#AssociationOfTheWeek – Meeting with AMESF
This week, we meet Justine Rizzo, president of the Montpellier midwifery student association, AMESF. Goals, actions, determination—find out everything you need to know about this association in this interview!
In a nutshell, what is AMESF?
AMESF is the student association for midwifery students in Montpellier. Our objectives are to represent midwifery students, offer services and entertainment to our members, and organize solidarity and humanitarian initiatives. To this end, we are members of several association networks. First at the local level with the AGEM, the General Association of Montpellier Students, but also nationally with the ANESF, the National Association of Midwifery Students.
What activities or actions do you implement throughout the year?
Several projects punctuate our year, some for entertainment, such as the end-of-year gala or the Concert en rose, which is a charity event for the Naître en Rose association.
Throughout the year, we also organize several charity events where our members can volunteer to help us run stands. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we raise awareness about breast cancer and collect funds for the association "Cancer du sein, Parlons-en!" (Let's talk about breast cancer!). We also participate in the Telethon and Sidaction charity events.
This year, a new project was launched for the first time: the "Endometriosis" project. It is particularly close to our hearts because this disease is little known, yet affects around 10% of women. We visited several faculties in Montpellier to meet with many students and teachers who are not necessarily involved in the health sector (Faculty of Sciences, Paul Valéry University, and the Faculty of STAPS). We were able to provide information about this disease through flyers, quizzes/games, and a model containing a wealth of information. We ended the week by organizing a "film debate" conference on the subject at the Faculty of Medicine. Following a short film, a discussion took place between various healthcare professionals (midwives, gynecologists) and the audience. We were therefore able to raise awareness of this disease and also raise a significant amount of funds for the "EndoFrance" association's research .
Finally, we also collaborate with the French Blood Establishment. Every month, we raise awareness about blood, plasma, and bone marrow donation and announce the various collection locations through our publications.
Why did you personally choose midwifery as a field of study? In your opinion, what does the association offer students in this field?
What I like about being a midwife is being able to work in healthcare, helping families at a special time in their lives such as the birth of a child, and being able to accompany, support, and advise women throughout their lives. Being a midwife means having a wide range of skills and knowledge, including gynecology, pediatrics, and obstetrics. This profession requires a thorough understanding of female physiology and the ability to detect even the slightest problem.
The association provides students in this field with support, activities, and a certain curiosity about various issues. It also allows them to participate in various solidarity and humanitarian projects, as mentioned above. The association provides support to both newcomers and seniors in this field.
Why do you think people should join your association?
Membership offers many benefits, which we divide into various categories.
The education division |
The entertainment division |
The Student Services Department |
The partnership division |
The representation division |
The solidarity division |
| It allows us to set up a system for sharing notes and handouts from classes in paper format. We also place bulk orders for books and materials for the courses. | It allows members to participate in the evenings we organize and to obtain preferential rates in certain restaurants, bars, and clubs in Montpellier. It is also an opportunity to develop a spirit of cohesion through our events such as the end-of-year gala. | It provides access to "SOS Nounou," a system that connects midwifery students with parents looking for babysitters. We also offer the option of ordering affordable vegetable baskets. | It allows our members to obtain discounted prices from our association's partners. | It allows students to stay informed about the various debates and training sessions organized by AGEM and ANESF and to participate in them. | It entitles members to participate in all the activities we carry out, such as those mentioned above. |
How do you join? 
By paying the €10 membership fee at the AMESF office, located on the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus at 641 avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, Montpellier 34090.
Any student, regardless of their field of study, can join our association starting this year. They do not have access to all the benefits that midwifery students have, but they are welcome to attend our festive events, share their ideas, or participate in our various projects, for example!
A few words about the 2020-2021 board?
We have complete confidence in the next generation. Some wonderful things are planned, and we can't wait for them to implement all their projects!
In the meantime, you can find us on all our social media channels!
Facebook: AMESF – Montpellier Association of Midwifery Students
Instagram: amesf_sfmtp
Snapchat: amesf_sfmtp
Twitter: AMESF_SFMTP
