Hope For Venezuelan Refugees Report Phase 1 Jan-May 2019

1
Progress Report for Rise Against Hunger
Phase 1 Hope For Venezuelan Refugees Project
Amendment after Evaluation & Comparison between
Projection vs. Actual Results*
Prepared by Rotary e-Club of Houston
August 2019
*
Original Report was submitted to Rise Against Hunger in May 2019

2
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
A. Propose Performance Period Start and End Date
13 weeks January 21 - April 27, 2019
Actual Reporting Period & Utilization of RAH Meals
15 weeks January 21 - May 11, 2019
B. Period of Performance Executive Summary
Project Title Hope for Venezuelan Refugees
Brief Project Description The project is helping alleviate hunger and improve malnutrition among
vulnerable Venezuelan refugees, migrants and walkers ‘caminantes,’ and
Colombian returnees in Cúcuta and Pamplona through the donation of 20 tons of
Rise Against Hunger (RAH) meals and 20 tons of locally produced commodities
to existing food distribution centers preparing and serving food to this target
population. These donations are distributed among 9 (out of the 10 proposed)
food distributions centers (comedores), and 4 shelters in Pamplona.
Our project helps to promote peace “When people no longer need to fight over
food, peace will reign.”
Contact Information Cristal Montañéz Baylor - Rotary e-Club of Houston International Service
Committee - Project International Coordinator
cristalmontanezvenezuela@gmail.com
+1 (713) 483 4990
Isis Mejías - Rotary e-Club of Houston Director International Service Committee -
Project International Coordinator
isis.mejias@mail.com
+1 (281) 746-8271
Partners Hope For Venezuelan Refugees pilot project is a coalition between the Rotary e-
Club of Houston, Rise Against Hunger, Food Bank of the Pastoral Social of the
Diocese of Cúcuta, and the Rotary Club of Cúcuta. These organizations joined
efforts to implement, facilitate, and manage this pilot project.
Country Colombia
Site/Location Cúcuta & Pamplona
Total Number of
Refugees Affected in the
Target Area
8, According to UNHCR, there are
1,1 million Venezuelan refugees y migrants in Colombia
- 11.4 % (117,649) located in the Norte de Santander according to the 2018
Administrative Registry of Migrants in Colombia (RAMV). However, this
official number is far from the current reality.
Proposed Number of
Refugees/Migrants/Walk
ers Served by Project
5,480 beneficiaries per day
Actual Number of
Refugees/Migrants/Walk
ers Served by Project
4,955 beneficiaries per day
Proposed Project
Duration
January 21 – April 27, 2019 (13 weeks)

3
Actual Duration of
Project
Utilization of RAH Meals
January 21 – May 11, 2019 (15 weeks)
Projected Number of
RAH Meals Distributed
190,080 meals calculated at 4 meals x bag
Actual Number of RAH
Meals Distributed
285,120 meals calculated at 6 meals x bag
Name of Organization Rotary e-Club of Houston, District 5890
Name of Organization 1 Rice Against Hunger (RAH) - Donor
Name of Organization 2 Rotary Club Cucuta District 4271
Name of Organization 3 Diócesis de Cúcuta Corporación de Servicio Pastoral Social
Name of Organization 4 e-Club Houston en Cúcuta
Project
Objecti
ves
Overall objective: Our project aims to help alleviate hunger and improve the condition of malnutrition
of Venezuelan refugees per day by providing meals to the existing aid distribution centers that are
serving meals to these refugees in the city of Cúcuta.
Specific objective 1: To identify of local network of partners and needed logistic to distribute the RAH
meal packs to the target refugee population.
Specific objective 2: To improve the nutrition of refugees per day through provision of RAH meals
packs.
Specific objective 3: To create awareness through a comprehensive marketing and communication
campaign of the impact RAH meal packs have among the refugee population and local partners.
Specific objective 4: To support the local economy through procurement of approximately of locally
produced commodities to complement and improve the nutritional value and add diversity of flavor
and seasonings to the RAH meals.
Result
s
Result 1.1: Improved the nutrition of 4,955 Venezuelan refugees.
Result 1.2: Enhanced the capacity of the local network of partners
Result 1.3: Provided access of RAH meals to 4,955 Venezuelan refugees.
Result 2.3: Improved condition of hunger among the target refugees.
Result 3.3: Increased awareness of impact of RAH and participating partners.
Result 4.4: Supported the local economy and helped diminish the xenophobia toward the
Venezuelan migrant and improved the nutritional value of the RAH meals by adding diversity of
flavor and seasonings.
Target Group(s) Women, men, girls and boys Venezuelan
refugees
Final Beneficiaries 4,955 refugees per day
Total Donation - 40ft container filled with 20 tons of RAH meals
1,320 boxes
- 9,825 kg (10.83 tons) of complementary foods
(commodities) produced and purchased locally
Container Departure from Houston December 21, 2018
Container Arrival in Cartagena January 3, 2019
Container Arrival in Cúcuta January 17, 2019
Value of Container USD$82,684
Services: Transportation (Ocean Freight Cost +
Forklift)
USD$5,070
Customs SIP Expenses USD$3,835

