#AssociationOfTheWeek – A Look at the CNESF

Following our meeting with Dis-Lalie, the Montpellier-based association for the speech-language pathology program, this week we’re meeting with CNESF, the association for the midwifery program in Nîmes!

In a nutshell, what is the CNESF?

The Nîmes Midwifery Students’ Association is a nonprofit organization established under the French Law of 1901. Its purpose is to represent midwifery students in Nîmes and to advocate for them within federations such as the ANESF (National Association of Midwifery Students, our professional federation) and the AGEM (General Association of Montpellier Students, our regional federation). It also aims to listen to midwifery students in Nîmes, advise them as much as possible, and defend their rights and interests. Our association helps energize the student life of its members by organizing solidarity and prevention events, as well as festive, athletic, and cultural events. Finally, it aims to enhance our skills as future healthcare professionals through access to continuing education.

What activities or initiatives do you organize throughout the year?

We are striving to expand our activities as much as possible through the association’s various divisions the association:

The public health division has organized, for example, film screenings followed by coffee-table discussions to discuss topics such as female genital mutilation or anonymous adoption, particularly following screenings of films in partnership with the Sémaphore in Nîmes.

As part of the annual awareness campaign for breast cancer screening, we created a calendar for Pink October. It features prevention tips and information, and the funds raised were donated to the League Against Cancer. We also participated in the Telethon alongside medical students.

Thanks to the growth of social media, we have created posters for global awareness days, such as the one created in collaboration with ANESF for World Contraception Day, and informational quizzes on various topics are also available. We have established a mentoring program between upperclassmen and different cohorts, which we plan to further develop next year. 

We organized festive and team-building events, including the end-of-year gala, which unfortunately could not take place. As we did last year, we continued to expand our babysitting network. Regarding AGEM and ANESF, we attend in person or remotely at every board meeting and general assembly to represent the midwifery students of Nîmes in policy decisions.

We hold monthly bake sales to raise funds for charities, to which we also donate children’s clothing and supplies.

Finally, we participated in this year’s PEPS Week, organized by Tutorat Santé Nîmes, at the Student Fair, as well as in the Faculty’s open house, to do our best to answer questions from prospective students.

Why did you personally choose the Maieutics track, and what does the association offer students in this track?

In my opinion, this is a field you choose out of passion. The program is long and require a significant investment, particularly in the many internships. But Supporting couples, mothers, women, and babies is what makes the diversity of our profession, and that’s what drew me to it. We have a wide range of expertise; whether in the private, public, or non-profit sectors, we can support women throughout their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period (provided there are no medical complications). We can also provide preventive gynecological care and contraception consultations. We sometimes face difficult situations, but the intense moments of life and emotion serve as a reminder of why we started this work in the first place.

The association, for its part, provides opportunities to get together—whether at the clubhouse or at events—and to develop skills through training programs offered by ANESF or AGEM. Members can also stay up to date on national news, which we regularly share. For those who want to get involved in student life, it’s a great way to thrive while bringing their projects to life, all while collaborating with other students.

Why do you think someone should join your organization? 

Joining our association is, above all, a gesture of support. We represent midwifery students in the faculty’s student life. Joining allows you to stay informed about various events and connect with other associations within the faculty or outside of it. In fact, membership includes both AGEM and ANESF, allowing you to stay informed about discussions within these organizations and potentially influence outcomes by sharing your views on key issues. It offers the opportunity to take an active interest in the future of the profession and student life in the region, as well as to raise broader concerns.

Membership is also the only way to vote at general meetings for the future teams that will represent you in the coming terms. And on the fun side, membership gives you access to a wide range of partnerships secured by our fabulous VP of Partnerships. From laser tag to products from Luneale, Fempo, and many others, these partnerships offer great discounts. Finally, we have partnerships with professional insurance companies that offer additional coverage for students in internships.

How do I sign up? 

Joining is very easy: just come to our association’s office on campus between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. (every day) and pay 7 euros by check, cash, or even Lydia. We’ll give you a nice little card with our social media handles. You can join at any time throughout the year, but we close membership two weeks before the end-of-term General Assembly.

A few words about the 2020–2021 board?

Unfortunately, due to the current health situation, this year’s handover will take place remotely. We are in contact with the board members running for the 2020–2021 term and are more motivated than ever. There are exciting projects on the horizon that we look forward to learning more about. It is with a slight twinge of sadness that we leave this term, especially given the difficult end to the year, but with complete confidence in the dedication of the incoming board. These are motivated young women, with experience and a great deal of enthusiasm—everything needed to succeed. We could not have handed over this term with greater peace of mind than with such a wonderful new generation taking the reins!

Feel free to follow us on social media:

– Instagram: @CNESF

– Facebook: Nîmes Association of Midwifery Students

– Twitter: @CNESF2