GMF#7 | When we fail and fall through the gaps

TL;DR: In the heart of Give.Asia's mission, ChildMed, we encounter both purpose and hardship. Our team of 30 is dedicated to helping children in need, but there are moments when we can't provide assistance due to unverified information. Parents facing the most challenging times often struggle to provide essential documentation, leading to delays that can be tragic. We're committed to improvement and are collaborating with hospitals to streamline this process, with the aim of helping more children receive the care they need.

• Give.Asia's ChildMed mission is driven by purpose and a commitment to helping children in need.

• Despite dedicated efforts, unverified information can lead to delays in providing assistance.

• Many parents facing hardships can't readily provide essential documentation for fundraising campaigns.

• Collaborations with hospitals aim to improve the process, reducing delays and helping more children access medical care.

• Dr. Leo's partnership in eliminating child blindness exemplifies the determination of the Give.Asia team to support every child in need (Give the Gift of Sight).

Hello there, future self, 🖐️

Let's revisit the heart of Give.Asia's mission – ChildMed. It's a journey filled with purpose and meaning, but it's also a road marked by moments that reveal life's harsh realities, where some children face deeply unequal chances.

As our team grows to 30 dedicated souls, we cherish the meaningful work we do. Yet, it's essential to acknowledge that not every day is brimming with positivity. Weekly, we confront life's cruelties, where a child's future seems uncertain.

What troubles us most is when we fall short, unable to aid a child due to unverified information. Here's the issue: a family reaches out, seeking help for their child's medical treatment fundraiser. Within a mere 24 hours, we try to connect with them, asking for vital documents like a doctor's letter or medical bills to ensure their case is genuine. However, the reality is that parents often struggle to respond. They may be overwhelmed by their child's needs or unable to access the internet because their prepaid phones ran out of credits. Our follow-up phone calls often yield the same results. Sadly, these delays sometimes cost a child their life, as treatment is delayed.

In fact, it can takeup to 20 days to gather the needed information, and a staggering 4 out of 5 campaigns don't make it to publication because we can't validate their details.

We recognize this isn't good enough, and we're determined to improve. We're collaborating with hospitals, seeking to share the burden with them. If hospitals can provide vital information, like doctor's letters and medical bills, parents can focus more on caring for their child.

It's a slow, demanding task, but our team isn't backing down. As we build trust with hospitals, they might recommend other hospitals to join us. Finding the right people to facilitate these collaborations is crucial.

Recently, we've teamed up with Dr. Leo, who's dedicated to eliminating child blindness (Give the Gift of Sight). She ensures that each child receives the right treatment, making the most of available funds.

Our journey is one of resilience and determination. We're working to ensure that every child gets the support they need, humbly acknowledging the challenges we face. 🌟🤗🖐️