4
Materials & Supplies USD$183
Personnel/labor: Monitoring and Evaluation USD$4,290
Contracts: Supplemental Food Assistance USD$14,756
Travel & Ground Transportation USD$5,276
Other (Bank Charges) USD $890
Total Project Value USD $116,984
C. Activities completed during the reporting period
Stage 1
Field research and creation of data of beneficiary organizations and partners.
- Presentation of letter of commitment and institutional verification.
- Build an interdisciplinarity networks of support organizations.
- Arranged the storage of 1,320 boxes of RAH meals at the Food Bank of the Dioceses
of Cúcuta COSPAS.
Stage 2
RAH Meals Distribution
- Coordinated the distribution of RAH meals to 9 out of the 10 proposed food distribution
centers (comedores) in Cúcuta and 4 shelters/hostels (albergues) in Pamplona.
- Collected registration lists from some of the centers with names and number of
beneficiary refugees.
Purchase of Complementary Foods
- Arranged the purchasing contract of complementary foods (Vegetables, canned tuna,
& cooking oil) for the following food distribution centers (comedores) in Cucuta:
D-3 Comedor Fundación Servidoras Madre de los Abandonados de la Calle
D-6 Comedor Santo Domingo Savio
D-8 Comedor María Madre del Migrante
D-9 Comedor Parroquia San Judas Tadeo
D-10 Fundación Misioneras Nueva Vida
- Arranged the purchasing contract of complementary foods (Vegetables, oil, tuna, lentils,
chicken, oats, milk, table chocolate, and brown sugar) for the following shelters:
RH-1 Albergue Fundar 1
RH-2 Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya
RH-3 Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque
RH-4 Albergue Fundar 2
- Arranged weekly transportation of the complementary foods (commodities) to each
one of the food distribution centers and shelters.
- Confirmed receipt of the complementary foods (commodities) at each one of the meal
distribution centers weekly.
- Provided complementary food purchase invoices
- Visited each of the 9 food distribution center 6 times during the current period of
implementation of the project.
- Visited each of the 4 shelters 11 times during the current period of implementation of
the project.
- Verified weekly inventory of RAH boxes used in each one meal distribution centers.
- Organized and coordinated the visit of the Rise Against Hunger team of 8 out of the 9.
food distribution centers in Cúcuta and 4 shelters in Pamplona.

5
Stage 3 Final Project Report.
- Prepared a detailed description of the activities carried out during the implementation
of the project.
- Collected 10 impact stories.
- Collected 19 pictures with signed release authorization to support impact stories.
- Documented all of the activities of the implementation of the project in Flickr photo
albums, Instagram, project Blog and digital Flipboard Magazine.
D.
E. Comparison of actual accomplishments with activities and objectives
established for the period.
Objective Actual Accomplishments
Specific
objective 1:
To identify a local
network of
partners and
needed logistic to
distribute the
RAH meal packs
to the target
refugee
population.
The following are the local network of partners identified during this period:
Rotary e-club of Houston representatives in Cúcuta:
- Nury Contreras- Project Coordinator
- Cindy Catoni- PhotoJournalist
Rotary Club of Cúcuta:
- Patrocinio Ararat, Project Coordinator
- María Inés Celis, Treasurer
- Diana Gamboa, President
Pastoral Social:
- Danwuil Bacca Vargas, Coordinator Food Bank of the Diocesis of Cúcuta
COSPAS
Contributing Rotary Clubs:
- Rotary of Club Humble Intercontinental
- Rotary Club of Brazosport
- Rotary Club of El Campo
- Rotary Club Highlands
- Rotary Club of Baytown
- Rotary Club of Gulfway Hobby
- Rotary Club of Katy
- Rotary Club of West University
- Rotary Club of Memorial Spring Branch
- Rotary Club of El Paso Camino Real
- Rotary Club of Calgary
- Rotary Club of Somerset
Food Distribution Centers in Cúcuta:
D-1 Fundación Nueva Vida Olla Comunitaria
- Contact: Hermana Gloria Patrícia & Hermana Ney Maria Toro
D-2 *Comedor Parroquial Sagrada Familia
- Contact: Padre Alvaro Ivan Gomez
D-3 Fundación Servidoras Madres para los Abandonados en las Calles
- Contact: Hermana Blanca Ines Rincón & Hermana Ana Victoria
D-4 Comedor Papa Francisco
- Contact: Padre Francesco Bortignon
D-5 Comedor Selva de Rosas

