Search

Donate Today!

Subscribe today!

CLWR has print and email news services available. To subscribe, click here or call 1.800.661.2597.

Augusta Victoria Hospital: more than just a health care institution

During a recent presentation in Winnipeg, Dr. Tawfiq Nasser, CEO of Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), pointed to the valuable role the institution plays in Palestinian community. The hospital is not only the sole provider of essential medical services like pediatric dialysis, cancer treatment and specialized geriatric and end of life care, but also an advocate for rights of patients to access this care. Additionally, AVH offers employment opportunities for Palestinians that benefit civil society. It also serves as a model for a diverse staff team of Christian, Muslim and Jewish colleagues.

“Positive Palestinian stories provide living examples that give hope to the peace process,” says Dr. Nasser. “Celebrating our successes reduces polarization in the community.”

Canadian Lutheran World Relief supports AVH’s mission to uphold the rights of the poor and oppressed, provide excellence in health care and build a successful presence in Jerusalem. Currently, the agency is receiving support from Canadian International Development Agency to fund a new geriatric care unit that will address the specific needs of elderly Palestinians, including palliative care and guiding families through the grieving process.

CLWR: creating community online through Facebook

In an effort to better connect with and engage their supporters, Canadian Lutheran World Relief has developed a presence on Facebook Causes. People who are interested in the mission of the agency will be kept informed about current happenings and encouraged to interact with and collaborate on endeavours that will advance CLWR’s life-giving community development work. Anyone can join the group by visiting the following link: http://tiny.cc/CLWRCauses.

According to the March 2009 "Global Faces and Networked Places" report by the Nielsen Company, internet usage has grown and, consequently, so has social networking. The amount of time spent on social networking sites like Facebook has risen by 63% in the past year.

Facebook is a free social networking utility that helps people connect. There are over 11.7 million users in Canada. In terms of who these users are, the greatest growth for Facebook has come from people aged 35 to 49 years of age. The 50- to 64-year-old age group grew almost twice that of the under 18-year-old age group.