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Ontario Couple to Help with Ebola Crisis

January 28, 2015

Whether it’s drought response in Kenya, an agricultural development project in Zambia, typhoon relief in the Philippines, or support with the Ebola crisis in Liberia, the word “help” comes up a lot when Harry and Annie Bergshoeff talk about their travels.

The Mississauga, Ontario, couple will be leaving shortly for Liberia, one of the countries hardest hit by Ebola.

It be will be their fourth assignment with World Renew’s International Relief Manager (IRM) program.

They are part of this core group of volunteers that World Renew calls on to manage and assist with responses when disasters strike.

During their two months in Liberia, they plan to support those working on the front lines in the country’s health crisis.

The Bergshoeffs will work with the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL), providing help in the areas of human resource management, finances, and procurement of supplies. CHAL, a local implementing partner to World Renew, oversees a number of hospitals and clinics.

When the Ebola crisis began, healthcare providers were pressed in ways they had not experienced before.

“We’re going very much with an open mind to see how best we can help,” says Harry Bergshoeff. “It’s all about serving – we want to be available in a meaningful way so they can increase their capacity in whatever way is helpful to them.”

Reflecting on their IRM experience and training, the couple sees how each mission has prepared them in a new way for later assignments.

“The beauty about the IRM program is the opportunity to gear up with local programs,” says Harry Bergshoeff.

Rather than serving as staff members on the ground, IRM volunteers “can go somewhere on short notice, work through the crisis, and then when the assignment is done, it’s done,” he says.

Vanessa Matthews-Hanna, IRM program manager, agrees.

“IRMs really expand World Renew’s capacity to respond to disasters around the world. This is a really unique group of people with unique skill sets. They are a blessing to World Renew and the people we serve.”

She notes that they not only help in situations where assistance is desperately needed, but act as a bridge between affected communities and their own home churches and communities.