Tag archive for: humanitarian
Our students have talent and ideas to spare! While our students in Montpellier are getting involved in a solidarity project in Togo, our students in Nîmes have chosen Senegal and the city of Dakar for the annual humanitarian project organized by the Crocos du Monde association. It’s a wonderful initiative that we didn’t want to miss sharing. Here’s a report and an interview.
To learn more about the ins and outs of this project, we sat down with Joffrey Buland, the 2021–22 President of Crocos du Monde! Check out his interview below!
Hi Joffrey, could you introduce yourself and tell us what your role is in this project?
Hello, my name is Joffrey Buland and I am currently a second-year medical student in Nîmes. During the Crocos du Monde “Dakar 2022” project, in my first year, I served as president of the association. The president’s role, in collaboration with the executive committee, is to organize the international project. We handled communication with local contacts, issued requests for quotes for the end-of-year container, and organized its shipment as well as the trip to the destination.
Can you tell us more about this project? What did it involve?
This project was a new venture for Les Crocos du Monde; our goal was to launch an international initiative with greater staying power—a long-term partnership that could be renewed each year. It was with this same goal of sustainability in mind that we came up with the idea of the shipping container, to give a second life to the supplies we were able to collect throughout the year. Since Les Crocos du Monde is primarily focused on sharing and sustainable development, the idea seemed fitting to us. The goal was to collect medical and paramedical supplies throughout the year via various partners, which were then shipped to Senegal, specifically the Fatick General Hospital, located 150 km south of Dakar.
Why did you choose Senegal? What led you to make that choice?
We turned our attention to Senegal thanks to a doctor at the Nîmes University Hospital, Dr. Christophe Boisson, who was of immense help in getting our project off the ground. Dr. Boisson has been sending containers of medical supplies to Dakar for several years now; it was with him and our trusted contacts on the ground that we decided to focus our efforts on the Fatick General Hospital. This led to an official partnership between Carémeau University Hospital and Dakar University Hospital, of which Crocos du Monde and Fatick are branches. This partnership has three main focuses: the delivery of supplies, in which we participated; medical and paramedical training through the simulation center; and training for biomedical engineers and technicians.
How did you organize the collection of supplies?
The collection of supplies began with the hospital identifying its needs and providing us with a list. From that list, we selected the supplies we were able to obtain—those that were within our reach. The “Dakar 2022” project was therefore primarily focused on the nephrology unit currently under development in Fatick. Once we had identified our target, we reached out to our partners—including individuals, other organizations, and primarily the Nîmes University Hospital and Dr. Boisson—and began our search and collection efforts.
In the end, what kind of materials were you able to collect? How much is that?
By the end of the year, we had collected enough to fill a 33-cubic-meter container—2.5 tons of supplies. Most of these were urology and nephrology supplies, including catheters and urinary ostomy kits, but we also had some surgical supplies, such as ventilator circuits and laparoscopy kits. We were also fortunate to find large electronic equipment, 7 emergency stretchers, and a delivery table. Since the goal was to give a second life to what we sent, all expiration dates were checked, and all electronic equipment was tested and refurbished as needed through Apelem, an association of biomedical engineers and technicians that is part of the partnership with the Nîmes University Hospital.
You were part of the trip in July. How did it go? What did it mean for you and your colleagues?
The four of us traveled to Nîmes with three second-year medical students, two of whom are now part of the executive committee. The goal was to show them around facilities like the Fatick General Hospital, where they will be collecting supplies, so they could get a clear idea of their upcoming 2023 project. At the same time, we introduced them to our trusted partners and local contacts, which will facilitate better communication in the coming year and help them understand the why, the how, and the for whom. This trip was deeply enriching on a personal level; it allowed us to observe and understand different hospital and cultural systems, with resources that also vary to some extent depending on the facility.
Does this inspire you to get involved in humanitarian medicine?
Humanitarian medicine has always been my main goal; even when I started my pre-med program, my aim was always to join Doctors Without Borders or another organization to go on a mission. When I discovered the Crocos du Monde association, and had the chance—along with my friends—to get involved in my own way starting in my first year of medical school, I didn’t hesitate. This year has allowed me to further deepen and strengthen this dream for after I graduate.
What about future projects for Crocos du Monde?
To answer this question, I’ll hand it over to Chloé Messines, the new president of Crocos du Monde for the 2022–2023 term.
