As the close of 2016 approached, YES alumni around the world engaged in activities that promoted public health. From giving presentations, to organizing trainings, to collecting food for families in need, YES alumni demonstrated the importance of public health advocacy through their service to their communities.

1.  Collecting Healthy Food for Families in Need in Bulgaria. Throughout December, YES ’16 alumnae Viktoriya Angelova (hosted by AYUSA in Middleton, ID) and Nazmie Mustafa (hosted by YFU in Twin Lake, MI) organized a food drive in collaboration with the Bulgarian Red Cross in Kardzhali (photos above and below).

The Red Cross provided key advice on food safety, appropriate donations, and timing, while several schools in Dzhebel and Kardzhali municipalities agreed to serve as collection points. More than 300 people, including students and teachers, contributed more than 800 kilograms of food items, which were then donated to the Red Cross to distribute to families in need on New Year’s Eve. What a noble way to ensure all families start 2017 off right!

2.  Donating Hair for Cancer Patients in Egypt. Jessy Elgawaly (hosted by PAX in Lilburn, GA) and Katy Ibrahim (hosted by AYUSA in Fayetteville, PA) of YES ’16 visited Children Cancer Hospital 57357, a non-profit hospital in Cairo that provides free healthcare. Jessy and Katy donated their hair to cancer patients. In their own words, “We thought about how change can be an awesome thing, and so we did it – we cut our hair! It felt amazing knowing that we’ve helped other children have confidence in themselves again.”

3.  Fighting AIDS through Education in Macedonia. Blagoja Srbov (YES 2010-2011, hosted by PAX in Kennewick, WA) is a recent medical school graduate, so on December 1, he celebrated World AIDS Day by giving a presentation about AIDS to YES alumni and current YES Abroad students. He discussed the disease, its prevention, and how it's treated (photo right). Attendees are now planning to share the knowledge they gained through their own presentations in the future!

4.  Raising First Aid Awareness in Tanzania. On December 10, Mwanaidi Hassan Abdulla (YES ’08) visited Saifo Children’s Orphanage in Tomondo and taught first aid practices. In collaboration with Health for All, Mwanaidi taught orphanage staff how to use first aid tools and demonstrated safe ways to play that will help reduce injuries for the orphanage’s 26 children. Mwanaidi’s effort to protect the most vulnerable by empowering their caregivers is admirable.

5.  Providing First Aid Trainings in Yemen. While volunteering in an emergency room during Yemen’s civil war in 2015, Omer Al-Matri (YES 2011-2012, hosted by CIEE in Medford, OR) noticed that members of the public often did not know what to do when someone near them was injured. Based on his experience, Omer decided to conduct first aid training sessions for AMIDEAST students to increase first aid awareness (photo right). During his trainings, Omer introduced the students to the basic principles of Mass Casualty Management (MCM) and gave them practical training on appropriate first responses to various injuries. While it's difficult to measure the potential future impact of Omer's efforts, it's clear that he has found a way to empower himself and his community under the most difficult circumstances.

6.  Fundraising for Cancer Patients in Tunisia. Fradj Frad (YES 2015-2016, hosted by AYA/AIFS in Troupsburg, NY) has been very active in community service since returning to Tunisia. As an active member of Volontairs (Volunteers), a Tunisian community service organization, Fradj helped organize a live music concert to raise money for cancer patients. After selling over 400 tickets to the event, Fradj and his team of Volontaires donated the proceeds to local NGO Lutte Contre le Cancer (Fight Against Cancer). Thank you, Fradj, for proving that music can heal!

7.  Providing Warmth in India. On December 17, Wasudev Mishra (YES 2013-2014, hosted by PAX in Richland, MO), and 11 other volunteers from the local non-profit Friends for Care assisted the needy in Nagpur by distributing blankets to the homeless (photo below). Wasudev showed that giving back doesn’t require much – just compassion and the desire to help others!

As we reflect on all of the other projects and activities YES alumni conducted throughout 2016, we feel inspired by the positive impact that alumni are having on their communities. We can’t wait to see what they will accomplish in the coming year!