VillageReach
Encyclopedia
VillageReach is a non-profit organization working in the area of medical logistics
, specifically the last mile delivery of vaccine
s to remote rural areas in developing countries
. It is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, in the United States
, and its main operations are in Mozambique
, Africa
. Secondarily, VillageReach invests in and develops social business
models that complement its infrastructure needs, such as the VidaGas company that provides fuel for VillageReach's needs but also caters to local businesses in Mozambique.
VillageReach has been given a "Gold" rating and is the top recommended charity by GiveWell
, a US-based non-profit that rates charities. GiveWell estimates that it costs between $400-$800 of donor money to save an additional life. GiveWell estimates that in 2010, it directed about 1.1 million USD in charitable donations to VillageReach.
VillageReach received funding of 3.3 million USD from the Gates Foundation in 2004.
in 2005.
Medical logistics
Medical logistics is the logistics of pharmaceuticals, medical and surgical supplies, medical devices and equipment, and other products needed to support doctors, nurses, and other health and dental care providers...
, specifically the last mile delivery of vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s to remote rural areas in developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
. It is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and its main operations are in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Secondarily, VillageReach invests in and develops social business
Social business
Social business, as the term is commonly used, was first defined by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus and is described in his books Creating a world without poverty—Social Business and the future of capitalism and Building Social Business—The new kind of capitalism that serves...
models that complement its infrastructure needs, such as the VidaGas company that provides fuel for VillageReach's needs but also caters to local businesses in Mozambique.
VillageReach has been given a "Gold" rating and is the top recommended charity by GiveWell
Givewell
GiveWell is an American non-profit charity evaluator created in 2006 by two former finance industry workers, Holden Karnofsky and Elie Hassenfeld. GiveWell's goal is to use an evidence based approach by examining results empirically and avoiding anecdotes and appeals to stories. They investigate...
, a US-based non-profit that rates charities. GiveWell estimates that it costs between $400-$800 of donor money to save an additional life. GiveWell estimates that in 2010, it directed about 1.1 million USD in charitable donations to VillageReach.
VillageReach received funding of 3.3 million USD from the Gates Foundation in 2004.
History
VillageReach was founded in 2000 by Blaise Judja-Sato in Seattle, Washington, who got the idea while coordinating relief for flood victims in Mozambique. It began its activities in Mozambique in 2001.Press coverage
VillageReach was covered in an article in the US weekly NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
in 2005.