Policy plan 2016 - 2018
Table of contents:
Chapter 1. The origins of Medi-Aid Holland pg. 2
Chapter 2. Governance in Sri Lanka pg. 2
Chapter 3. Mission and vision of Medi-Aid page 3
Chapter 4. Target groups p. 3
Chapter 5. How Medi-Aid shapes its mission and vision p. 4
Chapter 6. Collaboration p. 5
Chapter 7. Fundraising pg. 6
Chapter 8 PR and Communication pg. 6
Chapter 9. Medi-Aid information and composition management page. 6
Acting secretary Carla van den Heuvel in consultation with STIC teachers
Chapter 1. The origins of Medi-Aid. The idea of setting up an aid organization to support the poorest and underprivileged in Sri Lanka goes back to 1999, when a mission from Maria-Oord Vinkeveen visited Sri Lanka for the first time.
They were struck by the poverty that prevailed among a large part of the population and noticed a dire shortage of medical and nursing equipment and supplies in local healthcare institutions.
At the same time, they realized how 'normal' it is in the Netherlands to sometimes replace entire inventories in hospitals and nursing homes over time, while there is no new destination for them.
Once back in the Netherlands, one of the participants managed to seize this kind of inventory, shipped it to Sri Lanka and donated it to local hospitals, retirement homes and orphanages, helping many people. The mission was here!
It soon became apparent that this concept appealed to institutions and private individuals, because supplies came from various sources in the form of hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers and a large amount of linen, clothing and cuddly toys.
But it was not just material and equipment that was offered: there were also companies and private individuals who wanted to cover the transport costs.
This was the moment when it was decided to structure and coordinate volunteer work more and to guarantee its quality by placing it in a foundation that would bear the name Medi-Aid Holland Sri Lanka from the outset.
In September 2002, the Medi-Aid foundation was notarized and included in the registers of the Chamber of Commerce
Medi Aid is recognized by CBF and has ANBI status. The policy documents based on the formulated requirements for these accreditations are evaluated every two years and adjusted if necessary.
Children from St Thomas International College supported by Medi Aid
Chapter 2.
Governance in Sri Lanka. Providing help and support in Sri Lanka not only means being confronted with complicated and sometimes inimitable legislation and regulations of the Sri Lankan central and local governments, but also with the question of whether the support actually ends up where it is requested and needed.
To keep the best possible overview of this, a board has been formed in Sri Lanka consisting of a number of influential Sri Lankans.
This Sri Lankan board of Medi-Aid has an autonomous position, but is accountable to the board in the Netherlands for the financial and material support that comes from the Netherlands.
In all cases, the SL board initiates requests for assistance from Sri Lanka directly to the board in the Netherlands or handles the request for assistance itself. If a request for assistance is submitted to Medi-Aid Holland, it is always first submitted and then approved or not by Medi-Aid Sri Lanka.
The Dutch board
Chapter 3.
Mission and Vision of Medi-Aid. Medi-Aid offers substantive and material support in the field of healthcare and education in Sri Lanka to those who, for whatever reason, do not have the necessary resources or options.
Medi-Aid does this to make an active contribution to improving the conditions in which people in Sri Lanka are received, cared for or nursed.
Through Medi-Aid's contribution, we also aim to improve and professionalize care for the elderly and disabled and to contribute to employment and the future prospects of underprivileged people.
Medi Aid uses the principle of “give them a rot and teach them to fish”, which means providing support where you can by creating conditions and placing responsibility for implementation, maintenance and operation with the Sri Lankans themselves.
Medi Aid built the school for children with disabilities in 2019/2020
Chapter 4. Target groups.
The target groups that Medi-Aid offers support include:
- Elderly Underprivileged people, with special attention to young men and women whose future prospects improve through the training provided by Medi-Aid.
-Young people/children with a physical and/or mental disability, who are given greater freedom of movement through sound and adapted equipment, with all the positive effects this entails.
-Local hospitals, orphanages and schools, which due to circumstances have no or inadequate materials and equipment, which means that the education, care and nursing that patients, residents and children are entitled to cannot be provided.
-Sri-Lankan organizations that provide care and, where necessary, nursing to the elderly, underprivileged and young people with disabilities. Medi-Aid support is provided to improve projects that are already underway and therefore initially financed
-Apart from targeting the above target groups, Medi-Aid can always receive assistance requests that include other areas of care in a broad sense, for example training or emergency assistance in the event of catastrophes. These requests for assistance will only be processed after they have been submitted to the SL board
Medi-Aid has now been able to supply many care homes, hospitals and nursing homes with materials
Chapter 5. How Medi-Aid gives substance to its mission and vision.
