A Story of People
Medair is a story of people
Our story begins in 1989 with a handful of passionate Christians in Europe who leave behind a comfortable life to help Ugandan families resettle into their communities after a devastating civil war. Soon, more people catch the vision and extend a hand of compassion to thousands of people in southern Sudan who are struggling to survive. For the next two decades, crises, conflicts, and disasters shatter dozens of countries around the world and leave people highly vulnerable and in need of aid. The people of Medair respond. They run emergency relief and rehabilitation projects in more than 25 countries in crisis. Hundreds of people join the Medair family and travel great distances to bring relief to the most vulnerable. Thousands of citizens in the countries in crisis work with Medair as well. Thousands more from all over the world provide generous gifts that enable our teams to do their work. And today, millions of the world’s most vulnerable people are alive and back on their feet, with renewed hope for the future. This is Medair’s people story.
Medair is a story of people
Our story begins in 1989 with a handful of passionate Christians in Europe who leave behind a comfortable life to help Ugandan families resettle into their communities after a devastating civil war. Soon, more people catch the vision and extend a hand of compassion to thousands of people in southern Sudan who are struggling to survive. For the next two decades, crises, conflicts, and disasters shatter dozens of countries around the world and leave people highly vulnerable and in need of aid. The people of Medair respond. They run emergency relief and rehabilitation projects in more than 25 countries in crisis. Hundreds of people join the Medair family and travel great distances to bring relief to the most vulnerable. Thousands of citizens in the countries in crisis work with Medair as well. Thousands more from all over the world provide generous gifts that enable our teams to do their work. And today, millions of the world’s most vulnerable people are alive and back on their feet, with renewed hope for the future. This is Medair’s people story.
• KOSOVO ALBANIA •
INGUSHETIA OSSETIA ••• CHECHNYA ARMENIA • • LEBANON IRAQ •
Haiti •
IRAN •
• AFGHANISTAN • PAKISTAN • Bangladesh • INDIA
Haiti •
CHAD •
Sudan • (Northern States)
• Somalia/Somaliland LIBERIA •
Southern Sudan • UGANDA •
• SRI LANKA
• KENYA
INDONESIA •
RWANDA • D.R. CONGO • ANGOLA •
• Mozambique ZIMBABWE •
• MADAGASCAR
Today In Africa, Asia, and other regions with extraordinary need, Medair continues to bring life-saving relief and rehabilitation in disasters, conflict areas, and other crises by working alongside the most vulnerable.
Medair Country Programmes Country programmes, as of 2011 Past country programmes
• KOSOVO ALBANIA •
INGUSHETIA OSSETIA ••• CHECHNYA ARMENIA • • LEBANON IRAQ •
Haiti •
IRAN •
• AFGHANISTAN • PAKISTAN • Bangladesh • INDIA
Haiti •
CHAD •
Sudan • (Northern States)
• Somalia/Somaliland LIBERIA •
Southern Sudan • UGANDA •
• SRI LANKA
• KENYA
INDONESIA •
RWANDA • D.R. CONGO • ANGOLA •
• Mozambique ZIMBABWE •
• MADAGASCAR
Today In Africa, Asia, and other regions with extraordinary need, Medair continues to bring life-saving relief and rehabilitation in disasters, conflict areas, and other crises by working alongside the most vulnerable.
Medair Country Programmes Country programmes, as of 2011 Past country programmes
Medair’s enduring commitment to the world’s most vulnerable
D.R. Congo © Medair / M. Frey
“What struck me most about Medair was that it stayed during the war, when other health centres and NGOs either closed or left the country. Because Medair stayed and continued to act, despite all the violence and danger, it is the most respected organisation in the entire region.” Alphonsine Unwang, joint coordinator of SYNERGIE D. R. Congo NGO
Medair’s enduring commitment to the world’s most vulnerable
D.R. Congo © Medair / M. Frey
“What struck me most about Medair was that it stayed during the war, when other health centres and NGOs either closed or left the country. Because Medair stayed and continued to act, despite all the violence and danger, it is the most respected organisation in the entire region.” Alphonsine Unwang, joint coordinator of SYNERGIE D. R. Congo NGO
Our values: Faith Hope Compassion Dignity Integrity Accountability
Our values are the ways our staff strive to live and work every day, in times of peace and in times of conflict. They are the foundation for everything we do, and the motivation for everything we aim to be.
Uganda
Our values: Faith Hope Compassion Dignity Integrity Accountability
Our values are the ways our staff strive to live and work every day, in times of peace and in times of conflict. They are the foundation for everything we do, and the motivation for everything we aim to be.
