International Relief Teams

Overview

Founded in 1988 in San Diego, California, International Relief Teams is dedicated to organizing volunteer teams to provide medical and construction assistance to the victims of disaster and profound poverty worldwide.

Mission

To assist victims of disaster, poverty and neglect by organizing and deploying volunteer teams to provide medical and construction assistance worldwide.

Program

IRT's programs address the immediate needs of those affected by disaster and promote self-sufficiency by imparting skills and knowledge.

IRT mobilizes volunteers and distributes medical supplies to support its four core missions of domestic and international disaster relief; medical education and training; surgical and clinical outreach; and public health. IRT volunteer medical teams augment local health care professionals during natural disasters and other crises, conduct comprehensive in-hospital training programs in cardiac resuscitation, obstetrical and neonatal care, and perform surgery in remote impoverished areas where specialists do not exist. IRT sponsors programs to reduce mother to child HIV/AIDS transmission and provides counseling and vocational training for teens living with HIV/AIDS. Volunteer construction teams repair homes damaged by natural disaster, build public health facilities, and conduct community-based construction training.

Impact

Since 1988, thousands of lives have been significantly impacted by the volunteers and programs of International Relief Teams. IRT has deployed more than 4,000 volunteers to assist victims of disaster, poverty and neglect, and has sent more than $96 million in medicines and supplies to families in desperate need worldwide.

Chief Executive

A. Barry La Forgia

Countries of Operation

United States