6
- Contact: Madre Rocio Gómez & Gladys Mantilla Directora
D-7 Centro de Migraciones
D-9 Comedor San Judas Tadeo (Villa del Rosario)
- Contact: Padre Jaime Aparicio
D-10 Comedor Fundación Nueva Vida
- Contact: Hermana Gloria Patricia & Hermana Ney María Toro
Shelters (albergues) in Pamplona:
RH-1 Albergue FUNDAR 1 Los Guaduales
- Contact: Julian Tiría galvis/ Julieth Perez
RH-2 Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya
- Contact: Carolina Mogonllón (José Luis Muñoz)
RH-3 Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque
- Contact: Marta Duke / Edgar Sevilla
RH-4 Albergue FUNDAR 2 Los Guaduales
- Contact: Julian Tiría Galvis
Specific objective
2: To improve the
nutrition of 4,955
refugees per day
through provision
of RAH meal
packs.
An estimated 4,955 Venezuelan refugees, migrants and walkers ‘caminantes,’ and
Colombian returnees benefited daily through the provision of RAH meal packs. The
following list gives an estimated number of RAH meals at each of the food distribution
centers.

7
Food Distribution Centers (comedores) in Cúcuta
D-1 Fundación Nueva Vida Olla Comunitaria - We distributed 26 boxes with 5,616
rations of fortified RAH meals.
- 250 beneficiaries per day.
D-2 Sagrada Familia Parish Hall (remodeling did not finish on time).
D-3 Food distribution center (comedor) Fundación Servidoras Madres Para los
Abandonados en las Calles. We distributed 78 boxes of 16,848 rations of Rise Against
Hunger (RAH) rice and soy with dehydrated vegetables fortified with vitamins and
minerals to this food distribution center. Additionally, complementary foods (vegetables,
oil and tuna) were also provided in this dining room to improve the nutritional value and
add diversity of flavor and seasonings to the RAH meals.
D-4 Food distribution center (comedor)Papa Francisco, Cúcuta - We distributed 69
boxes with 14,904 rations of fortified RAH meals. –
D-5 Food distribution center (comedor) Selva de Rosas, Cúcuta – We distributed 108
boxes with 23,328 rations of fortified RAH meals.
D-6 Food distribution center (comedor) Santo Domingo Savio - We distributed 77 boxes
with 16,632 rations of Rise Against Hunger (RAH) rice and soy with dehydrated
vegetables fortified with vitamins and minerals. Additionally, complementary foods were
also provided in this dining room to improve the nutritional value and add diversity of
flavor and seasonings to the RAH meals.

8
D-7 Migration Center, Cúcuta. We distributed 27 boxes with 5,832 rations of fortified
RAH meals.
- 160 Beneficiaries per day.
D-8 Food distribution center (comedor) María Madre del Migrante - We distributed 41
boxes with 8,856 rations of fortified RAH meals. Additionally, complementary foods were
also provided in this dining room to improve the nutritional value and add diversity of
flavor and seasonings to the RAH meals.
D-9 Food distribution center (comedor) San Judas Tadeo - We distributed 65 boxes with
14,040 rations of Rise Against Hunger (RAH) meals with rice and soy with dehydrated
vegetables fortified with vitamins and minerals. In this dining room, complementary foods
were also delivered to improve the nutritional value and add diversity of flavor and
seasonings to RAH meals.
D-10 Food distribution center (comedor) Fundación Nueva Vida, Cucuta - We distributed
57 boxes with 12,312 rations of RAH fortified meals. Additionally, complementary foods
were also provided in this dining room to improve the nutritional value and add diversity
of flavor and seasonings to the RAH meals.

9
Shelters /Hostels (albergues) in Pamplona
RH-1 Shelter/hostel (albergue) FUNDAR 1 Los Guaduales - We distributed 274 boxes
with 59,184 rations fortified RAH meals with rice and soy with dehydrated vegetables
fortified with vitamins and minerals.
RH-2 Shelter/hostel (albergue) Casa de Paso La Chirimoya - We distributed 134 boxes
with 28,944 rations of Rise Against Hunger (RAH) meals with rice and soy with
dehydrated vegetables fortified with vitamins and minerals.
RH-3 Shelter/hostel (albergue) Hogar de Paso Marta Duque - We distributed 146 boxes
equivalent to 31,536 rations of Rise Against Hunger (RAH) rmeals with rice and soy with
dehydrated vegetables fortified with vitamins and minerals.
RH-4 Shelter/hostel (albergue) FUNDAR 2 La Caldera - We distributed 215 boxes with
46,440 rations of fortified RAH meals with rice and soy with dehydrated vegetables
fortified with vitamins and minerals.