1. Substantive support. Medi-Aid stands for the so-called 'Care Chain'. The Medi-Aid Foundation defines this as an organization that provides shelter and care to elderly and poor Sri Lankans by Sri Lankans. An organization that, based on a material and immaterial boost from Medi-Aid, is ultimately largely self-supporting. This cuts both ways: the less fortunate and poor Sri Lankan elderly receives the shelter and care he or she deserves and it provides employment for many Sri Lankans. Training not only maintains the quality of service and care, but also provides for a continuous supply of new qualified personnel.
Substantive support, help in the form of advice in the field of care in a broad sense (this also includes physiotherapy and occupational therapy), is an important way to shape our vision and mission and the care chain
'Training on the job' of prospective nursing and care staff is also part of the substantive support. Just like in the Netherlands, this vocational education focuses on providing knowledge and skills that are implemented and secured through expert guidance from volunteers from or via Medi-Aid.
2. Material support.
Over the years it has become clear that substantive support simply cannot get off the ground if the necessary materials and equipment are not available. Material support in the form of (para)medical and nursing equipment, but also beds, lifts, wheelchairs, etc. Making material and equipment available on site can be done by collection in the Netherlands and then shipping and distribution in Sri Lanka, as well as by collecting funds in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka and have it manufactured locally. The material support is further elaborated below.
Note: In the above, no distinction can be made in importance: material support is a necessary condition to give shape to the substantive support!
2a Material support, based on pre-formulated projects.
- We work exclusively on a project basis, with a clear beginning and a clear end to the project:
-Request for support must come from the SL board. The initiator is therefore always the board in Sri Lanka!
-A business case is then drawn up, with the following fixed points:
* Does the support contribute to ultimately being self-supporting?
* What has already been done in Sri Lanka
* What is done by the recipient himself?
- Naturally, the question of whether to collect in the Netherlands and ship it, or whether to collect funds (in the Netherlands and in SL) and produce materials/equipment on site, also arises.
- Requests for support can also be passed on to other foundations active in Sri Lanka in the context of cooperation, if they are better equipped for this.
After the boat disaster in Buruwella, 5,000 Euro was collected for families and continuity in education. Here too, children were orphaned, as with the Easter attacks (photo right), with Medi Aid also providing the necessary financial support. After the boat disaster in Buruwella, 5,000 Euro was collected for families and continuity in education, here too, children were orphaned, as in the case of the Easter attacks (photo on the right), where Medi Aid also provided the necessary financial support
2b Volunteers
The support described in 2a is provided by volunteers who work on behalf of and under the responsibility of Medi-Aid.
Medi Aid has formulated a volunteer policy that the Board and volunteers must adhere to.
From project to project, the Medi-Aid board examines on what basis (whether or not based on reimbursement of costs) the volunteers operate. The volunteer policy will be evaluated in 2024 and adjusted if necessary
Chapter 6. Collaboration.
Where possible and appropriate, Medi-Aid seeks collaboration with other foundations active in Sri Lanka. Medi-Aid visits the so-called 'Sri Lanka table' to establish or maintain contacts with other foundations.
Medi Aid considers cooperation with the Board in Sri Lanka to be of the utmost importance because without them, realization and evaluation on site is very difficult from the Netherlands.
Medi Aid has also joined “every child a family”, which focuses on phasing out orphanages.
Chapter 7. Fundraising.
When fundraising, Medi-Aid will always work on a project-related basis: after all, a clearly defined goal is the most powerful motivation for funders!
Medi-Aid raises funds itself in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, but will also do so in collaboration with other foundations where appropriate.
Medi-Aid's principle is to test its projects against the principles of Wilde Ganzen.
Chapter 8. PR and Communication
Media-Aid aims to bring as many of its activities as possible to support the elderly, underprivileged and children and young people with a physical and/or intellectual disability in Sri Lanka to the attention of a wide audience. This is done through our own channels such as the internet, social media, a newsletter and the annual report, but also, if applicable, through press releases, events and other (digital) media options.
Chapter 9. Medi-Aid board information and composition.
Address: Benedendamsestraat 17A
4233 EN Ameide
Phone: 0031619989250
E-mail: info@medi-aid.nl
Website: www.medi-aid.nl
Bank ING IBAN: NL35INGB0661870839
BIC: INGBNL2A Chamber of Commerce Leiden: 28095859
ANBI: 812854159
Composition of the board of Medi-Aid Netherlands:
Martin Joziasse - chairman
Carla van den Heuvel – acting secretary
Michiel Los - treasurer
Gisela Pel – board member
Heidi Rath education
Rohan Heittiarachchi- Sri Lanka contacts and medical affairs
Paul Schoone - board member without portfolio / ambassador
Composition of the board of Medi-Aid Sri Lanka:
Mr. W. Karunaratna - Chairman
Mr. A. Tissera - member
Mr. R. Wickramasinghe - member
Mrs. L. Sumanasena - Member
