Be a Super Friend for our children in Venezuela!

When our lifes were disrupted by Covid-19, many lost their jobs and children stopped attending school, among many other effects and how things changed. This pandemic has also made us reflect on our daily life. In crisis, unfortunately, the most vulnerable are the ones suffering the most. Imagine now Venezuela, already sumerged in a complex humanitarian crisis by the time this pandemic hit.

Friends' ongoing programs in Venezuela continue responding to Covid-19 and adapting to the new context. Despite the challenges and missing opportunities, we are still standing by those underprivileged children and their families, and those health workers lacking all the conditions but fighting with all their heart.

OUR IMPACT: 

• 5,515 pediatric patients and 35,437 overall cases as reported (as of Aug) by the pediatric hospital that together we have been able to support daily, with baby and medical supplies, including medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, formulas, diapers, surgical material & equipment, PPE and so much more.
• 1,810 school-age children & teachers, in 4 public schools, continued not only attending and remaining at school but also receiving a meal thanks to our daily nutritional meal program working in low-income areas. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, schools eventually closed and curfews were imposed forcing us to just work on a emergency plan.

RESULTS & INDICATORS

• As of Nov 1, Total Revenues at 77% of 2019 Results due to a drop with in-kind donations as many major drives & organizational donations were canceled due to Covid-19.
• Monetary Donations at +35% led by additional Grants (+47%) to respond to Covid-19 and implement IRC’s Programs. Digital & Individual donations also remain strong, at +19%.
• Total Grants are representing 94% of all monetary donations (Note: Monetary Donations are NOT allocated to salaries or other administrative expenses). 35% of these Grants were for our Covid-19 Response Plan, 42% to implement IRC's Programs, and the remaining (together with digital & individual donations) allowed us to focus on our ongoing programs and their needs. 
• 2019 In-kind donations (54% of Total Revenues that year) were big enough to partially compensate a -71% drop in 2020.
• 23 safe, door-to-door sea shipments from Miami to Venezuela for both of our programs, with medical and baby supplies, and most recently school supplies (for home schooling) as part of our Emergency Plan. Direct shipments from NY or Europe -as in the past- could not happen due to Covid-19.
• Despite 6 less shipments from the US, Friends so far has shipped 1,541 cf, that is, +29% in volume compared to the entire 2019 and +32% compared to the full cubic capacity of a 20’ container. In sum, more volume or bigger shipments!
• Nearly 60% of items so far shipped in units are Surgical & Medical. Although volume shipped dropped by -22%, the value is +287% due to highly- priced clinical items.
• Except from Formulas at -6%, all other categories dropped by 56% on average, in units shipped so far.
• Very large shipments (between Oct '19 and March '20) of diapers, underpads, vitamins, supplements and others gave our local teams a strong inventory to navigate during the pandemic and despite the -71% drop in in-kind donations experienced this year.

Links:

• Crisis leaves Venezuela's schools crumbling
• Venezuelans brave COVID wing to bathe, feed sick loved ones

• Friends__Report_of_Results__Indicators_as_of_Nov_1_2020.pdf (PDF)