Good evening and thank you all for coming together at this very special and I’m sure what we will all treasure as a memorable event!
My name is Raheesa Jina and I want to briefly share with you my volunteering experience in Nepal, and why the work being done by Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration is so vital and so deserving of our support.
Nepal is so much more than Mount Everest and the snow-capped Himalayas. Impressive temples, prayer flags, verdant rice paddy fields, rainforest jungles, and the kindest people you will ever meet. All these elements come together to create an amazing historically spiritual country.
Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Chitwan Medical College in Bharatpur, Nepal. Bharatpur is the fourth largest city in Nepal and one of the fastest growing in the country. Chitwan Medical College has a teaching hospital with 750 beds.
By far the highlight of the opportunity was working with the people, including local staff, my homestay family, and the many people that I got to see and help over 2 months of volunteering.
There were times when I would look at the lack of resources, and everything appeared to be too difficult to be managed. I often had to step out of my comfort zone, adapt, and overcome a variety of obstacles. But the entire journey turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Importantly, I developed:
- Greater awareness of global health and health inequality
- Adaptability skills in new and challenging situations
- Meaningful connections with those from different backgrounds and perspectives
Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration harnesses Canada’s cancer treatment knowledge and leadership to assist local health care professionals in the resource-constrained countries of Nepal and India. The assistance is provided in the areas of palliative care, end-of life care, and cancer control strategies.
So tonight I want to invite you all to join in and be part of this movement for change! Two Worlds has a vital mandate to protect and care for highly vulnerable people in an ultra-poor part of our world and it deserves our strongest support.
Thank You.