10
In summary:
- 1,317 boxes with 189,648 rations of RAH meals distributed to selected food
distribution centers (comedores) and shelters (albergues).
- 3 boxes with 432 rations of RAH meals used for testing and preparation
instruction among the Allied and Beneficiary Organizations.
- A total of 190,080 rations of RAH meals distributed during Phase 1
- 4,955 refugees/migrants benefitted per day
Note: The number of beneficiaries decreased after the closing of the Venezuelan-
Colombian border on February 24th.
The number of beneficiaries/migrants/refugees
increased at the beginning of Abril. Desperate by the lack of food, medicine, water,
electricity, and jobs, women, men and children are paying to enter Colombia through
illegal roads “trochas” controlled by irregular narco-guerrilla groups.
Specific
objective 3: To
create
awareness
through a
comprehensive
marketing and
communication
campaign of the
impact RAH
meal packs have
among the
refugee
population and
local partners.
A banner with the logos of the project was displayed in every participating food
distribution in Cúcuta center and shelter in Pamplona.

12
The marketing campaign included the collection of 10 impact story questionnaires and
pictures from the various food distribution centers. The impact story questionnaire,
pictures and releases can be downloaded from this link
https://app.smartsheet.com/sheets/pvqgX3c6fv2WX4VPFQ4w3vq9gCRvPpF4gGcxwhq1
Our local partners, Rotary Club of Cúcuta, purchased T-shirts, hats, vests and buttons
with project logos for the team to wear while working on the field, visiting the centers, etc.
Branded project T-shirts and buttons with project logos were distributed to the cooks at
the 4 shelters in Pamplona.
Albergue Fundar 1 Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya

13
Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque Albergue Fundar 2
Pictures and Videos are published in Social Media Platforms
Blog Hope For Venezuelan Refugees https://hopeforvenezuelanrefugees.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @eclubhouston
Flipboard Magazine Hope for Venezuelan Refugees: http://flip.it/iH8xTD
The following photo albums and videos document the development and implementation
of the project:
Name Link
Loading of container in Houston https://flic.kr/s/aHskS4mJjo
Unloading of container in Cúcuta https://www.flickr.com/gp/64484371@N03/v4ud85
D-1 Fundación Nueva Vida Olla
Comunitaria
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmAGX1JZ
https://youtu.be/74_ELj4jM48
D-2 Comedor Sagrada Familia
- Photo Album https://flic.kr/s/aHskNHF6p6
D-3 Fundation Servidores Madres
por los Abandonados en las
Calles
- Photo Album https://flic.kr/s/aHskRQxMD5

14
- Video https://youtu.be/74_ELj4jM48
Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmBiiaUP
https://youtu.be/6rarMU-rDYk
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmar3Whe
https://youtu.be/ii3w_rig0bI
D-6 Comedor Santo Domingo
Savio
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmAUKY47
https://youtu.be/JiM7LWGBzAM
- Photo Album https://flic.kr/s/aHskS3KZmN
D-8 Comedor María Madre del
Migrante
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHskSNA6rQ
https://youtu.be/3kBmgIR-iMo
D-9 Comedor San Judas Tadeo
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm9S4T34
https://youtu.be/1Kkjy_Xg-aA
D-10 Fundación Nueva Vida
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmvFNQgJ
https://youtu.be/Vjs_TUuxAEw
RH-1 Albergue FUNDAR 1
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmymBYFv
https://youtu.be/b6-MnZcnhfo
RH-2 Albergue Casa de Paso La
Chirimoya
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmvD77k1
https://youtu.be/6th-ja5TMd0
RH-3 Albergue Casa de Paso
Marta Duque
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmAUD9ky
https://youtu.be/18oVuc9Fpf4
RH-4 Albergue FUNDAR 2
- Photo Album
- Video
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmyAgm98
https://youtu.be/ToO1wwkcT9w
Hope For Venezuelan Refugees
Phase 1 https://youtu.be/SNfBY3dC31o
RAH Visit to Cúcuta https://flic.kr/s/aHsmzasNwZ
Blog https://hopeforvenezuelanrefugees.blogspot.com
Instagram @eclubhouston
Flipboard Magazine https://flipboard.com/@cristalmontanez/hope-for-
venezuelan-refugees-84umpep3z?from=share

