The Power of Volunteerism
During National Volunteer Week, Project HOPE celebrates all the volunteers from the past year who served others in time of need. Their courage and compassion transformed the lives of children, families and communities – and created a ripple effect of HOPE that still resonates.
For the mothers and children in desperate need of maternal and newborn care to the tens of thousands of people affected by the ravages of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, HOPE volunteers have dedicated their time and talents every day and in times of crisis.
During National Volunteer Week, Project HOPE celebrates all the volunteers from the past year who served others in time of need. Their courage and compassion transformed the lives of children, families and communities – and created a ripple effect of HOPE that still resonates.
A Legacy of Service
Since our founding in 1958, volunteerism has been fundamental to Project HOPE’s work in delivering expert care around the world. The 61 volunteers who raised their hands to be a part of HOPE’s first medical mission carved a new path that thousands of other HOPE volunteers who would follow for decades to come. Those original doctors and nurses dedicated nearly a year of their lives away from home to help others and are true pioneers who changed the landscape of medical volunteerism forever.
Their spirit and compassion serve as a guiding light as HOPE continues to drive innovation in increasing access to quality health care when and where it’s needed most. And, the legacy of their impact is tangible even today.
HOPE volunteers work side-by-side with us in partnership with local health professionals to build robust and sustainable health systems that help improve health and help save lives. Since 2016, together we have:
Trained 136,815 health care workers in medical practices and techniques to help end preventable deaths
Reached nearly 3.5 million people with lifesaving health programs
HOPE’s Volunteer of the Year
Volunteers are often the unsung heroes of the quest to promote global health and respond to disasters, but without their contributions, millions of people in some of the world’s most challenged regions would be worse off. In recognition of this crucial role, Project HOPE is proud to announce its 2017 Volunteer of the Year winners and finalists (Read Press Release). They are among 2,500 Project HOPE volunteers who provided care and training around the globe last year.
Watch our Volunteer of the Year video to learn more about HOPE’s Volunteer of the Year Jahn Moeller.
Volunteer of the Year – Jahn Moeller
Congratulations to our 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Jahn Moeller. Mr. Moeller is a longtime volunteer with Project HOPE and in 2017, he contributed 1,104 hours as a medical volunteer working in Haiti at the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. There, he trained health care professionals in the operating room and nurses across the hospital. He developed a trauma response cart to assist with triage, created a nursing education and training programs for new RNs and local staff, and assisted with the hospital blood drive.
In Their Own Words
The emotional and tangible impact of HOPE volunteers on the people and communities we serve is best expressed through the first-hand accounts of those who are on the ground donating their time and talents in the interest of saving lives. Take a moment to read these blogs from HOPE volunteers:
HOPE Against All Odds: Though I had left Freetown (Sierra Leone) 14 years ago, with bittersweet memories of a serene childhood and searing images of a brutal civil conflict, my heart surged at the idea of an opportunity to go back. Read.
Filling in the Cracks of a Recovering Health System: The daughter and primary caretaker of a patient we saw summed it up well when she said, “She is my mom, I have to take care of her like she did (for her parents), but without the nurse I don’t know if what I do is right.” Read.
Investing Deeper, Testing Courage: I have been passionate about volunteer work for many years and wanted to apply my extensive Pfizer experiences and acquired skills to one of my core tenets – To those whom much is given, much is expected. Read.
An Experience of a Lifetime, Thanks to Project HOPE
My experiences as a Project HOPE volunteer have been unforgettable and irreplaceable. HOPE has given me the opportunity to help people around the world…In 2016, I took the next step in my lifelong volunteerism and was elected President of the HOPE Alumni Association. This meant volunteering in a different capacity.