Chloé: Les Crocos du Monde remains focused on the partnership between the University Hospitals of Nîmes and Dakar, and more specifically on assembling the container of medical equipment; the bulk of our internal funding and the events we organize are aimed at financing this project. Furthermore, it is important for us and our Senegalese partners to meet in person and confirm that the container has been received successfully. Just as we did last year, Les Crocos du Monde are committed to traveling to Dakar and Fatick to connect with the people who made this project possible. Now, our goal for this year is also to foster a vibrant community life for our members by offering a wider variety of events (clean walks, school outreach, outreach patrols, etc.), with a focus on inter-organizational collaboration (such as our involvement in the “Nîmes en Rose” project led by the midwifery student association and “Pep’s Week” with Tutorat Santé Nîmes). Thus, we rely on the motivation of second-year medical and midwifery students to ensure the association’s successful development.
Julie Bay, a first-year orthoptics student, will be heading to Kenya on a humanitarian mission from October 30 to November 14, 2021. The goal of this mission is to provide free vision screenings for children in schools in Taïta.
A project by the Eye Need View association
Eye Need View is a nonprofit organization established in 2014 by three orthoptists. Its mission is to organize vision screening, refraction, and training initiatives in the field of eye health in developing countries.
For the first time, Eye Need View is calling on visual health students to help carry out its next humanitarian mission in Kenya. Five students from the fourteen orthoptics departments across France are participating in this project.
The School of Medicine, represented by Julie Bay
And this year, a first-year orthoptics student at the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine was selected for this assignment. She was chosen after submitting her resume and cover letter, and she will represent the Faculty and the University of Montpellier throughout the assignment. We had the opportunity to meet her:
Hi Julie, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Julie Bay, I’m 29 years old, and I’m originally from Réunion Island. After earning my associate’s degree in optometry and gaining several years of professional experience in the field, I decided to switch careers and become an orthoptist. I am currently a student at the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine.
How did you hear about the Eye Need View project?
With a strong interest in the field of vision health and humanitarian work, I regularly kept up with the latest news on these topics. One day, I saw the call for proposals from the FFEO (French Federation of Orthoptic Students) regarding the Eye Need View mission, and I decided to apply because the project perfectly matched my expectations.
Why did you want to take part in this humanitarian mission?
First of all, humanitarian work has always appealed to me; I’ve always been committed to using my skills to help others. The people around me have always encouraged me to get involved in charitable causes. Even back in Réunion, I was part of an organization with my family that helped disadvantaged people. What’s great about this project is that it allows me to combine my work with my desire to help others. I’ve already carried out humanitarian screening missions in Paris with Vision For Life for disadvantaged people. This helps me grow both personally and professionally.
People aren’t always aware of this, but 10% of children have a vision problem by age 6 and aren’t receiving treatment. Vision problems have a significant impact on children, particularly when it comes to learning. That’s why this mission is so important to me.
How did you fund your humanitarian mission?
The cost of the trip is estimated at €9,000 for all participating students. We received €6,000 in support from our partners. I also received funding from the University of Montpellier’s Fund for Solidarity and Development of Student Initiatives (FSDIE), which aims to support students with projects in various fields.
Finally, we will set up an online fundraiser to raise the remaining funds needed.
The course of the mission
The goal during the two-week mission is to screen 2,500 children in schools in the village of Taïta, in southern Kenya. To make this possible, the mission is divided into several stages:
Support Julie's project
The Eye Need View organization and the students participating in this humanitarian project are committed to making this mission a success. You can support them in two different ways:
- Donate eyeglasses: Collection boxes are available on the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus to collect children’s eyeglasses.
- By making a financial donation: You can make a donation to help fund this humanitarian mission by clicking this button.
Following our feature on ANIMN a few days ago, we turn our attention to Orthofaso, the speech-language pathology student association dedicated to community service projects! Today we’re speaking with Mélanie, the secretary, who tells us more about the association’s mission, goals, and humanitarian efforts!
Could you tell us a little about your organization? What is its mission?
Orthofaso is a nonprofit organization established in 2006 under the French Law of 1901, dedicated to promoting and managing international projects through volunteer missions led by speech-language pathology students from Montpellier. Since 2015, the association has been working at an orphanage for children with multiple disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (previous missions were in Burkina Faso). This year’s Orthofaso team consists of 17 speech-language pathology students.
We are traveling to Vietnam because the country was devastated during the war in the 1950s. The chemicals dumped on the country’s land have led to a very high rate of disability within the country, particularly among children. As a result, we work with children suffering from a wide variety of conditions, most of whom have cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and/or hearing loss.
