In the fight against global poverty, students are a vital and often overlooked aspect of charity initiatives. Students are working with charities alongside their academics to help those most in need through fundraising and volunteering efforts. In an interview with The Borgen Project, Charlotte, a university student working with MEDLIFE, stressed the importance of student participation in fighting poverty and assisting with development projects.

MEDLIFE

MEDLIFE is a global charity that helps to develop low-income communities by improving health care and education. In its efforts to achieve a world free of poverty, MEDLIFE adopts a community-focused approach and offers sustainable solutions to provide long-term aid and improvement. The nonprofit works with local staff and citizens to provide “culturally sensitive” aid and development programs to underserved communities.

Through collaborating with local doctors, the charity ensures that development projects will continue to benefit the community for a longer period rather than solely providing immediate relief. By August 2023, MEDLIFE had more than 30,000 volunteers and had established more than 600 community projects. MEDLIFE focuses on preventative health care through education.

By providing education on key health issues, the organization aims to prevent health care disasters that particularly impact those living in poverty. With a woman dying every two minutes due to childbirth or pregnancy, MEDLIFE’s Mobile Clinics offer specialized educational workshops on women’s reproductive health in efforts to prevent key issues, such as breast or cervical cancers).

Students Working With MEDLIFE

MEDLIFE offers students the chance to directly impact efforts seeking to alleviate the pressures of global poverty. Students can start MEDLIFE societies at a college/university to assist with fundraising efforts and organize volunteer trips to help with specific community projects. In 2024, Students at University College London (UCL) participated in a volunteer trip to Lima, Peru, to directly contribute to the operation of community developments.

In an interview with The Borgen Project, Charlotte reflected on how students working in Lima witnessed people face challenges accessing health care and resources. The students helped to establish and maintain Mobile Clinics specializing in general medicine, dental, obstetrics and gynecology, pharmacy, hygiene and education. Other initiatives also involved assisting with community transformation, such as building parks and stairs. The UCL Society is organizing plans for its next trip; destinations could include Costa Rica or Peru.

When asked whether students are recognized for their roles in fighting global poverty, Charlotte explained that “students often don’t receive enough recognition for their contributions.” Regarding how recognition helps raise awareness, Charlotte commented that “by shining a light on student contributions, we not only validate their efforts but also encourage a culture of social responsibility among peers.”

MEDLIFE is open not only to medical students but also to those studying a wide range of disciplines. When asked about the benefits of this, Charlotte explained how a diverse group of students is extremely useful to the charity. For example, an engineering student can assist in the structured development of the communities and a business or economics student may lead fundraising.

Conclusion

Globally, students work with a wide range of charities to assist in the fight against global poverty. Without help from students, charities could lack the appropriate funds to provide adequate aid to those in need. They are not only providing thousands in fundraising but also have the time and skills to deliver hands-on support.

– Ellie Western

Ellie is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

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