In-Country Partnership Model

AYUDA’s commitment to working with a Local Partner in each county allows us to respond to locally defined needs. We work with the local community to design culturally-appropriate approaches to empowering young people to live happier and healthier lives with diabetes.

 
 

Local Partnerships

  • In the countries where AYUDA operates, AYUDA identifies a primary “Local Partner” that has transparent operations and clear objectives congruent with our philosophy

  • This partnership allows AYUDA to respond to local needs, design culturally appropriate approaches, and build local capacity

  • Once a Partner Agreement is signed, the Local Partner and AYUDA will work to establish collaborative projects. All local projects must be proposed and organized by Local Partners and must display a need for AYUDA volunteer participation/collaboration

  • AYUDA’s main form of support for diabetes communities is human resources (i.e., AYUDA volunteers). We also provide limited economic support when necessary

  • AYUDA’s principal strength within its Volunteer Training Program is its innovative peer-learning model, which allows youth to learn from other youth. Local projects that are able to utilize AYUDA’s volunteers in a peer-to-peer environment setting have the greatest benefit

Youth Empowerment

AYUDA collaborates with Local Partners on projects that support AYUDA’s key building blocks to Youth Empowerment.

While the local projects that AYUDA supports tend to be comprehensive, key elements of these projects have emphasized:

  • Motivating young people to live happier and healthier lives with diabetes

  • Contacting and connecting local young people with diabetes

  • Educating young people and families about diabetes

  • Inspiring local youth to be leaders and role models for other local youth with diabetes

  • Training local healthcare students and/or professionals in diabetes knowledge/care

  • Generating local support (in the form of collaborations and funding) for network, organization, and future projects

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Our Local Partners

AYUDA’s Local Partners include:

  • Dominican Republic: Aprendiendo A Vivir (AAV)

  • Bermuda: Bermuda Diabetes Association (BDA)

  • Ecuador: Fundación Diabetes Juvenil Ecuador (FDJE)

  • Haiti: Fondation Haïtienne de Diabète et de Maladies Cardio-Vasculaires (FHADIMAC)

Currently, we are only featuring programs in the Dominican Republic with Aprendiendo A Vivir.

Aprendiendo A Vivir - AYUDA’s Dominican Partner Organization

AYUDA’s current local partner for its volunteer programs in the Dominican Republic is Aprendiendo a Vivir (AAV). AAV is a local non-profit organization based in Santo Domingo, DR. The organization provides children and adolescents living with diabetes the opportunity to improve their quality of life through educational programs. The goal of these programs is to provide tools and knowledge to help young people living with diabetes better manage their condition, improve their nutrition, and prevent future complications.