Current Activities
Our volunteer staff is a network of individuals working out of their homes or in their communities to raise awareness about, and help provide a better future for, the world’s orphaned children. We need allthe help we can get, so please examine our volunteer opportunities. As always, we are open to any and all suggestions, so please feel free to contact us if you have any ideas about how we may further our mission.
Humanitarian Aid to the Kyrgyz Republic
As part of a focused program to assist the people of the Kyrgyz Republic, we have joined with Counterpart International and are a participant in their Small to Medium Transport program (SMT). This initiative, which is funded by the US Department of State, allows nonprofits such as our to ship up to 10 standard cargo containers of humanitarian aid to specified countries within the Former Soviet Union. Abby Kalainiakas, who is working towards her Girl Scout Gold Award, is the director of our SMT program.
Hygiene Supplies for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
As part of our domestic operations we have engaged in the delivery of hygiene supplies to the children of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in North and South Dakota. This program will continue for the foreseeable future. Travel to the reservation to provide medical aid to the people will be a standard part of this mission.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
We have been focusing on the ongoing conflict in the DR Congo in an attempt to raise awareness for the need of continued international humanitarian aid. This 10-plus year war has resulted in over 5 million deaths and nearly the same number of internally displaced. Much of our resources has been devoted to the people of the DRC and will be a permanent part of our aid program. We have joined forces with Upright Africa and other NGOs with whom we will be working in cooperation to help provide direct medical aid to the people of North and South Kivu, as well as Kikwit. We are currently scheduled to travel to Kalemie in 2014 to care for over 6,000 orphaned children in various institutions around the city, as well as the Panzi hospital in Bukavu to assist in the care of rape victims.
United Nations
In February of 2012 we became a Special Consultative Status member of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. By accepting this honor we agree to provide the UN with as much assistance as possible. One way in which we support the various missions of the United Nations is to deliver statistical reports on the current state of orphaned children in specified countries. Such data can be used in determining what services are needed and where. Our status with the UN also gives the orphaned children of the world a voice with which their needs may be addressed.
NGO Cooperation
The Fishermen has engaged in cooperative ventures with NGOs such as Counterpart International, Aidmatrix, Tabish Social Services, the Children of Tien-Shan, World Relief, and Upright Africa, as well as the US Department of State and ISAF. Many of our partners are assisting us by providing safe and cost effective shipment of desperately needed medical supplies to orphanages and refugee camps around the world. For instance, in August of 2010, with the help of Counterpart International, we were able to dispatch 1,000lbs of supplies to Kyrgyzstan to aid those whom had suffered during the unrest near Osh and the Uzbek border. In November of 2011 we delivered $5,000.00 USD worth of medical aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo via a donation from UPS/Aidmatrix. The State Department made it possible to ship 5 boxes of care material to orphanages in Moldova over the past year. By utilizing programs availing free shipping to NGOs we are able to direct more funds towards helping children.
Additionally, we have assisted many fellow NGOs with information ranging from logistics to security in the countries wherein we operate. We welcome cooperative efforts with any legitimate nonprofit in order to enhance their and our effectiveness in helping those in need.
Medical Missions
Due to available private and government programs we are able to acquire not only donated cargo space but passenger seats as well. Working in cooperation with fellow NGOs it is now possible for us to plan and execute medical mission trips for only a fraction of the original cost. As a result, we are scheduling missions to directly assist orphaned children. We will announce our plans well in advance via our blog so that qualified medical volunteers may have the opportunity to join us.
