| "body"> | | | | Security is of the outmost concern for MSF, for all of |
| One of the subjects I am going to research in the near | | | | its volunteers and national staff. A security briefing is |
| future is combining travel with volunteer opportunities all | | | | given to the volunteer prior to going on mission, and |
| over the world. Volunteering is a great way of | | | | once they arrive at their mission. A volunteer is never |
| exploring different cultures while making a positive | | | | forced to go on mission if they are concerned about |
| contribution to important causes. | | | | their security. The volunteer is ultimately responsible for |
| Doctors Without Borders first caught my attention | | | | his or her security once they are on mission, however |
| during the Tsunami Crisis. It is an organization that | | | | MSF provides excellent security protocols and |
| provides important medical relief to people in | | | | systems to minimize the risk. If a volunteer is in a |
| disaster-stricken areas. I felt compelled to find out | | | | mission which becomes too insecure, he/she will be |
| more about this organization, about its philosophies and | | | | evacuated with his or her team to a secure |
| its recent missions. Here is my interview with Isabelle | | | | environment. |
| Jeanson, National Press Officer Toronto with Doctors | | | | 6. What are the living conditions for the volunteers? |
| Without Borders. | | | | Volunteers will often live in a house shared by other |
| 1. Please tell us about Médécins Sans | | | | international MSF volunteers. Housing, food, |
| Frontières / Doctors without Borders. What | | | | transportation and all other amenities are covered by |
| type of organization is it? What philosophy is it based | | | | MSF. Volunteers also receive a stipend as pocket |
| on? | | | | money. |
| We are the world's leading independent international | | | | 7. What critical missions has your organization been |
| medical relief organization. | | | | involved in recently? |
| Médecins Sans Frontières offers | | | | Currently we are involved in a famine crisis in Niger; in |
| assistance to populations in distress, to victims of | | | | the conflict in Darfur, West Sudan; in conflict areas in |
| natural or man-made disasters and to victims of | | | | Democratic Republic of Congo; in mental health |
| armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective | | | | projects in Asia; in the tsunami relief in South-East Asia; |
| of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. We also | | | | and we offer AIDS treatment projects in dozens of |
| observe neutrality and impartiality in the name of | | | | countries around the world, to name only a few. MSF |
| universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian | | | | is currently working in over 70 countries around the |
| assistance. | | | | world and manages hundreds of projects. |
| 2. Please tell us about the history of Doctors with | | | | 8. MSF also speaks out to end suffering and provides |
| Borders. Who founded the organization? How has it | | | | public education and informational events. Please tell us |
| evolved since its inception? | | | | more about that. |
| MSF was originally founded in France in 1971 by a | | | | Other than providing medical relief to populations in |
| group of doctors and medical journalists who were | | | | distress, MSF also has a mandate to speak-out or do |
| concerned with the plight of populations in emergency | | | | "témoignage". This basically means that we |
| situations. Since 1971, MSF has grown into 5 European | | | | speak out against the atrocities or injustices that we |
| operational sections, and 13 partner sections around | | | | witness in the field, to raise international public |
| the world. The Canadian office was founded in 1991, | | | | awareness about an issue that is otherwise forgotten |
| by a few Canadian doctors who came back to | | | | or unknown by the world. We do this by speaking at |
| Canada from mission, and realized there was a need | | | | public events, or giving interviews in the media or by |
| for an MSF presence in Canada. | | | | publishing reports. |
| 3. How is your organization funded? | | | | 9. Please comment specifically on the situation now in |
| We are mostly funded by donations from the public | | | | South Asia, more than 6 months after the Tsunami |
| (80%) and the rest from governments and foundations | | | | Disaster. |
| (20%). | | | | We are currently still active in India and Indonesia, |
| 4. Who can volunteer with Doctors without Borders? | | | | providing mental health counseling to the victims of the |
| How many volunteers are there world-wide? Please | | | | tsunami and basic health care. |
| tell us about the volunteer recruitment process. | | | | 10. Please tell us about the different ways of making a |
| Doctors, nurses, midwives, logisticians, project | | | | contribution to Doctors without Borders. |
| coordinators, financial coordinators, mental health | | | | People can give to MSF through a variety of venues: |
| specialists, social workers, and many other | | | | Through Partners Without Borders, our monthly giving |
| professionals can volunteer with Doctors without | | | | program ; |
| Borders. There are over 2000 volunteers working for | | | | By internet through our secure online giving form ; |
| MSF in the field, and hundreds more who work in | | | | By fax or mail, in response to our annual campaign, or |
| offices around the world. | | | | our special or emergency appeals ; |
| People who are interested should first visit our website: | | | | By phone - we may call you, or you can contact us |
| that explains in detail what we look for in our | | | | toll-free at 1-800-982-7903 ; |
| candidates. Once an interested candidate has applied | | | | Through donations of publicly traded securities ; |
| (either on-line or by mail), their application is revised by | | | | By leaving a contribution to MSF in your will ; |
| a recruitment officer. If their application is relevant to | | | | By hosting or organizing a special event to benefit |
| what we look for, they will be invited to an interview. If | | | | MSF ; |
| the interview is successful, the candidate will be | | | | By making a gift in honour of a birthday, anniversary, |
| offered pre-departure training prior to going on mission. | | | | marriage or graduation of a friend or family member ; |
| The selection of their mission is based on the | | | | By making a gift in memory of a loved one who has |
| candidate's skills which are matched to the needs of | | | | passed on ; |
| the field. The time needed to find the right mission for | | | | At work through matching gift programs |
| the right person can happen anywhere from a few | | | | Thank you, Isabelle, for providing further information |
| weeks to several months. | | | | about your organization and the important missions and |
| 5. Please comment on some of the risks and dangers | | | | activities you are involved in. We wish you the best of |
| that the volunteers face. | | | | luck in your humanitarian efforts. |