By Giovanna Braganza | Co-President of GlobeMed & Project Leader
Dear GlobeMed family and friends,
School is back in session for both our University of Rochester Globemed students and our third batch of youth medical trainees in Odisha as well. After a relaxing summer, GlobeMed at the University of Rochester is back in action with 18 new and passionate student committee members! Since coming back from GlobeMed's internship in Odisha (GROW) this summer, our enthusiastic GROW interns have spread immense passion and knowledge about SOVA's mission. Student committee members in GlobeMed have heard many inspiring stories from our GROW interns about the heroic members of SOVA (Social Organization for Voluntary Action) and of the bright Srimula local youth that participated in the Medical Assistant Training program. Our partnership with SOVA has been solidified through regular bi-weekly contact between our Partnerships Committee directors, Abby Haslinger and Angela Benson, and the SOVA executive board. SOVA eagerly sends us pictures of their daily activities and of members and volunteers in action.
From our correspondance with SOVA, we have learned that the third batch of trainees for the 2016 year have just embarked on their medical education and training as of late September. Girls pictured from batch two whom the GROW interns met during the GROW internship have now begun gainful employment in the local Srimula Public Health and Community health centers. SOVA executive board member, Sumitra Behera, remarked that "the girls have a high aptitude for learning and have appropriately used skills from the Medical Assistant Training program."
SOVA has also recently begun implementation of a food fortification program in partnership with the World Food Programme. Executive Director of SOVA, Udayendu Mishra, has reflected an earnest desire to help people living in extreme poverty and famine. This program joins the long list of SOVA's on-going outreach projects such as the Women's Self-Help Groups (Sweet Potato Selling), Child Creche Education program, Health Outreach Programs in the Mahul-Dagara tribal village, Child Immunization Camps, and Technical Skills Training programs. As the year progresses, we are very excited to support SOVA's efforts in providing equal opportunities, education and healthcare to the most marginalized members of society in the Dhenkanal district! We hope to foster mutual learning and support through thought provoking and engaging discussions with SOVA members and GlobeMed students at the University of Rochester!
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