Become a supporting member – act in solidarity, provide reliable support
When state structures fail, reliable, solidarity-based action is needed.
The situation for people on the move along Europe’s external borders remains critical. Violence, illegal pushbacks and a lack of access to adequate medical care are part of everyday life. At the same time, public funding for civil society organisations in Germany and the EU is declining noticeably.
With a supporting membership at Medical Volunteers International e.V., you ensure continuous help – independent of short-term funding and political climate. With a monthly contribution of just €50, you strengthen our experienced network, which provides medical and psychosocial care where it is urgently needed: outside the camps, on the streets, along Europe’s external borders.
Become part of a community that acts consistently – in a predictable, effective and supportive manner.
What your supporting membership achieves
Your regular contribution helps us to:
- secure long-term medical and psychosocial assistance
- deploy our volunteer teams in a targeted and predictable manner
- work independently and consistently on the basis of human rights
- strengthen solidarity structures that oppose the European system of isolation
What you get in return as a supporting member
- Political impact: You send a clear message against isolationism and in favour of human rights – visibly, reliably and for the long term.
- Exclusive insights: You receive regular updates on the projects – directly from our teams on the ground. These include special project reports and biannual video sessions with our experts on the ground.
- Solidarity-based community: You are part of a growing movement of people who are working together to promote solidarity in Europe.
(monthly terminable · tax deductible · maximum impact)
Supporting memberships give us planning security – and you the chance to show solidarity and be part of the MVI community.
During my voluntary work for MVI on Lesvos, I was able to see for myself the great work that MVI does on the ground.
I was impressed by how much people can achieve with so little money. As a permanent donor, I now want to give something back to the organisation.”
“I myself have been on duty in Thessaloniki in the winter of 2019. There, MVI provides basic medical care for people whose emergency situation many people do not even know about. This is where you find the humanity that we in Europe are losing more and more. I was impressed by the work MVI has done and by the people I have had the privilege of meeting. That’s why I support them out of conviction, both personally and financially.”
“I support the Medical Volunteers with regular donations because I think their work is enormously important and the situation of people fleeing is unbearable. Refugees are fellow human beings in need and not bargaining chips of politicians!”
“I found out about Medical Volunteers through a recommendation. After a little research, I was convinced that my regular donation to them would be effective and directly beneficial to refugees. At the same time, my contribution gives young people the opportunity to get involved in helping refugees on the ground. I am very well-informed by Medical Volunteers.”
“As a teacher of German as a foreign language, I regularly encounter people fleeing from war and misery to Western Europe. So I hear many moving stories. It is always clear to me how well we are doing and how lucky we are to live in this corner of the world. When I came across “Medical Volunteers International” on the Internet, I decided to support the organization on a regular basis. The work of the volunteers is urgently needed!”
Do you have any questions?
Malena Halmer will be happy to answer all your questions about supporting membership.
Please send your questions and suggestions by email to fundraising@medical-volunteers.org.
FAQs
Why is a supporting membership more than just a donation?
A one-off donation has an immediate effect – a supporting membership has a lasting effect. Regular contributions enable us to plan our work reliably, deploy teams on a long-term basis and continue projects even in uncertain times. It gives us security in a funding landscape that is constantly changing. And it shows us that people are not just supporting us on a one-off basis, but are committed to our cause and our work in the long term.
Why are supporting memberships important right now?
The humanitarian and political situation at Europe’s external borders continues to escalate: pushbacks, violence and the failure of state aid are part of everyday life. Refugees are therefore often dependent on civil society actors to gain access to healthcare and other vital services.
At the same time, pressure on humanitarian aid workers is growing: their work is being restricted and criminalised, and many funding opportunities are disappearing.
Regular contributions are therefore the only way for us to remain independent, plan for the long term and provide reliable support to refugees. With your supporting membership, you make this possible – today and in the future.
At what level does a supporting membership become particularly effective?
A supporting membership of €50 per month is particularly effective: if just 167 people donate this amount, we will reach our annual target of €100,000. This will enable us to secure our work in the long term, cover structural costs that are excluded from funding, and provide people on the move with reliable medical and psychosocial assistance.
But even smaller amounts make a decisive difference. Every supporting membership – whether large or small – gives us more planning security and strengthens our independence. We know that many people currently have to think carefully about what they spend their money on. That is precisely why every regular donation means so much to us. When you become part of our supportive community, you strengthen the help that lasts – regardless of how much you contribute each month.
And if you are currently unable to contribute a fixed amount yourself, perhaps there is someone in your immediate circle who would like to become part of this movement. Solidarity also works when you spread the word.
How can my donation be used most effectively?
If you want to keep the costs of administering and accounting for your donation to a minimum, it is best to set up a monthly standing order to MVI. You can do this at your bank in the way that suits you best, providing the following details:
Account holder: Medical Volunteers International e.V.
IBAN: DE08 4306 0967 2076 0779 00
Bank: GLS BANK
BLZ: GENODEM1GLS.
Please state the purpose of your transfer as ‘supporting membership’ so that we can allocate your donation correctly.
How does my donation help?
Supporting memberships enable us to plan for the long term while remaining flexible to provide assistance where it is most urgently needed. For this reason, we do not specify in advance exactly how your donation will be used.
To give you an idea of the impact your donation can have, here are a few examples of our work:
- €100 enable around 10 children and their families to receive support for one month in our mental health project in Athens.
- €50 secure psychosocial WeCare counselling for one refugee in Germany.
- €30 are enough for our mobile team in Bosnia to provide medical care to around five people after violent attacks by border guards.