Machu Picchu, Cusco, Sacred Valley Disaster Relief

We are excited to announce that a portion of the VIDA shipments valued at over $2 million that arrived in Peru January 2014 will benefits our projects in Cuzco Peru.  Some of these donations will be directed to Policlinico Belen, a program supporting single mothers and their children as well as orphans.  This project is also supported by doctors affiliated with USCF Medical School. This shipment will help outfit the projects clinic that was in desperate need of supplies and equipment We are pleased to share with you that VIDA has fully equipped the clinic with beds, exam tables and other equipment that allows the clinic to serve their patients with dignity. VIDA will continue to re-supply the clinic twice a year.

 VIDA will also begin shipping supplies and equipment to clinics in the impoverished Antiplano region of Peru that is home to alpaca herders.  The program is a collaboration between VIDA and alpaca designers KUNA (www.kuna.com.pe) and The Sandra Jordan Collection (www.sandrajordan.com). The program is being funded in part by a successful fundraiser held in October 2013 that raised over $40,000 to launch the project. VIDA will be outfitting several clinics with hospital beds, exam tables and other equipment and supplies. The containers will be shipped out in late February and are due to arrive in Lima in late March. The contents will then be shipped by rail and truck and is due to arrive in the region in early April.

Thank you for making our mission possible this year and in the future!

$1 million of the $10 million in aid that has arrived in Peru is earmarked for the regions impacted by the various natural disasters that have hit Peru over the past decade. In late September volunteer medical professionals for Puente de VIDA visited Pisco Peru at the Campaña de salud en Centro Poblado El Palto, Pisco providing medical care to 288 impoverished patients.  The medical professionals were accompanied by the VIDA Peru staff that brought tens of thousands of dollars of medical aid by truck.  Puente de VIDA is a mobile healthcare program that makes 24 visits a year to some of Peru’s most remote and underserved communities in the Andes, Amazon and coastal regions to deliver primary care and educational programs.  In addition to the volunteer medical professional, the inaugural class of VIDA Peru’s Medical Student Health Care Initiative managed by San Francisco based physician Michael Halperin visited the site.  The project links medical school students here in the United States and abroad to the Peruvian healthcare system through a two week visit to hospitals and clinics throughout Peru.  The inaugural trip included medical students from Saba University Medical School in the Dutch Caribbean.  The students spent 10 days visiting VIDA program sites and working with health care professionals and documenting the healthcare system in Peru. 

In spite of the tremendous strides Peru has experienced in lifting many people out of poverty, access to quality and affordable healthcare remains a significant challenge, particularly in these remote areas.  As a result, for many of the residents,Puente de VIDA is the only access to healthcare and education.

We are excited to announce that VIDA shipped $1.5 million in aid to our projects in Cuzco Peru in April 2013.  A portion of these donations benefited our new partner clinic in Cuzco called Policlinico Belen, operated my nuns who are caring for single mothers and orphans.  This project is also supported by doctors affiliated with USCF Medical School who visit the site two times a year as well as hundreds of boxes of medical supplies.  VIDA has equipped the clinic with 20 hospital beds, 6 exam tables and other needed equipment and supplies.  VIDA is re-supplying the clinic twice a year.

 In addition VIDA is launching a new initiative that will benefit impoverished individuals who work in the Alpaca industry.  The program is a collaboration between VIDA and alpaca designers KUNA (www.kuna.com.pe) and The Sandra Jordan Collection (www.sandrajordan.com) along with Napa Valley’s first lady of the wine industry Margrit Mondavi.  A fundraising event will be held at the Mondavi Winery in October 2013.

 It is your generous support that makes these projects possible.  VIDA remains a responsible steward of your generosity by shipping $175 of aid for every $1 donated in 2012.   All donations will go to covering the cost of shipments.  Thank you for making our mission possible this year and in the future!

We are excited to announce that in 2012, VIDA has distributed over $25 million in aid to Peru to support our 200 plus healthcare partners.  VIDA is shipping out three containers later this month and our partners Americares and Direct Relief each sent one container to our projects including our work with the earthquake impacted area.  With these shipments, VIDA Peru will also be resupplying Project Pamplona, which provides critical medical and nutrition services and education to shantytowns in the barren mountains surrounding Lima.  VIDA has installed five pre-fab medical dispensaries that serve a population of up to 10,000 people.

These donations will also benefit our new partner clinic in Cuzco called Policlinico Belen, operated my nuns who are caring for single mothers and orphans.  This project is also supported by doctor’s affiliated with USCF Medical School who visit the site two times a year.  VIDA has equiped the clinic with 10 hospital beds, 4 exam tables and other needed equipment and supplies.  VIDA will resupply the clinic twice a year.

It is your generous support that makes these projects possible.  VIDA remains a responsible steward of your generosity by shipping $175 of aid for every $1 donated in 2012.   All donations will go to covering the cost of shipments.  Thank you for making our mission possible this year and in the future!

Hello donors!

We have great news to report - And - turns out we have an anonymous donor willing to match your donations!

If you simply enroll as a recurring donor - for as little as $5-10 a month for example. Your donation will be doubled!

This is the case for all of our projects - Peru, Chile and Haiti. We hope this motivates a great number of you!

Meanwhile

Two jammed packed containers carrying over $6 million in aid cleared customs and arrived at VIDA Peru’s warehouse in July 2012.  The first container carried medical supplies and equipment to benefit the numerous hospitals and clinics operating throughout greater Lima.  These clinics serve some of the poorest people in the country including the shantytown’s such as Pamplona located in the barren mountains surrounding Lima. The value of the shipment exceeded $1,000,000 and included basic medical supplies, vitamins and exam tables.

In collaboration with Gymboree Corp., VIDA shipped a second container of brand new children clothing manufactured by Gymboree.  The shipment contained 250,000 garments, footwear and bedding with a value in excess of $5 million. VIDA Peru is in the process of distributing the donations to 30 institutions serving Peru’s most impoverished citizens including hospitals, clinics, orphanages and schools who will serve over 100,000 people.  A part of the Gymboree donation will benefit the orphanage La Sagrada Familia, which is home to over 800 orphans.  

This donation was also made possible by the generous support of Otis McAllister (otismac.com) a San Francisco based company that underwrote all transportation costs for these two shipments.  Coupled with the donations from the Global Giving community to offset the import fees, tens of thousands o f children are dressed in warm clothing this cold winter season.

Your Global Giving donations make it possible to deliver the containers to Peru. Last year we shipped 41 containers to Latin America. Our goal this year is 50. We are capable of delivering 70+containers of supplies but must raise the funds for each container. Delivery of the containers cost about $7,500 based on shipping and import fees. On average, for every $1 donated, VIDA sends over $150 in aid!

VIDA is currently working on three shipments of medical aid scheduled for September 2012.  VIDA and Gymboree are currently working on a shipment in October 2012 slated to arrive in late November in time for the holiday season.

If your company is in a position to sponsor a container - please give us a call to discuss the details.

Thank you all for your on-going support. You are making a difference!