March 2008

VillageReach is in discussions with Malawi's Ministry of Health and Central Medical Stores.  An assessment in February 2008 found an incredibly complex system with great needs in our areas of specialty.  We anticipate signing a Memorandum of Understanding by summer 2008. 

October 2007

VillageReach is in discussions with a new country for replication of our model.  We will do additional assessments in early 2008. 

April 2007

We have transitioned the VillageReach model and program to the local Ministry of Health in Cabo Delgado province, home to 88 vaccination clinics. VillageReach and FDC, our local implementation partner, will continue to provide technical assistance and data reporting.  The VillageReach model in Nampula province is implemented via a partnership between FDC and the Ministry of Health. 

January 2007

VillageReach and FDC, our local implementation partner, are now serving 251 clinics in two provinces, covering more than 5.2 million people with our services.  FDC has taken over daily operations of the program, while VillageReach continues to provide technical assistance, advocacy, data reporting, and assessments. 

August 2006

VillageReach begins our program expansion in Nampula Province, serving 92 clinics there.  With our existing 88 clinics in Cabo Delgado province, this brings our total number of people served to over 3.5 million.  We anticipate completing our expansion to the remaining 77 clinics in Nampula Province by early 2007. 

November 2005                                                                                      VillageReach signs a five-year agreement with the Mozambican MoH to expand the VillageReach program to Nampula Province . VillageReach coverage will increase from 90 clinics in one province to 290 clinics in two provinces, serving a total of 5 million people.

The Directorate-General for International Cooperation in the Netherlands (D.G.I.S.) supports the demonstration program, citing it as a leading example of public-private partnership “with the potential to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development and help achieve the WSSD targets and the Millennium Development Goals."

August 2005                                                                                             VillageReach demonstrates the capacity of the model to support large-scale health initiatives through participation in the largest immunization campaign in Mozambique ’s history.  VillageReach managed the transport, distribution and storage of 1,703,900 vaccines and vitamins in the Cabo Delgado Province , from which 627,560 children were immunized against measles, 366,828 were immunized against polio and 305,130 received immune-boosting supplements of Vitamin A.

The Thomas Hunter Foundation endorses the VillageReach program with support designated to expand VillageReach and VidaGas services in Northern Mozambique.

July 2005                                                                                                       Newsweek honors Blaise Judja-Sato as one of ‘ America ’s Best,’ American individuals who have made significant contributions to their country and the world.

April 2005                                                                                                            MSN.com celebrates VillageReach as a ‘Hero of Africa,’ for pioneering its methods to improve health and quality of life in Africa.

November 2004                                                                                                    The Thomas C. Wales Foundation honors VillageReach Founder and President Blaise Judja-Sato for ‘Passionate Citizenship.’

June 2004                                                                                        The Chiron Foundation supports VillageReach through a grant to provide equipment and training to improve injection safety.

April 2004
The Gates Foundation endorses VillageReach by providing critical funding to increase immunization rates, efficacy and safety for five million people.

February 2004
The Flora Family Foundation lends its support to VillageReach by funding the northern Mozambique Demonstration Project.

January 2004
VillageReach featured in Global Giving Matters, a magazine of the Synergos Institute, the World Economic forum and the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors aimed to present information on best practices and innovations in philanthropy and social investment around the world.

December 2003
The Glaser Progress Foundation provides critical funding to support VillageReach work in northern Mozambique.

December 2003
VillageReach wins World Bank’s global competition held in Washington D.C. Participants include nearly 200 social entrepreneurs from 63 countries.

October 2003
Alex Nelson Klein designs communication brochure and helps to raise over $16,000 to support VillageReach activities, as part of his Bar Mitzvah project

A PATH delegation led by Dr. Chris Elias, President, visits VillageReach’s project site to support VillageReach and meets with local authorities

September 2003
The Puget Sound Business Journal honors VillageReach’s founder as one of region’s 40 leaders under 40.

July 2003
The World Bank selects VillageReach as a finalist for the 2003 Global Competition (Development Marketplace). Over 2,700 social entrepreneurs submitted entries.

June 2003
Graca Machel, Chair of the Foundation for Community Development, VillageReach’s Mozambican partner tours the US west coast to support VillageReach's efforts

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania features VillageReach in its online publication Knowledge@Wharton 

April 2003
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) features VillageReach in its quarterly magazine (Immunization Focus)

May 2003
Pilot project expands to cover a total of 42 health facilities serving more than 900,000 in seven districts of the Cabo Delgado province.

December 2002
Brand new LPG-powered refrigerators are installed in 25 health facilities in five districts in Cabo Delgado.

November 2002
VidaGas LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) distribution plant officially opens in Pemba, Mozambique and begins offering LPG and related accessories to health facilities, businesses and households. Launch is attended by President Chissano of Mozambique and Graça Machel as well as a number of local and national Mozambique government officials and members of the international health community.

August 2002
Pilot project expands to serve a total of 36 health facilities in Cabo Delgado.

July 2002
VillageReach completes the first delivery of vaccines and essential medical supplies to 22 health facilities in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique.

The Craig & Susan McCaw Foundation endorses VillageReach and provides critical funding for demonstration project.

March 2002
The final agreement is signed with the Mozambique Ministry of Health to begin implementation of the pilot project in Cabo Delgado province.

April 2001
VillageReach joins Bill Gates, Sr. and Graça Machel for the first delivery of GAVI/Global Fund vaccines. During this visit, VillageReach and Dr. Tore Godal, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), tour health facilities in the province of Gaza.

March 2001
The US Internal Revenue Services (IRS) recognizes VillageReach as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

January 2001
Dr. Seth Berkley, President and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), and Mr. Jacques Francois Martin, President of the Global Fund for Children’s Vaccines, join the VillageReach board of directors.

August 2000
Dr. Mark Kane, Director of the Children's Vaccine Program at PATH (PATH/CVP), agrees to support VillageReach’s feasibility study.

July 2000
President Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel reaffirm their commitment to VillageReach and join the Board of Directors. President Mandela serves as Honorary Chairman.

April 2000 
Dr. Michael Free, Vice President of Technology at the Program for Appropriate Technology (PATH), introduces VillageReach to the fundamental concept of the 'cold chain'. Dr. Free joins the VillageReach advisory board and introduces several potential partners including John Lloyd, Resident Representative of the Children's Vaccine Program at PATH (PATH/CVP) in France.

March 2000
VillageReach enters a partnership with the Mozambique-based Foundation for Community Development (FDC) to coordinate relief efforts for flood victims. This catastrophe will highlight the limitations of existing infrastructures within Mozambique, a realization that significantly influences VillageReach's future plans.

February 2000 
VillageReach is founded as NextReach by Blaise Judja-Sato, then Director of Business Development at Teledesic and President of the USA arm of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

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