15
Publications in English and Spanish and TV interviews in Spanish highlighted the
donation and impact of the RAH meals:
Houston Chronicle - Houston philanthropist hopes to make headway in crisis-stricken
homeland of Venezuela
Lawton Constitution - Houston club donates food to Venezuelan refugees
La Opinión - Rotarios aportan ayuda a migrantes
La Opinión - Desde Tienditas claman que se permita ayuda para Venezuela
Diócesis de Cúcuta - Club Rotario de Houston entrega 20 toneladas de alimento
fortificado RAH
La Opinión - Javier Sosa: un cocinero sin fronteras
Specific
objective 4:
To support the
local economy
through
procurement of
approximately of
locally produced
commodities to
complement and
improve the
nutritional value
and add diversity
of flavor and
seasonings to
the RAH meals.
Complementary Foods (commodities)
Supported the local economy through the purchase of 9,825 Kg of complementary foods
(commodities). These commodities help improve the nutritional value of the RAH meals
and add diversity of flavor and seasonings. Additionally, we hope that by stimulating the
local economy could help diminish the xenophobia toward the Venezuelan migrant.
We faced several challenges, unfortunately, the prices quoted by the distributors in
September 2018 increased greatly, and a very high transportation fee was added to
deliver to the shelters/hostels in Pamplona.
Finally, the first week in February, we managed to contract with a large food supplier,
Supermercados Ebenezer, owned by a Rotarian. This supplier has the capacity to
distribute to of the food distributions centers in Cúcuta and the shelters/hostels in
Pamplona at very competitive prices without and additional transportation cost.
At that point, as per Colombian laws and regulations, we initiated the process of
registration of the supplier in the bank of our partner the Rotary Club of Cúcuta
(Bancolombia); and the process of registration of the Rotary Club of Cúcuta in the bank
of the supplier. The first purchase was made on February 14, 2019. Unfortunately, the
purchases were not made weekly due to the time it took to receive funds from the US.
Our team checked the inventory of the complementary foods during the weekly visit to
the shelter/hostels and only ordered the items that were needed.
Originally, in February 2019, we projected to purchase 19,905 Kg.
We had a second projection in March 2019, to purchase 13,245 Kg.
The actual purchased was 9,825 Kg based on the result of the weekly evaluation visits.

16
Complimentary Foods (commodities) were provided to the following food distribution
centers and shelters not receiving support from the World Food Program.
Food Distribution Centers in Cúcuta
- 2,758 kg distributed to the selected food distribution centers in Cúcuta
D-3 Fundación Servidoras Madres para los Abandonados en la Calle. We purchased
and distributed 735 kg vegetables, oil and tuna.
D-6 Comedor Santo Domingo Savio. We purchased and distributed 865 kg vegetables,
oil and tuna.

17
D-8 Comedor María Madre del Migrante. We purchased and distributed 168 kg
vegetables, oil and tuna.
D-9 Comedor San Judas Tadeo. We purchased and distributed 1,902 kg vegetables, oil
and tuna.
D-10 Comedor Fundación Nueva Vida. We purchased and distributed 648 kg
vegetables, oil and tuna.
Shelters/Hostels (albergues) in Pamplona
- 7,067 kg distributed to shelters in Pamplona
RH-1 Albergue FUNDAR 1. We distributed 2,271 kg vegetables, oil, tuna, lentils, table
chocolate, brown sugar, oatmeal, milk and chicken, to improve the nutritional value and
add diversity of flavor and seasonings to RAH meals.
RH-2 Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya. We distributed 1,463 kg vegetables, oil,
tuna, lentils, table chocolate, brown sugar, oatmeal, milk and chicken, to improve the
nutritional value and add diversity of flavor and seasonings to RAH meals.
RH-3 Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque. We distributed 1,619 kg vegetables, oil,
tuna, lentils, table chocolate, brown sugar, oatmeal, milk and chicken, to improve the
nutritional value and add diversity of flavor and seasonings to RAH meals.
RH-4 Albergue FUNDAR 2. We distributed 1,714 kg vegetables, oil, tuna, lentils, table
chocolate, brown sugar, oatmeal, milk and chicken, to improve the nutritional value and
add diversity of flavor and seasonings to RAH meals.
A total of 9,825 kg of complementary foods distributed:
- 2,758 kg distributed to the selected food distribution centers in Cúcuta
- 7,067 kg distributed to shelters in Pamplona

