One of the reasons that motivated me to apply for the GHC fellowship was the opportunity to serve needy communities, especially the marginalized and underserved. I had realized that the old adage, “it’s better to give than to receive,” is true after all. Everybody, rich and poor, takes from society, and volunteering is one of the ways to give back to the community and show a sense of appreciation.
I’m glad that I’m serving the community through the GHC fellowship. Beyond working as a pharmacy supply chain analyst at my placement organization, Partners In Health (PIH) in line with its motto: “Providing a preferential healthcare for the poor,” I’m also involved in various community service programs, including the Sunday school program.
The Sunday school program targets P6 students from Nkondo primary school, one of the primary schools neighboring the headquarters of my placement organization. That school was selected based on the fact that its students had failed national primary leaving examinations in past years. Basically, they had difficulties in basic sciences, mathematics, and English literacy. The Sunday school program aims at tutoring those pupils in order to complement the knowledge acquired from school and prepare them for the national examinations. It takes place every Sunday at PIH Headquarters, Rwinkwavu and comprises of science, math, and English classes.
Pupils participate in the general quiz, where they are asked and are given opportunities to ask questions in various fields in order to enhance their willingness to learn new things, to help them get an urge to develop an ability to satisfy their curiosity, and to become open minded. Moreover, pupils participate in small group discussions on selected health topics including, but not limited to, drug abuse and reproductive health. Last, but not least, pupils participate in various games with their volunteer teachers in order to relax and have fun.
Last year, our work has been fruitful. In fact, ten of our pupils passed the National primary leaving examinations in Division II, which means that they will be promoted to public secondary schools. Then, twenty three of them passed the National primary leaving examinations in Division III, which means that they will be promoted to public nine years basic education schools. This is not a simple thing given that in past years no pupil from that school had passed the national examinations. We are proud of that and looking forward to making more of an impact.
VIVA GHC, VIVA the community we serve.