Embarking on a harrowing adventure St. Lawrence College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) student, Justin Rivette-Bancroft, left for Moshi, Tanzania, on May 8, as part of a three-week cross-cultural nursing experience. The eager Cornwall native will be taking part in several health-related activities and will be back in his hometown on May 26. — photo Francis Racine
Africa, but I already know I’ll want to go back!” During the trip, students, hailing fromall three St. Lawrence College campuses, will be working at the Pamoja TunawezaWomen’s Centre. To make things even more special, Rivette-Bancroft is the only student from Cornwall taking part in the journey. Yet, although it seems like an ideal adventure, the student explained that he sure had to work hard to ensure his place amongst the twelve soon-to-be nurses. “To go there, we had to pay $6000,” he added. “I therefore had to do a lot of fundraising. It was hard at times, but it worked out.” His fundraiser efforts included a spaghetti dinner as well as the selling of several goods, such as clothing. While in Tanzania, the students will be working at the clinic and at outreach clinics in villages surrounding the city of Moshi, located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. They will be doing health promotion and
teaching, screening, and working with the local health care providers. Students participating in the trip are enrolled in a cross-cultural nursing elective, according to Donna Clarke-McMullen, professor in the BScN program at SLC, and accompanying the students on this trip. “This generation of students are globally interested, as they have grown up being aware of the inequities between developed and developing countries.There has been a growth of companies providing international opportunities for students to volunteer. One of the reasons we chose Pamoja, was that it provided global health care in a local capacity building and in an ethical manner.” To prepare for the trip, the towering student read about global health, cultural nursing practice, common illnesses he will encounter in Tanzania, and culture shock. In addition, he heard from guest speakers, prepared case studies and discussed important topics like travel safety and what
to expect in local culture. Rivette-Bancroft will also have to do a project on various topics such as the education system, political and health care system in Tanzania and how it compares to Canada. “This is a nursing focusedmission, so the activities involve outreachmedical caravans, health education, and worksite hypertension screening,” Clarke-McMullen said. “Learning opportunities include learning about public health and local health initiatives for women, a day spent withmothers in village homes.” Although the endeavour might be intimidating for some, the Cornwall native is quite eager to embark on the adventure. “I want to do travel nursing,” he explained. “I want to work either in Africa, South America or even China or the Middle East. I want to go wherever I’m needed.” Several organizations, such as Nurses without borders and the Red Cross, employ several travel nurses.
FRANCIS RACINE francis.racine@eap.on.ca
You could consider Justin Rivette-Bancroft a gentle giant. Standing at a whopping 6 foot 6 inches, the ex TeamCanada football player and now St. Lawrence College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) student is currently in Africa, as part of an elective class. “I always knew I wanted to help people,” he explained during an interview, mere days before his May 8 departure. “I played football in Texas and was approached by several scouts. I had a future in the sport, but I knew I wanted to be a nurse.” Rivette-Bancroft is part of a 12-student, 2-teacher team that is currently travelling Moshi, in Tanzania, on a three-week cross cultural nursing experience. “We’re leaving May 8 and coming back on the 26,” he said, smiling. “I can’t wait. I’ve never been to
Le Journal, Cornwall
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Le mercredi 11 mai 2016
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