18
Conclusion
Based on the distribution of 285,120 RAH meals and 9,825 kg (10.83 tons) documented
above, we can say that approximately 300,000 meals were distributed in a period of 15
weeks during Phase 1 of the Hope For Venezuelan Refugees project.
Note: A new donor, World Central Kitchen, provided daily cooked lunches to 2 of the food
distribution centers in Cúcuta and to the 4 shelters/hostels in Pamplona we support. As a
result, the RAH meals and the complementary foods lasted longer than projected.
A. Reasons why established objectives/ activities were not met (if appropriate) N/A
B. Comparison indicator targets versus actual achievement (please include indicator log-
frame)
Indicators Projected
Target
Actual
Number of refugees identified in the target areas. 5,480 4,955
Number of selected organizations serving the refugee population.
*Note: 1 out of the 10 food distribution center did not open on time.
Therefore, we supported 9 out of the 10 centers.
8 9* (food
distribution
center)
4 (shelters)
Proposed Reporting Period 13 weeks
Actual Reporting Period & Utilization of RAH Meals 15 weeks
Number of RAH boxes provided to each one of the participating
organizations during the reporting period.
D-1 Fundación Nueva Vida Olla Comunitaria 26 26
D-2 Comedor Parroquial Sagrada Familia 0 0
D-3 Fundación Servidoras Madres para los Abandonados en las Calle 78 78
D-4 Comedor Papa Francisco 69 69
D-5 Comedor Selva de Rosas 108 108
D-6 Comedor Santo Domingo Savio 77 77
D-7 Centro de Migraciones 27 27
D-8 Comedor María Madre del Migrante 41 41
D-9 Comedor San Judas Tadeo 65 65
D-10 Comedor Fundación Nueva Vida 57 57
RH-1 Albergue FUNDAR 1 Los Guaduales 274 274
RH-2 Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya 134 134
RH-3 Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque 146 146
RH-4 Albergue FUNDAR 2 Los Guaduales 215 215
TOTAL 1,317 1,317

19
Number of meals provided through each one of the participating
organizations during the reporting period.
13 weeks 15 weeks
4 meals/bag 6 meals/bag
D-1 Fundación Nueva Vida Olla Comunitaria 3,744 5,616
D-2 Comedor Parroquial Sagrada Familia 0 0
D-3 Fundación Servidoras Madres para los Abandonados en las Calle 11,232 16,848
D-4 Comedor Papa Francisco 9,936 14,904
D-5 Comedor Selva de Rosas 15,552 23,328
D-6 Comedor Santo Domingo Savio 11,088 16,632
D-7 Centro de Migraciones 3,888 5,832
D-8 Comedor María Madre del Migrante 5,904 8,856
D-9 Comedor San Judas Tadeo 9,360 14,040
D-10 Comedor Fundación Nueva Vida 8,208 12,312
RH-1 Albergue FUNDAR 1 Los Guaduales 39,456 59,184
RH-2 Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya 19,296 28,944
RH-3 Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque 21024 31,536
RH-4 Albergue FUNDAR 2 Los Guaduales 30,960 46,440
Sub-Total 189,648 284,472
Boxes used for testing and cooking instructions 432 648
TOTAL 190,080 285,120
Number of monitoring visits to ensure efficiency.
D-1 Fundación Nueva Vida Olla Comunitaria 6
D-2 Comedor Parroquial Sagrada Familia 0
D-3 Fundación Servidoras Madres para los Abandonados en las Calle 6
D-4 Comedor Papa Francisco 6
D-5 Comedor Selva de Rosas 6
D-6 Comedor Santo Domingo Savio 6
D-7 Centro de Migraciones 6
D-8 Comedor María Madre del Migrante 6
D-9 Comedor San Judas Tadeo 6
D-10 Comedor Fundación Nueva Vida 6
RH-1 Albergue FUNDAR 1 Los Guaduales 11
RH-2 Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya 11
RH-3 Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque 11
RH-4 Albergue FUNDAR 2 Los Guaduales 11
Cost effectiveness in transportation, distribution, processing, and serving of RAH meals.
At the beginning of the project, local transportation to the food distribution centers was difficult and risky.
In order to solve this issue and offer some degree of security to the personnel on the ground, the project
hired a trusted driver 5 days a week in Cúcuta and made arrangement to hire a second vehicle to provide
transportation to the shelters in Pamplona once a week.
A. Challenges and Successes during the reporting period (What challenges you faced?
How did you address the challenges? What successes did you experience?)
Challenges Success
Stage 1 Stage 1

