through the Health
Ministry, as well.
PROJECTS This Includes: Clinics, Schools, Roads, Water Projects, Aviation, Distribution
of Donated Medical Supplies, and Training and Continuing Education
Programs.
WHY YOU ARE SO
IMPORTANT
RESULTS
GET INVOLVED
YOUR CHANCE TO JOIN THE MANO A MANO FAMILYYOUR CHANCE TO JOIN THE MANO A MANO FAMILY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCEAND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
VOLUNTEER IN ST. PAUL Loading containers of supplies, sorting and packing medical supplies, selling crafts, assisting with events—Be creative using your skills and networks
VOLUNTEER IN BOLIVIA Training rural teachers, medical professionals, farmers, or helping set up and equip new facilities
HOLD A FUNDRAISER At your home with friends
and family or at your workplace or civic
organization and invite Mano a Mano staff to speak
and provide materials
MAKE A MONETARY DONATION In support of whichever Mano a Mano project you choose
ORGANIZE A TRAVEL GROUP Get together a group to travel to Bolivia and visit the communities where Mano a Mano works and witness the different projects as they’re being built, inaugurated, and fully functioning
ORGANIZE A YOUTH GROUP Ask about our Nino a Nino program and how to get classrooms involved in making a global impact
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD Share this information and our story with others
HELP MANO A MANO OBTAIN MEDICAL SUPPLIES
Search for new networks in the medical field to donate surplus
medical supplies and/or arrange medical supply pickups