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History of Mano a Mano

By manoamano
  • Incorporated Mano a Mano Medical Resources

    Incorporated Mano a Mano Medical Resources

    Mano a Mano was incorporated as a nonprofit by a group of volunteers in Minnesota with the goal to collect surplus medical supplies and equipment for a Hospital in Bolivia. Until 2004 everything in the US was done with volunteers; supplies were sorted in the basement and stored in tents in the backyard.

  • Collected 3,000 pounds of medical supplies

    In the first year 3,000 pounds of supplies were collected. Everyone thought this was a huge amount at the time!

  • Raised funds for first Mano a Mano clinic

    With the help from a dedicated volunteer who sold surplus wine glasses from Northwest Airlines, money was raised to build 2 clinics in Bolivia.
  • Two clinics opened

    Two clinics opened

    The first two Mano a Mano clinics - the "Gloria" clinics named after the volunteer who raised most of the funds - were built in Bolivia.
  • Mano a Mano - Bolivia incorporated

    Mano a Mano - Bolivia incorporated

    Mano a Mano - Bolivia, our sister organization in Bolivia, was incorporated as a nonprofit. Until this time all the work in Bolivia was done by volunteers, and friends and family members of the Velasquez family.

  • Seven clinics completed

    By the end of 2000, Mano a Mano had built 7 community health clinics in rural Bolivia

  • Mano a Mano - Bolivia begins constructing 6 clinics yearly

  • Mano a Mano Bolivia constructs first teacher housing, school, and bathrooms

    Mano a Mano Bolivia constructs first teacher housing, school, and bathrooms

    In addtion to clinics, Mano a Mano begins to build schools, teacher housing, and community bathrooms to address more of the components that affect the health and well-being of the community.

  • Mano a Mano Nuevo Mundo incorporated

    Our second sister organization, Nuevo Mundo ("new world" in Spanish), is incorporated. Where the focus of Mano a Mano Bolivia is on health projects, Nuevo Mundo will focus on road and water infrasturcture projects.
  • First agricultural water reservoir completed

    First agricultural water reservoir completed

    Mano a Mano completes its first large water reservoir project in Ucuchi, Bolivia.
  • Mano a Mano Apoyo Aereo incorporated

    Mano a Mano Apoyo Aereo incorporated

    Mano a Mano's third sister organization, Apoyo Aereo ("air support" in Spanish) is incorporated. Using our plane, Apoyo Aereo's focus is emergency air rescues from rural areas to city hospitals and for transportation for Mano a Mano staff and volunteers to distant locations.

  • Mano a Mano purchases second aircraft for Apoyo Aereo

    Due to increasing demand, Mano a Mano purchases a second airplane to be able to more efficiently respond.
  • First continuing health education conference

    First continuing health education conference

    Doctors and nurses from Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN travel to Bolivia to provide a continuing education course for Mano a Mano medical professionals. The course was so successful that it was repeated in December 2009 and opened up to any medical professional in Bolivia who wished to attend; over 300 came.
  • 100th clinic completed

    100th clinic completed

    Mano a Mano dedicates its 100th community health clinic in Mizque. From 2000-2009 there were more than 2.2 million patient visits to Mano a Mano clinics!
  • Over 2.5 million pounds of medical supplies shipped to Bolivia

    Over 2.5 million pounds of medical supplies shipped to Bolivia

    Mano a Mano sent a shipment of 67,000 pounds of medical supplies to Bolivia, putting us over 2.5 million pounds shipped since 1994. Most years around 200,000 pounds were sent, which went to equip and supply Mano a Mano's rapidly expanding network of clinics and also distributed free of charge to other organizations and individuals throughout Bolivia.