AYUDA's Approach
AYUDA is a volunteer-based organization structured around five important and interconnected components.
1. Local Partnerships
AYUDA’s commitment to working with a Local Partner in each country 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.
2. Leadership Training
Volunteers are at the center of AYUDA’s work. We believe in investing in their professional development and encouraging long-term involvement in our organization. To do this, we provide leadership positions for experienced volunteers to increase volunteer retention and integrate volunteers into the program planning process.
3. Diabetes Outreach
AYUDA volunteers and local youth leaders divide into small groups and travel to various rural and high-need areas in the host country to observe the reality of diabetes in the community, gain information from the diabetes community, and fulfill other objectives as defined by the Local Partner.
4. Local Projects
AYUDA is dedicated to supporting locally defined diabetes projects that empower young people to live happier and healthier lives with diabetes. Projects include diabetes camps, workshops, parent support groups, and leadership training activities, among others.
5. Program Sustainability
AYUDA believes in producing sustainable programs in the communities we work with abroad. We do this by ensuring that volunteers remain at the center of our organization through volunteer earned income, utilizing in-kind donations of medical supplies for our Local Partners, and creating partnerships and linkages with organizations and companies that promote and sustain our programs.