Do Hawood
This is a WYDO endorsed project.
Do Hawood is founded by Minke Huibers, Andrea Solnes Miltenburg and Marthe Zeldenrust. This young foundation aims to improve healthcare in developing countries by supporting medical students to become doctors, starting in Somaliland.
Purpose and goals
Our Philosophy: This foundation believes in a world where education forms the basis for successful development of individuals and the entire society. A world where all young adults have equal opportunities regardless of gender, class or cultural background to develop themselves and to study without being hindered by lack of materials or financial resources.
Our Vision: To achieve an efficient and transparent form of sustainable development in the context of higher education.
Our Mission: Give young adults in developing countries the opportunity to study and indirectly provide them with the chance to contribute to the development of their own country in the long run. The youth is our future.
The foundation has three main goals:
1. The foundation aims to support future students in developing countries in their study fees when there are financial constraints or if it gives the opportunity for more young adults in the family to study.
2. The foundation aims to facilitate the communication between young doctors from different cultural backgrounds to on the one hand share their knowledge and experiences and on the other hand to increase the understanding of each other’s background and culture.
3. We want to provide young doctors (and other supporters) in the Netherlands with the opportunity to become active and support their future colleagues in developing countries to contribute and making this world a better place.
Who we are
Do Hawood is founded by three young doctors and Africa enthusiasts, all with a background in the International Foundation for medical Students Associations (IFMSA). Currently all board members are living in different countries. Andrea currently lives in Tanzania, Marthe in South Africa and Minke in Curacao. Working both as doctors and in public health. Below a short profile of all board members.
Andrea Solnes Miltenburg (1985) is the founder of this foundation and currently holds the position as chair of this foundation. She currently works in Tanzania on a project for the African Woman Foundation. In the year 2012 she finalized her medical studies. During her studies she has been actively involved in IFMSA with several local and international board positions. In 2008 she conducted a research on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somaliland where she found her passion for obstetrics and gynaecology. She started with this foundation after her trip to Somaliland realizing that the young people in Somaliland have so much potential but often lack the means to develop themselves. She started supporting one students that she met during her stay in Somaliland providing him with the opportunity to pursue a medical career. With the believe that if she could do this, more students and young doctors could, the idea of DoHawood was born.
Minke Huibers (1984) is the secretary of the foundation. She joined in this initiative in the beginning. She finished her medical studies in 2009 and is currently a resident in training in Paediatrics in the Acadademic Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam.Minke was also involved in the IFMSA during her studies. She always had a passion for traveling to Africa and did many developmental projects and internships. She joined DoHawood believing that good education is creating future in countries as Somali land were future is not always obvious. Without initiatives for improving (medical) education supports by money or other supplies are useless. Good education make changes possible and improve (health) systems. Work, study; do with passion (DoHawood). Changes will come, that is why Minke joined DoHawood.
Marthe Zeldenrust (1982) is the treasurer of the foundation and currently working as a tropical doctor in South Africa. She also joined together with Minke from the beginning and was also involved in IFMSA during her studies. Marthe finished her medical studies in 2008 and did a specialization in Tropical Medicine and International Health. In 2012, she worked as a Tropical Doctor for Doctors without Borders/Medecins sans Frontieres in Ceerigabo, Somaliland. Being confronted with the medical needs and the lack of human resources, she believes the education of more medical doctors is one of the most important things, in order to provide sustainable health care and strengthen the health care system; the only way to meet the medical needs of the poorest countries. This is the reason why she joined DoHawood.
We are all passionate about our work in the diversity of countries where we are and have been. However, in medicine, the future lies with the younger generation that is willing and able to become doctors in their own countries. Do Hawood aims to support those who are able but lack the means to pursue their dreams.
Target group
Our target group is students from a variety of professions related to healthcare such as doctors, midwives and nurses. We do however also support some other students depending on their applications and possibilities for the organization to find sponsors. Currently we support 13 students of which 10 are medical students, 1 ICT student, 1 veterinary student and 1 engineering student. All students study at the University of Hargeisa in Somaliland. In the future we aim to expand our reach to other universities and potentially other countries.
Our organization aims to link young doctors and medical students to students in developing countries. Our sponsors mainly are young doctors and medical students who directly support one student in Somaliland.
Current financial status
With only 30 EUR a month a sponsor can support one student in Somaliland. We select new applicants before every new semester and aim to find sponsors during the course of the next semester. Do Hawood pays the fees in advance and receives monthly contributions. General sponsors and other private contributions have assisted us in having a remaining fund with which Do Hawood can support students before a sponsor has been identified or when sponsors are not able to contribute anymore. This has been done to ensure students are always able to continue their studies. A recent contribution has also allowed us to set up a copy/printing fund to provide students with some additional support during their studies. Fundraising from grants or other organizations has been unsuccessful so far.
Contact
[email protected]
www.dohawood.net
https://www.facebook.com/DoHawood
