For the most part, this comes from the ways these countries have been stricken by natural disasters and by the unfortunate consequences of internal political and non-political wars. The most affected will always be the ones living in poverty and most especially the children.
In addition to having provided medical relief to over 4,650 indigent children and adults in Central America, and South America to date; we are dedicated to establishing a permanent medical alliance with physicians in these countries. Continued medical education and postoperative follow-up care are provided via telemedicine. Non-medical volunteers have contributed services such as record keeping, translation and general trouble shooting.
Our multi-specialty teams also enable us to broaden our services as the need arises.
Small World Foundation, Inc. presently focuses its efforts on Central America where disparities in medical services between countries of the First World and those of the Developing World are especially acute following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and more recently, the 2001 earthquakes in El Salvador.
These catastrophic events have severely exacerbated the challenges experienced by thousands of residents of remote areas, including compromised economic development efforts, aggravated poverty levels and heightened inaccessibility to medical care, worsened by severely damaged highways and bridges.
Through Small World Foundation, Inc.’s efforts, including volunteer physicians, nurses, medical technicians, prosthetists, and support personnel, donated materials and supplies, Central Americans receive life-altering, frequently life-saving care, and countless local physicians acquire heightened knowledge and skills
Participating medical personnel and other volunteers receive no compensation for their services and patients are not charged for their treatment.
Small World Foundation, Inc. is a non-denominational faith based Judeo-Christian organization. We believe that God is always present in our work. We also believe that our abilities are a gift from God and what we do with those abilities is our gift back to Him.
Small World Foundation, Inc. endeavors to make the world a little smaller by additionally endorsing and encouraging cultural exchanges.
During our medical missions, students from the areas we visit, communicate with their counterparts in the United States via videotape, letters, and email. We also utilize state-of-the-art, satellite communications with two-way video-conferencing equipment for cultural exchanges and for medical training, operations, and post operative treatment.