A man once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Rwanda suffered a terrible tragedy in 1994, with the systematic, cold-blooded killing of nearly one million Rwandans, and back then the world turned a blind eye to that nation’s sufferings. It is not too late to make amends. Let us continue to show the nation of Rwanda that care and compassion are alive in our day and age. Let’s show the children of genocide that love is a more powerful and lasting force than hatred.

We believe in equipping people with the perspective that ONE LIFE can make a difference. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, or how wealthy you are, what matters is—do you see, and will you show someone that you have noticed? Do you care enough to find an answer for what the rest of your world turns its back on?

Rwanda: The Context

On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying President Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, the President of Burundi, was shot down as it prepared to land at Kigali. Both presidents were killed when the plane crashed. As though the shooting down was a signal, military and militia groups began rounding up and killing all Tutsis they could capture as well as political moderates irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds. Large numbers of opposition politicians were also murdered. Many nations evacuated all their nationals from Kigali and closed their embassies as violence escalated.

The prime minister and her ten Belgian bodyguards were among the first victims. The killing swiftly spread from Kigali to all corners of the country; between April 6 and the beginning of July, a genocide of unprecedented swiftness officially left 937,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead at the hands of organized bands of militia: Interahamwe. Even ordinary citizens were called on by local officials and government-sponsored radio to kill their neighbors. The president’s MRND Party was implicated in organizing many aspects of the genocide.

For the next couple of weeks, many questionable decisions were made by the United Nations security council, which had authorized a peacekeeping force in the country called the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda in 1992.

Following the killing of the ten Belgium UNAMIR troops during the assasination of Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, Belgium withdrew all of their forces, leaving only Ghanaian and Senegalese troops behind. The UN Security Council unanimously voted to withdraw its troops, with France and Belgium at the forefront, over the protests of the peacekeepers’ top commander, Canadian Major-General Romeo Dallaire.

Rwanda: Our Context

Eleven years ago, between April and June of 1994, nearly a million Rwandans were killed in the space of a hundred days. 2005 is the eleventh anniversary of this genocide.

We at Lifeline Foundation Support Team Inc., based in Manila, Philippines, are sending teams to Rwanda to support the rebuilding of precious lives through medicine and food, education and technical assistance. We want to show that there are people in the global community that care about what happened. We were not around in 1994, but we want to be part of the healing that still needs to happen today.

The average daily wage in Rwanda is under one dollar. The awful truth is that over 166,000 women were brutally raped and viciously infected with the HIV virus as an act of war. Many children consequently have been orphaned and many are still being orphaned daily due to AIDS. Together we can bring some much needed healing to this little, forgotten nation.

On our first trip in 2005, our recon team went to three towns in the Ruhengeri province which have not been reached by other charitable organizations, simply because the need in that nation is so great. The team that went on this mission consisted of social workers, educators, nurses, and doctors.

We will help repair schools, feed people, bathe babies, dispense medicine, and teach computer skills as well as supply computers to schools and orphanages.

In the schools and orphanages we have visited in the Ruhengeri province, we will be setting up webcam stations where the children there can get to see and talk with the children who are actively involved with Lifeline Foundation here in Manila. In no way do we want this to be a one-time encounter. What we are after is an ongoing relationship in which young Rwandans and Filipino children help construct a bridge of international care.

This thought put into these words by a man who lived what he believed challenges each and every one of us to examine our desire to give. There is never an ideal time to give, or ideal conditions. The very nature of Volunteerism is to give freely of ourselves, without thought of recompense, to aid those who are in a time of need, and incapable of aiding themselves.

We each have so much going for us, and we often forget this fact. There will always be someone else out there who has less than you. Sometimes, not out there, but closer than you think. This is the spirit and consciousness embodied by our foundation.

When we started our first initiative years ago, a suicide prevention hotline to provide whatever little help we could give to so many suffering in our city, we had no idea that we would grow to where we are at today. Now we are reaching and affecting many lives across many sectors, and still we seek to reach even more. We have so much to give. That’s another interesting thing about Volunteering; it takes you places you wouldn’t have imagined going.

The universe is wired in such a way that we are all assigned our share of difficulties. Thing is, some of us on the planet are subjected to much more than we could ever imagine, and it is in those times that we must believe that there is a oneness that unites us all, regardless of religion or race, and it is that oneness that propels us to reach out and Volunteer.

Every single humanitarian organization in existence relies on the strength of Volunteerism. Our goals would not be achievable without the sheer force and heart that volunteers provide.

As we go into a new year, ask yourself the question: what can I do, what can I give? Truth is there is no greater gift than to give of your time, your attention, your ear, your compassion. Let us make the most of an opportunity to Volunteer, for we shall not pass these ways again.

Jose Luis Gonzalez
Director and Co-Founder, Lifeline Foundation

Though the mass got removed and she’s gotten better, the doctors need to perform another surgery because there was a break in the skin where the metal plate (called mandibular reconstruction plate) is located. Shiela is now having difficulty in talking and especially eating—anything that involves her opening her mouth.