What activities do you organize throughout the year? Could you tell us about them?
To raise funds, we organize various events throughout the year:
- Yard sale and garage sale
- Improvisational Theater Night
- Blind test
- Sale of "Chocolats du Cœur" at Christmas and Easter
- Gift wrap stands at Maison du Monde and Le Bruit dans la Cuisine from November through Christmas
- Raffle
- Sale of bee wraps made by the team
- Participation in the Castelnau-le-Lez Christmas market (sale of jars of cookie and muffin mixes, bee wraps, jams, crafts, Christmas cards, etc.)
- Sale of used speech therapy games and materials to speech therapy students
- Set up a Hello Asso fundraising page for online donations
- Launch of Lilo (a search engine that funds social and environmental projects)
- Sale of reusable cups and tote bags by the organization
Why did you join the organization as an individual member? What does your organization offer students?
Personally, I joined this organization to help others and contribute to a good cause. Plus, this experience allows me to be part of a team and see a project through from start to finish.
Orthofaso is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting an orphanage for children with multiple disabilities. It allows students who support us throughout the year to participate in various types of events that may interest and entertain them (trivia contests, raffles, clothing sales, improvisational theater nights, sales of used items, etc.) while helping us with our project.
Why and how can I join your organization?
There is no membership in our association.
Could you tell us a little about the 2020–21 executive board election?
Elections for the Orthofaso team will take place during the first semester of the 2020–21 academic year, but we cannot provide an exact date given the current health situation. Fourth-year speech-language pathology students who volunteer will then be able to join the association.
How can I contact you on social media?
Email: asso.orthofaso@gmail.com
Website: https://orthofaso.wixsite.com/orthofaso
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orthofaso
Instagram: Orthofaso_13
Earlier, we met with AMEO. Today, we’re heading to Nîmes and even further afield with the Crocos du Monde association!
In a nutshell, what is the Crocos du Monde association?
Founded in 2007, “Crocos du monde” is the student humanitarian association of the Faculty of Medicine in Nîmes. Its goal is to enable medical and midwifery students to get involved in humanitarian work, each in their own way, and to raise awareness of global inequalities. The main objective is to organize an international solidarity project carried out each year. Since the association’s founding, the Crocos have already traveled to Morocco, Burkina Faso, and even Togo last summer!
What activities do you organize throughout the year? Could you tell us about them?
Throughout the year, we hold two major events: fundraisers for our international solidarity project and, starting this year, our local project in Nîmes, which has enabled us to launch social initiatives throughout our city.
To help fund our trip, we’ve been organizing events at our university since the beginning of the year. We’ve already held several bake sales. Over the holidays, we raised money by selling wrapping paper and chocolates.
At the same time, the Nîmes project is structured around several initiatives, most of which are carried out in partnership with the French Red Cross in the Gard department, particularly for outreach patrols and visits to nursing homes.
Why did you join the organization as an individual member? What does your organization offer students?
I’ve always been interested in humanitarian work, and this organization has given me the opportunity to get involved through a variety of local initiatives that balance our academic commitments with the limited time we can devote to volunteer work.
This allowed me to become aware of the various needs around me and take action to address them, whether directly in Nîmes or through fundraising and organizing the annual international solidarity trip.
Why and how do I join Crocos du Monde?
Our organization offers opportunities to get involved in social, community-oriented, and environmental initiatives. This allows you to make a meaningful contribution while staying true to your values. Additionally, it complements your studies by fostering social connections and engaging with underprivileged individuals.
You can join in September, after the fall general meeting, and then at any time throughout the year. Simply fill out a membership form and pay a membership fee of 10 euros by check or cash, and you will officially become a member of Crocos du Monde. The association is open to all students at the University of Nîmes (PACES/PASS, medicine, midwifery).
A few words about the 2020–2021 board?
The election of our executive committee takes place in two parts:
- First, an executive committee (EC) was elected. Following an online campaign period, the vote took place in early June. Due to the current health situation, the handover ceremony will be held in person at the start of the new school year.
- Then, in late September, second-year students (in medicine or midwifery) will be eligible to run for office. After a short campaign, the Student Council will select its executive board based on the number of candidates per position.
For more information, feel free to follow us on social media:
- Facebook: Crocodiles of the World
- Instagram: crocos_du_monde
- Website (updated this year): https://crocosdumonde.jimdofree.com/
- Email: asso.crocosdumonde@gmail.com
