Help send me to Africa to learn nursing!
Donation protected
Hi everyone,
Two and a half years ago I entered treatment for late stage alcoholism, a battle in which I had been fighting for over a decade, and by the grace of God, I was granted a second chance at life. I had always dreamed of working in health care, but now I knew that it was my purpose to dedicate my life to serving others. I knew that I had to do everything in my power to become a nurse. I was 28 years old, I had very little money to my name, all of my savings and most of my hard-earned money had been spent towards feeding my addiction. My parents, my angels on earth, have been by my side ever since, getting me back on my feet. They helped me get into sober living, where I have been for the last 2.5 years, in a house with 9 women. Two years ago, I signed up for prerequisite classes to nursing school at Bellevue College and began my journey to become an RN.
Fast forward, it is Spring 2019, and I am three classes away from applying to nursing school. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant one day a week for the experience, but the prerequisites are too difficult to take on more work. My time is also dedicated to studying for the nursing school entrance exam. I am a part of my school’s Honor Society, and I received an invitation in the mail from them to study abroad. The trip seemed short, so I began to do independent research, and that’s when I found International Medical Aid’s pre-nursing internship program for four weeks in Mombasa, Kenya. I applied and after I passed the initial screening, I had a skype interview with the president of their foundation. He informed me that last year, out of 700 applicants, they were only able to choose 70 participants. After two weeks of anticipation, I received an email. This year’s applicant pool had been the largest and strongest in their organization’s history - and I was accepted! Needless to say, there were tears. If I were to collect the money to go on this trip, I would be able to do clinical rotations in Kenya’s main hospital, Coast Provincial General Hospital, and focus on four different specialties: emergency trauma (my main interest), surgical department, labor and delivery, and pediatrics. I would spend one week in each area, witnessing and assisting on live births, C-sections, learning wound drainage, how to do sutures on pig’s feet and synthetic skin, IV’s, and so much more. When you graduate the program, the director gives you a recommendation letter to nursing school and helps you write your cover letter. As many of you know, these hospitals need all the hands they can get. To volunteer in Africa and learn nursing would be an absolute dream come true for me. I honestly never expected to live to see 30 years old, at the rate I was going. I figure I might as well work as hard as I can to make the most of the years that I have left and help as many people in the process.
The cost of this program is $2,950 without airfare (plane tickets are anywhere from $1500-$2000) and the payment in full is due very soon. The cost of the program goes to housing, on land transportation, food, mentor salaries, hospital fees, my own insurance and accident insurance, and administrative costs. I have reached out to the Chamber of Commerce of Kirkland and the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland to tell my story, and unfortunately they have already given away their donations for the year.
I also reached out to an alumni member from the website, a woman my age who recently went to Kenya. She said it was the best experience of her life and she hopes to go back. She confirmed that you live in a safe, gated apartment, with a guard at the gate 24/7.
Not only is their organization non-profit, but all of their proceeds are reinvested into the communities and they strive to develop ethical, sustainable community-led initiatives that address the root causes of disease and illness.
Website: Internationalmedicalaid.org
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
Chloë
Two and a half years ago I entered treatment for late stage alcoholism, a battle in which I had been fighting for over a decade, and by the grace of God, I was granted a second chance at life. I had always dreamed of working in health care, but now I knew that it was my purpose to dedicate my life to serving others. I knew that I had to do everything in my power to become a nurse. I was 28 years old, I had very little money to my name, all of my savings and most of my hard-earned money had been spent towards feeding my addiction. My parents, my angels on earth, have been by my side ever since, getting me back on my feet. They helped me get into sober living, where I have been for the last 2.5 years, in a house with 9 women. Two years ago, I signed up for prerequisite classes to nursing school at Bellevue College and began my journey to become an RN.
Fast forward, it is Spring 2019, and I am three classes away from applying to nursing school. I have been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant one day a week for the experience, but the prerequisites are too difficult to take on more work. My time is also dedicated to studying for the nursing school entrance exam. I am a part of my school’s Honor Society, and I received an invitation in the mail from them to study abroad. The trip seemed short, so I began to do independent research, and that’s when I found International Medical Aid’s pre-nursing internship program for four weeks in Mombasa, Kenya. I applied and after I passed the initial screening, I had a skype interview with the president of their foundation. He informed me that last year, out of 700 applicants, they were only able to choose 70 participants. After two weeks of anticipation, I received an email. This year’s applicant pool had been the largest and strongest in their organization’s history - and I was accepted! Needless to say, there were tears. If I were to collect the money to go on this trip, I would be able to do clinical rotations in Kenya’s main hospital, Coast Provincial General Hospital, and focus on four different specialties: emergency trauma (my main interest), surgical department, labor and delivery, and pediatrics. I would spend one week in each area, witnessing and assisting on live births, C-sections, learning wound drainage, how to do sutures on pig’s feet and synthetic skin, IV’s, and so much more. When you graduate the program, the director gives you a recommendation letter to nursing school and helps you write your cover letter. As many of you know, these hospitals need all the hands they can get. To volunteer in Africa and learn nursing would be an absolute dream come true for me. I honestly never expected to live to see 30 years old, at the rate I was going. I figure I might as well work as hard as I can to make the most of the years that I have left and help as many people in the process.
The cost of this program is $2,950 without airfare (plane tickets are anywhere from $1500-$2000) and the payment in full is due very soon. The cost of the program goes to housing, on land transportation, food, mentor salaries, hospital fees, my own insurance and accident insurance, and administrative costs. I have reached out to the Chamber of Commerce of Kirkland and the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland to tell my story, and unfortunately they have already given away their donations for the year.
I also reached out to an alumni member from the website, a woman my age who recently went to Kenya. She said it was the best experience of her life and she hopes to go back. She confirmed that you live in a safe, gated apartment, with a guard at the gate 24/7.
Not only is their organization non-profit, but all of their proceeds are reinvested into the communities and they strive to develop ethical, sustainable community-led initiatives that address the root causes of disease and illness.
Website: Internationalmedicalaid.org
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
Chloë
Organizer
Chloë Jay
Organizer
Kirkland, WA