On International Volunteer Day, Socios En Salud (SES) highlights the contribution of people who, from different countries and disciplines, join in its work for fairer health. This commitment is possible thanks to the SES Global Health Center, which articulates the participation of volunteers in initiatives aimed at strengthening the right to health.
During her stay in Lima, Brittany R. Suann, a master’s student at Harvard University, joined the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program of Socios En Salud not as an observer, but as an active part of the work in the field. Her experience reflects the organization’s approach, which conceives volunteering as an exchange of learning and knowledge.
Together with two colleagues from the same university, Brittany participated in a study led by Dr. Sonya Shin on the effects and vulnerabilities of climate change in two districts of Lima that rarely share a public agenda, but do share structural challenges: Carabayllo, in the north of the city, and Huaycán, in the far east. The work made it possible to link health, territory and environmental context.
Volunteers united for health
Brittany’s experience is part of a broader dynamic. Over the past year, 50 volunteers of different nationalities - including students, translators and health professionals - were integrated into Socios En Salud programs and units. Their contribution was key to strengthening initiatives in maternal health, mental health, infectious diseases and applied research.
More than a one-time collaboration, the volunteers’ time at Socios En Salud was consolidated as a shared learning process. From community work to global health research, these experiences contribute to the formation of professionals committed to equity, community accompaniment and the defense of the right to health.
“I firmly believe that health is a global mission. A mission that must include emotional wellbeing, social wellbeing, health prevention, environmental and animal care. I am happy to be here, working with Partners In Health,” says Brittany R. Suann. On International Volunteer Day, Socios En Salud recognizes this commitment that transcends borders and strengthens its mission to accompany the most vulnerable communities.
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