NotJustTourists.org

Notice:

Not Just Tourists is 100% a voluntary humanitarian organization. Since the vast majority of medicines and medical supplies are donated, we do not solicit money for the organization.

posted by Ben @ 8:11 PM 0 comments

Welcome - Who We Are

Dear Fellow Travellers ,
We have travelled to Cuba many times. On our first trip we were struck with the fact that there was extremely little medicine available. Each time we have gone since then, we have taken medicine with us and distributed it to doctor's offices- some of these doctors have not had any antibiotics for their patients for over two years.

We have been actively soliciting medicine and medical supplies from many sources with great success. These sources include doctors, pharmacies, drug representatives and humanitarian aid agencies. The volume being donated has reached the size that we can no longer take all of the medicine and supplies ourselves and we have, therefore, been relying on other travellers to assist us by transporting these items too.

Our request to you is that you consider taking some of this medicine and/or supplies with you. Allow me to give you more detail. Each visitor to Cuba is allowed to take up to 10kilos (22 pounds) of humanitarian aid into the country. I provide a covering letter on my letterhead in which I identify that the items have been provided to you as a gift from myself to you and that it is freely being given by you as a gift to the people of Cuba.

The types of medicine which have the highest priority to be transported are antibiotics and other prescription drugs. Absolutely no narcotics are ever sent! Although antibiotics are the priority item, we could alternatively provide medical supplies for you to take such as bandages, crutches, splints etc. if you would prefer.

The amount which we send with individuals varies from a large suitcase full to a half-full plastic grocery bag weighing approximately 2.5, 5kilos (5-10 pounds). Prior to your departure you would be able to incorporate it in either your carry on luggage or your major suitcase if you wish, or, in the case of a suitcase full of medicine, it could remain in the suitcase which we provide. There is no need to return the suitcase, we have plenty which have been donated.

Every person who has taken medicine for us has found it to be a rewarding experience. No one has had a problem when arriving with it in Cuba. I quote one of the people who recently returned from Cuba after delivering a suitcase of medicine for us "Taking medical supplies to the people of Cuba enriched a very enjoyable vacation for Diane and I. We would do it again in a heartbeat."

For additional information about this humanitarian project contact us at

NotJustTourists@yahoo.ca

Have a wonderful trip!

posted by Ben @ 11:30 AM

Welcome NJT -Calgary!

NJT-Calgary will be utilizing a tour operator in Nairobi who is going to put them in touch with some rural clinics. The hope is that this will allow the tourists to visit the clinic's in need and deliver the supplies directly. The idea behind this aproach is that the tourists will be able to see the impact on peoples lives directly and may hopefully inspire some of the tourists to contribute in other ways.

NJT-Calgary is in it's early days and they are just starting to set up networks for supplies. Any help you could provide them or for any additonal information they can be reached via email at gsjorgen@ucalgary.ca or you can phone them at 403-284-0896.

posted by Ben @ 8:46 PM

Welcome NJT -Edmonton!

NotJustTourists now has local representation in Edmonton. They can be contacted on the web at http://www.lagauche.ca/NotJustTourists-Edmonton

posted by Ben @ 7:58 PM 0 comments

Not Just Tourists - Ottawa

NotJustTourists now has local representation in Ottawa. They can be contacted via email NJT.Ottawa@gmail.com or visit their site at
http://njt-pqt.org

posted by Ben @ 9:11 PM 0 comments

Tsunami Disaster

In recognition of the fact that so many other areas of the world remain badly in need of help, please be assured that it is our intention to continue our programme of helping where we can with no interruption in our regular programme.


Additional Endeavours

In response to requests to assist in tsunami disaster relief, Not Just Tourists has been responding by working with other groups and aid agencies who are sending badly needed medicine and medical supplies to ravaged areas.

On Sunday January 2, our first shipment was given to Dr. Quintus Ratnayke and his son Ruwan of Brantford for transport to the Director of Health Services, Sri Lanka via Air Canada. The contents of this shipment of anti-biotics and other medicine and medical supplies were specifically requested by him.

As a result of a request from Free the Children we have been busy purchasing, sorting and packing up a shipment of anti-biotics, other medication and medical supplies. This shipment will be delivered to them on Fri. Jan 7.

Not Just Tourists would like to gratefully thank the Rotary Club of St. Catharines and St. Thomas Anglican Church for their fundraising endeavours on our behalf.

posted by Ben @ 9:48 PM 0 comments