Walking Palms-Earthquake Relief
Donation protected
Walking Palms Global Initiative
The worst earthquake in the last century (7.8 magnitude) struck coastal Ecuador on April 16, 2016, resulting in significant mortality, morbidity, and post-traumatic stress due to repeated aftershocks. Around the same time Zika virus was introduced to the area and has continued to spread in impacted communities . Our medical clinic was first developed in response to the tragic disaster and from there the idea of a comprehensive health, research and education program blossomed- Walking Palms Global Initiative (WPGI). We have had boots continuously on the ground since two days after the earthquake and are the only health volunteer group to do so! We work with closely knit communities in poverty stricken disaster areas. The goal of WPGI is to provide medical assistance through a traditional, as well as a holistic approach. Coupled with environmental health education and research, our organization pinpoints each community’s specific needs in order to best support them.
The WPGI has partnerships with communities, local institutions (Sathya Sai), international universities (e.g., SUNY Upstate Medical, University of California San Francisco, La Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health. There are still tremendous needs as the area rebuilds and we intend to provide continuous support!
Location: The City of Bahía de Caráquez
A once thriving city known for tall buildings and a vibrant night life, Bahía has a population of roughly 20,000 and is located within the province of Manabí. The city has beautiful beaches and river views. The warm-hearted, tranquil culture has created strong, resilient communities that work cooperatively when faced with adversity.
So far we have:
Provided medical attention to 20 communities, 4200 patients and performed 7 large scale educational campaigns.
Provided Ministry of Health with maps of: chronic and infectious disease incidents, level of household damage, individuals suffering from PTSD, and individuals with physical trauma.
Provided water filters to hundreds of families in rural communities throughout the region.
Installed water tanks and filters in local schools, providing thousands of students with clean drinking water.
Distributed truckloads of food to hundreds of newly homeless and jobless families.
Developed an adopt-a-family program for families in our most high risk areas.
Served alongside many doctors and volunteers from around the world and have created immersive social experiences.
“Everywhere we went, we were offered excellent food to show their gratitude. We were deeply touched by their kind and generous gestures. We felt purposeful, and incredibly well received. It was an unforgettable experience that we would definitely do again.”
- Monica Heydari, psychologist
Our HOPE is to kick start this fundraising campaign by raising $20,000! With this money we will be able to provide our community members with access to medication, wheel chairs and walkers for disabled individuals, STD screening tests, education and accompanying materials, water filters, community therapy programs (art, music, dance, yoga, and traditional), improve our adopt-a-family program, provide students both locally and globally with volunteer opportunities, create more functional mobile clinics, maintain our permanent clinic, support research initiatives, develop a greater social media presence, and pay on the ground local staff. The faster we receive funds means we will be able to more quickly help rebuild these communities from the ground up!
WPGI is so thankful to the numerous volunteers who have joined us in making a difference. When contributing to this fund you can rest easy knowing you are directly helping to positively impact our world! We are so appreciative of every donation we receive!
Please follow us on instagram: walking_palms_gi
Walking Palms Instagram
The worst earthquake in the last century (7.8 magnitude) struck coastal Ecuador on April 16, 2016, resulting in significant mortality, morbidity, and post-traumatic stress due to repeated aftershocks. Around the same time Zika virus was introduced to the area and has continued to spread in impacted communities . Our medical clinic was first developed in response to the tragic disaster and from there the idea of a comprehensive health, research and education program blossomed- Walking Palms Global Initiative (WPGI). We have had boots continuously on the ground since two days after the earthquake and are the only health volunteer group to do so! We work with closely knit communities in poverty stricken disaster areas. The goal of WPGI is to provide medical assistance through a traditional, as well as a holistic approach. Coupled with environmental health education and research, our organization pinpoints each community’s specific needs in order to best support them. The WPGI has partnerships with communities, local institutions (Sathya Sai), international universities (e.g., SUNY Upstate Medical, University of California San Francisco, La Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health. There are still tremendous needs as the area rebuilds and we intend to provide continuous support!
Location: The City of Bahía de Caráquez
A once thriving city known for tall buildings and a vibrant night life, Bahía has a population of roughly 20,000 and is located within the province of Manabí. The city has beautiful beaches and river views. The warm-hearted, tranquil culture has created strong, resilient communities that work cooperatively when faced with adversity.
So far we have:
Provided medical attention to 20 communities, 4200 patients and performed 7 large scale educational campaigns.
Provided Ministry of Health with maps of: chronic and infectious disease incidents, level of household damage, individuals suffering from PTSD, and individuals with physical trauma.
Provided water filters to hundreds of families in rural communities throughout the region.
Installed water tanks and filters in local schools, providing thousands of students with clean drinking water.
Distributed truckloads of food to hundreds of newly homeless and jobless families.
Developed an adopt-a-family program for families in our most high risk areas.
Served alongside many doctors and volunteers from around the world and have created immersive social experiences.
“Everywhere we went, we were offered excellent food to show their gratitude. We were deeply touched by their kind and generous gestures. We felt purposeful, and incredibly well received. It was an unforgettable experience that we would definitely do again.”
- Monica Heydari, psychologist
Our HOPE is to kick start this fundraising campaign by raising $20,000! With this money we will be able to provide our community members with access to medication, wheel chairs and walkers for disabled individuals, STD screening tests, education and accompanying materials, water filters, community therapy programs (art, music, dance, yoga, and traditional), improve our adopt-a-family program, provide students both locally and globally with volunteer opportunities, create more functional mobile clinics, maintain our permanent clinic, support research initiatives, develop a greater social media presence, and pay on the ground local staff. The faster we receive funds means we will be able to more quickly help rebuild these communities from the ground up! WPGI is so thankful to the numerous volunteers who have joined us in making a difference. When contributing to this fund you can rest easy knowing you are directly helping to positively impact our world! We are so appreciative of every donation we receive! Please follow us on instagram: walking_palms_gi
Walking Palms Instagram
Organizer
Avriel Rose Diaz
Organizer
Syracuse, NY
