B'nai B'rith International has a long history of social action throughout Latin America, working with heads of state, local communities, and fellow organizations to improve the lives of people in the region. B'nai B'rith Latin America works with groups such as Mercosur, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Iberoamerican Summit to ensure the voice of the Jewish community is represented.
B'nai B'rith Latin America also spearheads social action campaigns that have a positive impact. Together with the Brothers Brother Foundation, for example, B'nai B'rith has distributed medicine valued at more than $30 million in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, and Venezuela for the past five years; B'nai B'rith is currently expanding the project to Brazil and Ecuador.
In addition, B'nai B'rith works on projects for the disabled in several countries; sponsors a children's hospital in Cali, Columbia, which is unique in the region; organizes breast cancer prevention programs, with mammograms and other services, in Uruguary; provides jobs to the indigenous women of Paraguay; improves the lives of the needy; and awards university scholarship to qualified Chilean youth to continue their education and training.
B'nai B'rith Latin America was instrumental in a region-wide initiative to establish the United Nations resolution designating January 27 the International Day for Holocaust Remembrance. B'nai B'rith Latin America has worked to make certain that all nations recognize the importance of this day, to raise awareness for tolerance, and to educate people about the horrors of the Holocaust. Today, many countries recognize this day with events, congressional acknowledgments, and exhibits.
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