To those who made her first operation possible, THANK YOU. Let’s be a lifeline once again to Shiela by helping make her next surgery another success.

Donations can be made to LIFELINE FOUNDATION SUPPORT TEAM INC. (Eastwest Bank, Account Number: 15-0201199-1). For more details you can contact us at 836.2514 or send us an email at info@ineedalifeline.org.

Dear Jes,

Thanks a lot for taking us with you yesterday. I’d like to send you my
compliments for a fantastic, very well organized day! Both, Martin and
me, are really impressed of how well organized everything was.
We had a very great time yesterday (I even pulled my first tooth )
and we admire the work you are doing for the people here.
I especially enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere and joy all volunteers
showed towards the patients and each other.
Lifeline foundation is a very great organization and I would really
like to get to know it better and maybe be involved in its work.
I hope I will be able to meet all of you soon again,
Many thanks and compliments for all your efforts,
you are doing a great thing!

Kind regards,
Shirin

View the medical mission photos.

Malabon City is composed of 21 barangays with an approximate population of 363,681 where half of the people live in poverty. Aware of the need and along with the many requests made for a medical mission in their municipality, Dr. Grace Francisco-Torres has set out to raise awareness that education fights poverty—and that is one of their foundation’s thrusts (ALFEE).

We at Lifeline Foundation Support Team Inc. believe in empowering lives—and we came to Malabon that day to help. We hope that this will cause that ripple effect that we so need in addressing our society’s problems—one issue at a time.

To all our volunteer doctors, nurses, and the rest of the team, THANK YOU.Here’s to another mission possible

To all who want to be part of the solution, come and join us make a difference to the world around us.

Stay tuned for details of our next medical missions in 2011 and partner with us.

We’d love to hear from you! You may send us an email at info@ineedalifeline.org or call us at 836.25.14.

With Diabetes Mellitus being a lifelong condition, Christopher Jr. will need all the support he can get. Keeping his blood sugar levels under control can prevent or minimize complications. Christopher Jr.’s maintenance shots alone cost approximately Php10,500 a month.

Lifeline Foundation believes in empowering women and children. Join us in giving Christopher Jr. a fair shot at leading a full life.

Donations can be made to LIFELINE FOUNDATION SUPPORT TEAM INC. (Eastwest Bank, Account Number: 15-0201199-1). For more details you can contact us at 836.2514 or send us an email at info@ineedalifeline.org.

Czeska’s mother, Maricel, 28 years old, was bewildered and told us that she didn’t know what else to do and where to go—this was the first time she’s had to face such a trying time alone. Her husband is out of the country working to support this young family for about a year now. Both Czeska and Maricel needed a lifeline. AND Lifeline Foundation stepped in and helped empower both mother and daughter.

Thanks to the hospital’s kindness, Lifeline’s liaison work, and your donations, Czeska’s life was saved just in time.

This is where Lifeline Foundation stepped in to help Mang Jimmy be able to go back to work again. With a letter of recommendation from our partner doctor, Dr. Roel AP Romero, who worked in NOH for over 30 years, Mang Jimmy got the surgery he needed to ensure the normal use of his right arm. He is recovering now, and he can’t wait to go back to work and support his family.

Despite their situation, the Mangyans are good-natured; they don’t seem to be greedy for gain, and they are quite disciplined–traits that are sometimes very difficult to see in many of the lowlanders and city dwellers.

As for the Lifeline Foundation Team, despite the late-night travel and the rain showers, the loyal and new volunteers made up of doctors, nurses, students, and people from different walks of life who want to make a difference served a total of about 500 men, women, and children from the Mangyan community who are under the leadership of Konsehal Minerva of Barangay Udalo, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.

The thankful Mangyans were given medical and dental check-up, medicines and vitamins, as well as clothes, sardines, and other basic necessities. Once again, thanks to all the people who took part in this endeavor by donating used clothes, blankets, slippers, etc., as well as to the companies who partnered with us in making this mission another Mission Possible: YOUR HELP IS GOING A LONG WAY.

One of our first-time volunteers celebrated her birthday by volunteering on this mission, and she agreed with all the others who said that the satisfaction, sense of purpose, and camaraderie volunteering brings is matchless. Another of our new volunteers said, “When you see them and hear their stories, you would realize how small and incomparable your worries are; and then you will be able to further appreciate the things you have now–and hopefully you’ll always be thankful for the littlest blessing you receive. The experience proved to be tiring but very rewarding. Honestly, I joined the activity to just have a clean break from the stressful events in my life. But at the end of the day, the Mangyans reminded me of a valuable lesson–life is short. Sometimes our resources are scarce, the future looks dim and we feel like giving up, but God’s hands are always there in various forms, in ways we never thought possible and that no matter how hard life is, we are still overly BLESSED”.

So, to all who want to be part of the solution, come and join us make a difference to the world around us.

Stay tuned for details of our next medical missions in 2011 and partner with us.

We’d love to hear from you! You may send us an email at info@ineedalifeline.org or call us at 836.25.14.

click here to view photos of mangyan medical mission