Introduction

The MSIF Twinning Programme is currently under development.

In the meantime, MSIF will endeavour to continue to provide guidance and administrative support to any twinning partnerships formed between MS organisations.

Documents to download

How to Develop a Twinning Partnership

Further information

MS organisations wanting to find out more about twinning should email Zoe Burr, Head of International Development.

Case studies

In November 2009 EM Cuba and the Federación Española para la Lucha contra la Esclerosis Múltiple (FELEM) began a period of collaborative working. The project continued throughout 2010 with FELEM visiting Cuba in March and the Cuban Society President and Secretary visiting Barcelona, Spain in December. In 2011 the partnership continued with FELEM preparing a shipment of sanitary supplies and office and promotional materials to EM Cuba.

On 21-22 October 2010, the Tunisian Multiple Sclerosis Association (ATSEP) participated in the Francophone MS Group’s meeting in Luxembourg. Mohamed Ben Mahmoud’s, Vice President of ATSEP, attendance was funded by the participating members of the Group (the national MS societies of Belgium, Canada, France and Luxembourg) and through MSIF’s Twinning Programme.

During the meeting best practice was exchanged between the participants including how to organise an MS school for newly diagnosed people with MS and weekend breaks for children with a parent with MS; fundraising techniques and ideas and a publications exchange were also discussed.

Mohamed Ben Mahmoud gave a presentation on ATSEP informing the other delegates of the work it had done to date. ATSEP was keen to learn about the publications produced by the Group members and the opportunities for further information exchange, job shadowing and technical support in establishing an MS centre in Tunisia.

The US National MS Society provided the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India's (MSSI) Brand Ambassador, Milind Somon, with online promotion and coverage when he took part in the 2009 ING New York Marathon.

Between June and November 2008 the Federación Española para la Lucha contra la Esclerosis Múltiple and Esclerosis Múltiple Argentina carried out a comparative study entitled Esclerosis Múltiple: realidad, necesidades socials y calidad de vida (Multiple Sclerosis: reality, social needs and quality of life).

Results of comparative Spain-Argentina MS study

Comparative Spain-Argentina MS study report published

In 2007, a team of neurologists, MS specialist therapists and nurses from the UK MS Society visited India where they carried out a series of lectures, training seminars and workshops for MS health professionals, MS Society of India (MSSI) staff and volunteers.

MSSI report on UK team visit

UK MS Society report on India trip