HUMAN BRIDGE
Address
Human Bridge
S-570 15 Holsbybrunn
Sweden
Tel: +46 383 467470
E-mail: info@humanbridge.se
www.humanbridge.se
Year of establishment:
2001 (1974 and 1990)
Legal status:
Member based Voluntary Association, NGO
Org. nr.:
827501-1123
Operational area:
Where needs arise
The organisation’s goal
To carry out development, relief and social projects on behalf of partners in Sweden and on site in receiving countries.
Description
The association Human Bridge was created in 2001 through the merging of the relief departments of two international relief and development organisations in Sweden. These organisations, Erikshjälpen and Läkarmissionen had been carrying out relief projects involving material aid since 1974 and 1990 respectively. In forming an organisation with a combined administration for the carrying out of these types of projects, it was felt that the experience and resources of the organisations were put to most effective use. Human Bridge now constitutes a professional organisation which implements all projects related to material relief on behalf of the aforesaid development organisations.
The primary areas of work entail:
1. Collecting, reconditioning/repairing of all kinds of hospital equipment and supplies and shipping these to hospitals around the world
2. Purchasing and shipment of supplies (food, tents, blankets etc.) to disaster areas
3. Collecting, sorting, packing and shipment of clothes to those in need
4. Various forms of fundraising to cover costs of projects
Vision
To see sustainable development instituted in developing countries, whereby the local population is stimulated to actively participate in the development of their own setting and society.
Mission
- To support the development endeavours of developing countries primarily in areas of health and health care through development projects but also through humanitarian aid.
- To facilitate such development by mobilizing resources from members, donors and other sources as well as from receiving entities.
- To enhance the results of input by encouraging close co-operation between receiving and donor parties, thereby promoting self reliance in the local setting.
- To increase the engagement of Swedish society in the area of relief and development questions through information programs.
- To create resources through co-operation with other organisations as well as through own activities
Partners and comissioning bodies
Human Bridge’ s chief partners and comissioning bodies in Sweden are Erikshjälpen and Läkarmissionen. More information about these organisations can be found on their respective internet home pages: www.erikshjalpen.se and www.lakarmissionen.se . (Unfortunately there are only short descriptions in English to be found on these sites.) Apart from projects in co-operation with the aforesaid organisations, Human Bridge can also carry out projects of our own accord as well as with or on behalf of other NGO:s. We can offer services entailing the collection or purchasing of materials, packing and logistics. Financing of each individual project is an issue which at all times must be solved before implementation.
Where is Human Bridge located?
Head office and warehouse is located in the south eastern region of Sweden. Human Bridge has several warehouses and sorting plants in other areas as well, located from Stockholm in the country’s central region down to the city of Lund in the south.
Projects are carried out in approx 30 countries around the world annually. Most of these countries are in Africa and Eastern Europe, whilst destinations in Asia and South America are also on the receiving list. All projects are carried out in co-operation with local NGO:s or government institutions.
Organisational structure
Human Bridge is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO). The supreme organ is the annual general assembly constituted by members. Members may be individual persons as well as organisations, on the basis of one vote per person/entity. The general assembly elects the executive board which has 5 – 9 members, and convenes 4 – 6 times per year. The board employs the CEO (generally titled Managing Director), who is co-opted to board meetings. The management group is comprised of 4 members, these being leaders for the different departments of the organisation.
Staff
Human Bridge encompasses roughly 50 employees and several hundred volunteers that work in our various premises. Volunteers are chiefly involved in collecting and sorting clothes for relief shipments.
Achievements
The combined historic efforts (since the early seventies) of the represented organisations in terms of volume of materials shipped to over 100 countries throughout the world are substantial. Today on average one shipment per day is despatched from our warehouses to different destinations. Of these shipments approx. 300 tons are comprised of assorted hospital materials and equipment.
An example of our projects directed towards hospitals is the co-operation we have with the Ethiopian health authorities. Over the past 9 years we have delivered approx. 80 x 40 foot containers to more than 30 hospitals in different regions in this country. Some of these regions are: Amhara region, Tigray region, Benshangul Gomez region, Gambela Region, Afar region, South region, Harar region and currently Oromia region. The projects are highly appraised by the receiving hospitals benefiting from these efforts.
Human Bridge is constantly open to finding new partners interested in co-operating in projects as described above. Interested parties are welcome to contact us in this respect.