20
Import a container with humanitarian aid, including
food items into Colombia under the current
institutional procedures is very difficult and it is
treated as regular merchandise since the
government of Colombia has not declared a
humanitarian crisis or emergency.
Our Rotary e-Club of Houston was able to obtain tax
exoneration from APC and custom clearance by the DIAN
to import container of RAH meals as a humanitarian aid
donation.
Build trust with our logistic partner, the Food Bank
of the Diocese of Cúcuta.
Our team worked very closely with our logistic partner
and built trust based on our performance and project
development and implementation. We were able to
include
Stage 2 Stage 2
Make changes in the project logistics a week
before receiving the container.
Originally, 8 food distribution centers, were
selected, totaling 5,480 beneficiaries.
La Casa de Paso, listed on Row 1 of the table
above, was one of these centers. At that moment,
this center served 2,500 people daily. However, at
the end of December 2018, the Dioceses of
Cúcuta signed a contract with the World Food
Program, and we dropped this center from our list
to avoid duplicity.
The center listed on Row 2, used to cooked closed
room with no ventilation and had issues with soot.
During the discovery and evaluation process, we
identified 3 additional food distribution centers in Cúcuta
serving 1,000 listed as D-1, D8 & D-9, and 4 shelters in
Pamplona serving 1,750 beneficiaries in need of food and
resources.

21
This center was under remodeling and did not
open on time for the project.
Now, we only have 6 food distribution centers as
listed on Rows 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Under these circumstances, and in consideration
of the changes described above, our team had to
create a last-minute plan to identify, evaluate, and
consider new food distribution centers serving at
least 2,530 beneficiaries.
Our team successfully identified a total of 4,955
beneficiaries as listed below.
We encounter a serious challenge when trying to
obtain the daily registration lists of beneficiaries
from the various centers, since most of them are
run by volunteers and do not have designated
personnel for this task. For example:
D-1 Fundación Nueva Vida Olla Comunitaria
D-3 Fundación Servidoras Madres para los
Abandonados en las Calle
D-9 Comedor San Judas Tadeo
The situation was even more challenging with the
shelters (albergues). These shelters are set up by
humble Colombians who want to help the
Venezuelans. They go out of their way to rent a
place to run the shelter, pay for a cook and shelter
keeper, pay for the utilities, food and anything else
they can afford. However, there are not resources
to pay a person dedicated to keep the registration
lists. Usually, the cook tries to register the people
when she is no cooking. This is the case of
Albergue Fundar 1 (RH-1) and Albergue Fundar 2
(RH-4) supported by Julian Tiria Galviz.
The Albergue Casa de Paso La Chirimoya (RH-2
is sponsored by a small medical clinic located in
Cúcuta. This group pays for the rent, a few
commodities and utilities. There are not additional
resources to pay for a list registration keeper. The
people running this shelter are volunteers.
Our team collected the available registration lists during
the weekly visits.

22
Marta Duque, on the other hand, lives in a humble
home she utilizes to cook and provide shelter to
the “caminantes” (walkers). With the help of her
husband, she pays for the utilities, and all her
regular expenses and buys food when she can
afford it. The last priority in her list is to pay
someone to keep the registration lists. She calls
her shelter Albergue Hogar de Paso Marta Duque
(RH-3.
Additionally, the food distribution centers
supported by the WFP -that we are helping under
the principle of complementarity will not share
their lists as per WFP regulations. These five (5)
centers are serving more than 1,610
refugees/migrants per day, and we do not have
any records:
D-10 Comedor Fundación Nueva Vida
Transportation to the food distribution centers was
difficult and risky.
In order to solve this issue and offer some degree of
security to the personnel on the ground, the project hired
a trusted driver 5 days a week in Cúcuta and made
arrangement to hire a second vehicle to provide
transportation to the shelters in Pamplona once a week.
Transfer of funds from the U.S. to Colombia was
difficult and expensive.
Wire transfers from Chase (from the account of
the Rotary e-Club of Houston) to Bancolombia (to
the account of the Rotary Club of Cucuta) required
additional scrutiny, which many times delayed the
project activities. For example, Bancolombia
requested a letter from the Rotary e-club of
Houston explaining the origin of the funds, and a
personal visit from the President of the Rotary
Club of Cucuta to the branch. The fee for each
wire transfer was approximately 4% of the total
amount.
In addition, Chase had extra security steps to
send wire transfers, which could take more than a
week for some transfers.

