MISSION
We are taking great care to develop a program that truly serves the interests of the people of Gujarat. In May 2008, in coordination with our medical team we conducted a needs assessment of the region. And we are in continuing discussions with a variety of development organizations in Gujarat.
Our first two Relief Worker International trips will combine further needs assessment with the kind of life-changing school visits and medical camps we ran in Rajasthan. Of course, the absence of reliable medical care is of paramount concern in rural India.
Our 12 day humanitarian trips will provide free medical care to local villagers. We will set up medical camps in several different villages. Together with our 5 specialists: ENT, Ophthalmologist, Gynecologist, Dentist, Pediatrician, and general physician we expect to treat 300-400 villagers during each of our medical camps.
There are more than 500,000 blind people in Gujarat. Fortunately, about 80% of those who are afflicted can be cured. Our relief workers team will conduct free eye surgery camps as we travel from village to village. RWI participants will help to underwrite between 75 to 100 surgeries on each of our trips. Please click here for more information about our Give the Gift of Sight Program.
Every Relief Workers International trip will address the needs of children. At our combined Pediatric Care/Educational camps, we will de-worm 1200 children and distribute critically important educational materials to schools.
These materials consist of pencils, papers, erasers, rulers, notebook, crayons, and drawing pads. The RWI program combines two important goals: keeping children healthy and encouraging them to stay in school. By providing sports equipment, we help them take part in extra curricular activities like cricket, soccer, volleyball, chess, checkers, and badminton.
It’s important to stress that all our travelers participate in all our relief efforts. And it is our combined energy that makes these efforts so worthwhile.
Beginning with our January and February 2009 trips, RWI’s Medical Director, Dr. Arora will be presenting 10 hours of instruction on various aspects of disaster management. This will help all of us do a better job on our Relief Worker’s humanitarian trips but also be of value to those of you who might want to work in the future with non-profits like the Red Cross.
Dr. Arora will talk about the skills needed to be an effective responder in global disaster situations. He will discuss the role and responsibilities of volunteer workers, and how they might effectively help existing non-governmental organizations provide basic services like shelter, water, nutrition and health.
You can read more about Dr. Arora and the RWI team on our ABOUT page.
Relief Workers International is designed to offer individuals not only an exhilarating journey but the chance to use their skills, enthusiasm and experience to promote positive change. I know from my own travels in India that for every gift I have given I have received gifts that have changed my life.
Alexander Souri, Executive Director, RRI and RWI