Uganda
Emergency Relief Medair responds to natural disasters, conflicts that uproot communities, and crises such as drought or disease outbreaks. When a sudden crisis hits or a natural disaster strikes, Medair responds rapidly and effectively to help save lives and reduce suffering.
“Medair is a very committed organisation. They care about people, and act fast.” Eg Chol Deng, whose community benefited from a Medair flood intervention in Southern Sudan
Top: Madagascar, Southern Sudan Bottom: Pakistan, Southern Sudan © Medair / O. Meylan
Emergency Relief Medair responds to natural disasters, conflicts that uproot communities, and crises such as drought or disease outbreaks. When a sudden crisis hits or a natural disaster strikes, Medair responds rapidly and effectively to help save lives and reduce suffering.
“Medair is a very committed organisation. They care about people, and act fast.” Eg Chol Deng, whose community benefited from a Medair flood intervention in Southern Sudan
Top: Madagascar, Southern Sudan Bottom: Pakistan, Southern Sudan © Medair / O. Meylan
Rehabilitation Once emergency relief needs are met, Medair works alongside vulnerable communities to help restore services and livelihoods to a pre-existing or improved level. We focus on increasing the capacity of the local community to respond to future crises. Š Medair / O. Meylan
“This centre made me think and believe that I can do something myself, and help my family with an income.� Zohra Sharif, 20-year-old beneficiary of new Medair sewing centre built to establish a livelihood for Pakistani women
Top: Madagascar, Pakistan Bottom: Pakistan
Rehabilitation Once emergency relief needs are met, Medair works alongside vulnerable communities to help restore services and livelihoods to a pre-existing or improved level. We focus on increasing the capacity of the local community to respond to future crises. Š Medair / O. Meylan
“This centre made me think and believe that I can do something myself, and help my family with an income.� Zohra Sharif, 20-year-old beneficiary of new Medair sewing centre built to establish a livelihood for Pakistani women
Top: Madagascar, Pakistan Bottom: Pakistan
Health Services Medair helps improve the quality and sustainability of health care in remote and insecure areas around the globe. Our priority is primary health care, with emphasis on preventing and treating infectious diseases, and increasing the capacities of local health workers. © Medair / O. Meylan
Needs met by Medair - Disease prevention - Medical treatment - Outbreaks of infectious disease - Maternal and child health problems - Conflict-affected women and children - Malnutrition - Quality and sustainability of health care
“People are so happy. The news travels fast and more and more people are coming from afar to receive treatment.” Paul Akoch, Medair-trained local Community Health Worker in Southern Sudan, after the opening of a new Medair primary health clinic Left: Afghanistan, Southern Sudan Right: Sudan (Northern States), Southern Sudan
Health Services Medair helps improve the quality and sustainability of health care in remote and insecure areas around the globe. Our priority is primary health care, with emphasis on preventing and treating infectious diseases, and increasing the capacities of local health workers. © Medair / O. Meylan
Needs met by Medair - Disease prevention - Medical treatment - Outbreaks of infectious disease - Maternal and child health problems - Conflict-affected women and children - Malnutrition - Quality and sustainability of health care
“People are so happy. The news travels fast and more and more people are coming from afar to receive treatment.” Paul Akoch, Medair-trained local Community Health Worker in Southern Sudan, after the opening of a new Medair primary health clinic Left: Afghanistan, Southern Sudan Right: Sudan (Northern States), Southern Sudan
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene To reduce the risk of deadly illnesses, Medair improves access to safe drinking water and sanitary latrines, while also promoting good hygiene practices.
© Medair / O. Meylan
© Medair / O. Meylan
“I’m very encouraged because you are training women to take care and protect the borehole. Your training is good, can you do more?”
Needs met by Medair - Hygiene awareness and practice - Water supply and treatment - Excreta disposal and sanitation - Solid waste management - Local capacity building
Nyanyul Akonjok, Southern Sudan, Village Water Committee
Left: Afghanistan, Pakistan Right: Madagascar, Sudan (Northern States) © Medair / O. Meylan
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene To reduce the risk of deadly illnesses, Medair improves access to safe drinking water and sanitary latrines, while also promoting good hygiene practices.
© Medair / O. Meylan
© Medair / O. Meylan
“I’m very encouraged because you are training women to take care and protect the borehole. Your training is good, can you do more?”
Needs met by Medair - Hygiene awareness and practice - Water supply and treatment - Excreta disposal and sanitation - Solid waste management - Local capacity building
Nyanyul Akonjok, Southern Sudan, Village Water Committee
Left: Afghanistan, Pakistan Right: Madagascar, Sudan (Northern States) © Medair / O. Meylan
Shelter and Infrastructure Medair’s Shelter and Infrastructure sector provides life-saving shelter for beneficiaries in emergencies. We also support local communities in building vital infrastructure that will significantly improve their quality of life.
