By Farouk Kaliel (YES 2017-2018, Nigeria, placed by AYUSA in Bastrop, TX)

My exchange year was a transformative experience that broadened my horizons and instilled in me a passion for community service. During hours of volunteering in numerous community service activities, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I witnessed firsthand the critical importance of emergency preparedness.

As a medical student at Bayero University Kano, I recognized a pressing need for emergency response skills in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where access to timely medical care is limited. With this in mind, I applied for a YES Alumni Grant to address this gap and equip my community with basic life support (BLS) skills. This project aimed to empower individuals to act effectively during medical emergencies, potentially saving lives in those first crucial minutes.

To bring this project to life, I partnered with the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) and the Students of Human Physiology Association of Nigeria (SPAN). We organized a three-day training workshop from July 23 to 25 at the Habib Musa Life Support Center at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, with 50 participants, ages 18 to 25. Our experienced head instructor and his team of trainers, along with volunteers from our partner organizations and fellow YES alumni, taught participants essential life-saving techniques, including chest compressions, and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

The outcome of our training exceeded expectations. Pre- and post-workshop test results showed a significant increase in BLS knowledge, with average scores rising from 21.7% to 86.4%. Participants not only gained essential skills but also the confidence to apply them effectively. To extend the impact, we implemented a step-down training approach, where each participant was tasked with teaching two peers what they learned during the training. By sharing their knowledge, the trained participants will help build a network of informed first responders, leading to quicker, more effective emergency responses, ultimately reducing preventable deaths.

My long-term vision is to foster a sustainable culture of emergency preparedness and life-saving skills within the community. I hope that the initial group of participants will continue to share their knowledge, resulting in the wider dissemination of these critical skills across our community. This could potentially evolve into a self-sustaining initiative, where those trained go on to train others, creating an ongoing cycle of education and preparedness.

This project has been an incredible learning experience for me as well. It reinforced the power of community engagement and the impact that targeted education can have on public health. I have seen firsthand how empowering youth with practical skills can foster a sense of responsibility and leadership.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who made this project possible. My heartfelt thanks goes to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for sponsoring the YES program and to the YES program for their unwavering support. I am also grateful to our partner organizations, NiMSA and SPAN, for their invaluable collaboration. Lastly, a special acknowledgment goes to my dedicated team of volunteers and fellow YES alumni – your hard work and passion were the driving force behind this project's success.

Fatima Gezewa (YES 2017-2018, Nigeria, placed by AYA/AIFS in Sierra Vista, AZ)

Khadija Shehu Suleiman (YES 2018-2019, Nigeria, placed by AFS in Clarksville, TN)