SJU Global Brigades Bring Assist Abroad

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Pic spending office of your summer working in the sweltering rut with fifty colleagues to provide healthcare to the underserved communities. Imagine holding a child in your arms who has never seen the doctor earlier and has travelled a corking deal with his family for a simple checkup. Or comforting a kid coming face-to-confront with her greatest fright for the starting time time –– needles.

While some might envision community service as a straightforward bulldoze to the local soup kitchen to volunteer or a thoughtful donation to a noble clemency, the members of St. John'south medical affiliate of Global Brigades define community service on an international platform.

This summer, on a seven mean solar day service trip in June, Global Brigades members provided medical services for immature children in the mountains of Piedras Gordas, Cocle, Panama, in true Vincentian spirit.

The members of SJU Global Brigade have a plethora of inspiring and emotive moments with the Panamanian locals. First-time member Erna Radoncic, a 3rd twelvemonth Pharmacy student, described her first Brigade trip to Panama equally "inspiring."

"[The trip] really just puts things in perspective because we're from the states where everything is basically given to usa … we're so blessed to be where we are," Radoncic said.

It takes the entire school twelvemonth to be able to plan this trip. First in September, applications for the summertime program roll out and interviews are held later that month. The residue of the yr is focused on raising money to supply the medications, eyeglasses and other equipment for the clinics. The club hosts smoothie sales throughout the year as well as a gala during the spring semester to enhance money.

These trips are ordinarily for vii days, two of those days include travel. Members volition spend three days at the clinic and two days providing Public Health services to the community.

"To be a part of the procedure of empowering a community is priceless. Nosotros aren't simply altruistic supplies and money, we are likewise altruistic our time and energy likewise," James Thai, 2019 graduate and quondam Vice President of SJU Global Brigades, said.

 "Global Brigades is one of the few organizations that allows students to be proactive in the fight against poverty around the world."

The crew of approximately 50 volunteers visited Pierdas Gordas to piece of work alongside local and volunteer doctors in a school-turned-clinic, to provide gratis healthcare –– including heart evaluations, checking blood pressure, pap smears and dental procedures. They also helped build water systems/latrines for the rural community.

From June 15 to June 21, SJU Global Brigade worked about 8 hours a day –– with a long commute to and from the lodging facility –– and learned a nifty deal about themselves and the local culture.

"It's so interesting how two different countries accept such amazing connections … I remember there was this one family that talked to me about how they traveled from the superlative of the mountain to see a doctor." Christine Arago said. Arago, a third year Biology and Theology double major, is the electric current Treasurer of SJU Global Brigades.

"Piedras Gordas is filled with beautiful people who value family unit and their culture so deeply," Arago connected. "I'chiliad so glad I get this opportunity every year because it gives me the strength and motivation to conduct on."

The club has been growing exponentially the past few years, such that the East-lath had to program a second trip this summer to the Cardinal Region of Ghana to accommodate all the qualified volunteers.

Kate Sheldon, a fifth year pharmacy student, travelled to Ghana for the outset time this summer to provide free healthcare to the community with her counterparts.

"Ane moment that stood out to me [in Ghana] was when we were gathered as a grouping and learned the mission of the brigade," Sheldon said. "We spoke of the ways that nosotros can empower the customs … seeing the passion in all of my fellow brigaders was i of the most heartwarming moments."

This club is a great opportunity for pre-medical students to explore their future field in a more than hands-on experience than what is offered in the United States. This summertime, students got the chance to piece of work directly with doctors, to take patient histories, to interact with patients, and most importantly, to make a departure in someone's life.

Whether it be a kid agape of seeing the dentist, or an elderly homo getting his first pair of glasses, being there with the patient to witness and share in their every sentiment is what matters to these students.

"I truly believe to exist an astonishing physician in the future is to have the passion, kindness, and the ability to bear on lives through little things," said Arago.

Although the brigades take place in a medical setting, SJU Global Brigades is a diverse organization of members from across all majors, from economics to Tv and Film. All students who are "willing to serve in a very humble setting," as Arago phrased it, are welcome to join the chapter'southward mission of supplying towns the resource needed to become sustainable.

"A simple gesture can go a long way and it tin really make a difference," Thai said.

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