“I am so happy we are not out in the rain anymore. We slept here last night, and it was a good sleep!”
Needs met by Medair - Post-disaster temporary shelter - Permanent shelter - Construction of schools and clinics - Local capacity building - Earthquake-resistant houses, clinics, and schools in earthquake zones - Roads and bridges
Mme Lapin, Jacmel, Haiti
Left: D.R. Congo, Afghanistan Right: Haiti, Afghanistan © Medair / O. Meylan
Shelter and Infrastructure Medair’s Shelter and Infrastructure sector provides life-saving shelter for beneficiaries in emergencies. We also support local communities in building vital infrastructure that will significantly improve their quality of life.
“I am so happy we are not out in the rain anymore. We slept here last night, and it was a good sleep!”
Needs met by Medair - Post-disaster temporary shelter - Permanent shelter - Construction of schools and clinics - Local capacity building - Earthquake-resistant houses, clinics, and schools in earthquake zones - Roads and bridges
Mme Lapin, Jacmel, Haiti
Left: D.R. Congo, Afghanistan Right: Haiti, Afghanistan © Medair / O. Meylan
The Value of People More than 100 internationally recruited staff, most from Europe and North America, are inspired by their Christian faith to work alongside the world’s most vulnerable people.
At any time, Medair employs more than 1,000 nationally recruited staff (NRS): people who are citizens of the countries in which we work. Medair’s NRS are essential to the success of our programmes. These staff uniquely understand the cultural context, speak local languages, and have the local knowledge and expertise to assist Medair in making a positive impact.
Left: Uganda, Sudan (Northern States) Right: Pakistan, Madagascar © Medair / L. Thompson
© Medair / O. Meylan
The Value of People More than 100 internationally recruited staff, most from Europe and North America, are inspired by their Christian faith to work alongside the world’s most vulnerable people.
At any time, Medair employs more than 1,000 nationally recruited staff (NRS): people who are citizens of the countries in which we work. Medair’s NRS are essential to the success of our programmes. These staff uniquely understand the cultural context, speak local languages, and have the local knowledge and expertise to assist Medair in making a positive impact.
Left: Uganda, Sudan (Northern States) Right: Pakistan, Madagascar © Medair / L. Thompson
© Medair / O. Meylan
“Medair has proven expertise in the fields of clean water and water purification, which is the reason why they are always in demand during urgent responses to catastrophes. The Medair staff have a remarkable ability to adapt to local situations, which constitutes a significant added value. On the basis of these very valuable qualities, I hope that Medair will do even more in the future for the benefit of vulnerable populations.”
“Medair are doing terrific work in delivering services to the people of Southern Sudan and in supporting local authorities. I came away quite humbled by what your teams have achieved and at the same time more energised to ensure such work is supported further.”
Christian Andriamaroson, Clean Water Project, UNICEF Madagascar
Julius Court, Joint Donor Team, Southern Sudan
Medair makes a powerful, positive impact on the world’s most vulnerable because of the skills and dedication of our professional staff, and through the generosity of institutional and private donors. Donations can be made on Medair’s website at www.medair.org, on Swiss CP, through affiliate offices in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and in personal legacies. Left: Madagascar Cover: Madagascar © Medair / O. Meylan Back: Southern Sudan Images: © Medair. Images by Medair staff except where indicated. © Medair / O. Meylan
“Medair has proven expertise in the fields of clean water and water purification, which is the reason why they are always in demand during urgent responses to catastrophes. The Medair staff have a remarkable ability to adapt to local situations, which constitutes a significant added value. On the basis of these very valuable qualities, I hope that Medair will do even more in the future for the benefit of vulnerable populations.”
“Medair are doing terrific work in delivering services to the people of Southern Sudan and in supporting local authorities. I came away quite humbled by what your teams have achieved and at the same time more energised to ensure such work is supported further.”
Christian Andriamaroson, Clean Water Project, UNICEF Madagascar
Julius Court, Joint Donor Team, Southern Sudan
Medair makes a powerful, positive impact on the world’s most vulnerable because of the skills and dedication of our professional staff, and through the generosity of institutional and private donors. Donations can be made on Medair’s website at www.medair.org, on Swiss CP, through affiliate offices in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and in personal legacies. Left: Madagascar Cover: Madagascar © Medair / O. Meylan Back: Southern Sudan Images: © Medair. Images by Medair staff except where indicated. © Medair / O. Meylan
www.medair.org
BROCH2011
Medair Chemin du Croset 9 CH-1024 Ecublens Switzerland Tel: +41 (0) 21 694 35 35