23
Not having a designated office for the project
team.
The team used the Food Bank conference room when
available.
Management of wireless networks such as
internet for the respective communication,
development and monitoring of the project.
The complementary foods quotes received in
September 2018 from various supplier were
affected by price increase by the time we initiated
the project in January 2019.
Finding a competitive supplier for the
complementary foods (commodities) with the
capacity to distribute to all of the food distribution
centers in Cúcuta and shelters in Pamplona
without charging additional transportation costs
was a real challenge.
We managed to contract with a large food supplier,
Supermercados Ebenezer, owned by a Rotarian with the
capacity to distribute to all of the food distribution centers
and shelters at very competitive prices.
Shelters/hostels are not equipped to give basic
medical attention.
A group of trained paramedics joined our team and
visited the shelters with our team once a week and
offered basic medical care to the refugees.
Shelters/hostels are not equipped to provide
comfort to children affected by this humanitarian
tragedy.
Our team distributed mora than 400 Bear Hugs for
Venezuela teddys bears that brought joy and a smile
to the faces of the children in the route Cucuta-
Pamplona, various food distribution centers, and
shelters.
B. Lessons Learned during the reporting period
- Flexibility and readiness to find last minute solutions challenges that emerged
during the initial stage of the project.
- Requirements needed for hiring and payment of personnel according to the
laws in Colombia.
- Difficulties obtaining the lists of beneficiaries daily since most of the centers are
run by volunteers and do not have designated personnel for this task. There is
no complete management of statistics.
- There is a need for a digital online system for population registration that can
be used by the beneficiary organizations of both Cúcuta and Pamplona as
implemented by the Scalabrini Corporation.
- There is a need for payment of salaries to cooks at the shelters in the
Humanitarian Network.
- The humanitarian crisis at the border is worsening and the aid from
international organizations must continue for a longer period of time.
C. Is there any assistance that Rise Against Hunger could have provided that would have
helped you better achieve project objectives?

24
D. Please list the key activities and accomplishments you plan on achieving next quarter?
N/A
E. Feedback if receiving RAH Food Assistance:
a. Stock/inventory management: projected versus utilized bags/boxes; remaining
inventory on hand;
(Excel spreadsheet attached) or downloaded from this link
https://app.smartsheet.com/sheets/RHqg675gVfP3HC9f2j8mwf2fwFqJVRFV2Vc9G67
1
b. Quality control: any issues with spoilage, expiration dates, missing bags, food pipeline
breaks.
- Pallets were packed to high and it was difficult to unload from truck.
- Some of the pallets had to be unwrapped and the boxes carry out of the truck.
- A few boxes were damaged boxes due to packing and transportation.
- 1 Box received open.
- 3 Bags received open.
- Weevils found on plastic wrapping outside a pallet of RAH meals (See photos
https://flic.kr/s/aHskQFciTB).
- 102 RAH boxes were inspected.
- 1 bag was opened and had weevils.
- Boxes were prepared are treated to control against weevils on April 11-23.
c. Food utilization feedback
- In general, all of the food distribution centers and shelters prepared the RAH
meal with local condiments and serve the meals with other food.
- The flavor was accepted by the refugee/migrant population.
- Cooks in various of the food distributions center used the RAH meals to
experiment with new recipes: ice cream, drinks, and desserts.
- The RAH team had the opportunity to visit the food distribution centers and
shelters and witness the preparation of the RAH meals and taste the food
served to the refugee/migrant population.
F. Please describe your organization’s efforts to plan, coordinate or align with national or
local government and or other organizations
We worked very closely with all the organizations and volunteers involved in the
implementation of the project. Additionally, we build relationships with local and
international organizations and established credibility in the region based on our
performance, project development and follow up.
G. Please upload a completed impact story questionnaire form along with a pictures(s) of
the person/people interviewed. Please see the following guidance when submitting
pictures.
The impact story questionnaire, pictures and releases can be downloaded from this
link

25
https://app.smartsheet.com/sheets/pvqgX3c6fv2WX4VPFQ4w3vq9gCRvPpF4gGcxwh
q1
• Do not embed them in Word documents.
• Many of the best photos we receive capture candid and natural movements-
smiles, joy and laughter that happen in the moment. Outdoor photos in natural
light are preferable. Please provide images that are simple and present people
in a dignified but spontaneous way.
• Images should be taken at the level of the person or below.
• Photos should be of action shots (e.g., a beneficiary eating a RAH meal,
participating in a RAH activity or training program, having fun with friends
and/or family, etc.)
• When possible, avoid other brand logos in the photo.
• Images – interactive, natural light, spontaneous
• When possible, please keep the following technical and aesthetic specifications
in mind:
- File Type: jpeg
- Lighting: Outdoor photos preferable, natural light (no flash)
- Resolution: 240 dpi
- Minimum width: 800 pixels
- Scenery, setting images
If applicable, financial analysis and explanation of any cost overruns or high unit costs.
For more information contact:
Cristal Montañéz Baylor
International Coordinator Hope For Venezuelan Refugees Project
cristalmontanezvenezuela@gmail.com
+1 (713) 483-4990

Hope For Venezuelan Refugees Report Phase 1 Jan-May 2019

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Hope For Venezuelan Refugees Report Phase 1 Jan-May 2019

Similar to Hope For Venezuelan Refugees Report Phase 1 Jan-May 2019 (20)

More from Cristal Montañéz

More from Cristal Montañéz (13)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Hope For Venezuelan Refugees Report Phase 1 Jan-May 2019