Dear Friend,

In the fall of 2011, our organization, UConn Medical Humanitarian Society (formerly known as Doctors Without Borders, UConn Student Chapter), was formed in hopes that we, as students, could pave the way for a better tomorrow. The main aspiration of this organization is to help our fellow brothers and sisters across the globe, without any concern as to their ethnicity, culture, or religion; this is where the name ‘Without Borders’ stemmed from. The issue is that there are many people on this planet that suffer without one, two, or even three of those bare minimums. Poverty, malnutrition, and homelessness are real problems that people around the world face, from Asia to Africa to South America, and even our own backyard.

This past March, we embarked on a medical campaign to Cuzco, Peru, where we spent five days working in clinics and orphanages. Guided by doctors and nurses, we provided routine healthcare for approximately three-hundred women and children, of all ages. Many of these individuals suffered from malnutrition, as access to proper vitamins is near impossible. Routine healthcare is a mere afterthought for most we worked with. This was our first international service trip, and we hope to continue efforts in Peru, in different capacities.

In an attempt to continue on this path, we are traveling to Guatemala for our next medical campaign. The trip will take place in January of 2013, where we will be making healthcare accessible for those in need. Our work will primarily be in orphanages once again, but we will be broadening our horizons to provide educational and public health reform to the children. Our efforts become meaningless if they are not long-lasting, which is why education and prevention is of the utmost importance.

To fulfill our mission, we sincerely require your assistance. The cost of the trip is upwards of $1,300 per person, as associated fees with volunteering come with a hefty price. We would certainly appreciate if you could assist us in any way, whether it be monetary, or through supplies. Our organization is collecting tangible goods to bring to the children, and we are willing to bring anything from vitamins, medications, to school supplies, toys, etc. If you do choose to donate monetarily, we are collecting funds via cash, checks, or securely through this portal.

In advance, we thank you for any and all support that you may provide. Please help us by spreading our message and words to relatives, friends and colleagues, as we can certainly use all the aid we can get. For more information, please feel free to contact us via email at uconn.mhs@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Best regards,
UConn Medical Humanitarian Society