Funds are raised for organizations I volunteer for myself. This way I am assured the funds are put to good use. A short description of the two charities can be find below. Every time a donation is made to one of these, I will post it on my instagram @v.is.for.bird.
OPERATION SMILE.
Operation Smile is a non-profit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia which provides surgery for children with a cleft lip or a cleft palate in low resource countries all over the world. I started volunteering as a pediatrician in 2012. Since then I participated in numerous missions.
(Cited from official website: www.operationsmile.org) It is estimated that there are millions of children waiting for care in the 34 countries where we work. The majority of these children are unable to receive the medical care they need because it is too costly, far away, or specialized. Because of this, being born with a cleft condition can be fatal. If a child survives, they may face bullying and social isolation.
Through the expertise in treating cleft lip and cleft palate, Operation Smile creates solutions that deliver safe surgery to people where it’s needed most. Also, local health professionals are empowered through training and education. Together this creates surgical solutions that last.
After the cleft lip or palate repair the likelihood of living a normal life, attending school and pursuing a brighter future increases massively for these children.
Operation Smile is a wonderful organization. From my own, first hand experience I can say wholeheartedly that the care delivered is 100% safe, effective and totally life changing. I encourage you to visit the official website and videos below for a visual impression of all the work Op Smile does. Enjoy!
FRIENDS OF SICK CHILDREN, MALAWI.
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital is a large academic hospital in Blantyre, a town in Malawi. Approximately three hundred children are admitted in this hospital. It is one of the largest hospitals in the country and one of the few places where more advanced medical care can be provided. All medical specialties are represented, including a Pediatric Intensive Care, treatment for cancer and a large department for advanced surgery for children. Young doctors and nurses are constantly trained, which is much needed since there is a lack of medical staff. This is why this place is so important and this is why I decided to add this to my fundraise after my experience in Feb/March 2024.
Logically there is a need for many important things like medication, equipment, etc. Huge efforts are being made by the medical staff to provide these things. I decided to donate part of the funds from V.is.for.Bird. to this very special hospital and the hugely dedicated people working there. There is no website of the hospital available. I wrote a blog and also posted a couple of experiences on my instagram account @v.is.for.bird.
Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device