If you had the opportunity to volunteer in a remote area of the world to solve a problem for many others, would you?
Seven Cambia IT employees said ‘yes’ to an invitation to apply their work skills in a volunteer setting in a Ugandan refugee settlement. Our blog post, Cambia Technology Experts Travel to Uganda to Aid Health Refugee Clinics, highlights how the trip came together and what the team is planning to accomplish next week in Uganda. But our employees’ motivation for volunteering is best expressed in their own words.
“Being from a family that were refugees during the Vietnam War, I can understand and appreciate what these efforts mean to people in need. From this perspective, I considering volunteering as an exchange. My family has experienced and benefitted from these types of organizations since coming here to the United States. That same kindness extended to my family in our time of need should be extended back to others who need help as well.” -Mary M.
“I’ve never been involved in a humanitarian effort like this and this seems like a great opportunity to make an impact applying my experiences. I’m hoping to gain as much as I give in this process. So far, working as part of this team has been amazing. Each person is involved for similar reasons and wants to give as much as they can for its success.” - Mark W.
“This is such a unique opportunity to use my IT skills as part of a team to make an impact in the lives of refugees. I am excited to meet the people living and working in a refugee settlement to work through how we can help bridge the technical gap to allow more quality, patient focused care.” - Angie E.
“I enjoy working in challenging situations with talented individuals – growth from opportunities such as this continues long after the original effort is complete. I have volunteered in multiple capacities, but nothing quite like this. This Medical Teams International/Cambia partnership is the first opportunity that has presented itself where I could combine my career skillset with a humanitarian effort – and that intrigues me tremendously.” - Heidi B.
“My parents raised me to care about the planet, and I’ve studied numerous religions and philosophies that have enhanced my perspective on how important it is to try to help people. I believe we have a chance to make a better planet, but we have to work at it. I think that bringing technology and improved medical aid to Africa could set the stage for some great cultural improvements in the future, and these improvements could potentially impact the world.” - Mick M.
“I have always enjoyed helping people whenever and however I can. I was immediately intrigued by this opportunity to take what I do as a day-to-day job and turn it into something positive for someone in need. I believe what we are doing is the first step in providing real-time data updates to the UN and Ugandan Ministry of Health which will in turn can help provide better, more timely care to those that need it most.” - Jason D.
“From the moment I read the description of the joint effort with Medical Teams International, I knew I had to go. I have thought for years about how to do volunteer work, particularly in Africa, to help people in such dire need and who have suffered tremendously. As many have said on our team, it’s difficult to imagine how to take on such volunteerism while having technical skills instead of medical skills. This is it.” - Lorraine F.
This innovative partnership with Medical Teams International aligns with Cambia’s efforts to be a catalyst for transforming health care, to pioneer a unique project that represents the next generation of corporate volunteerism, and to serve immediate needs in our global health care community. Stay tuned for additional Uganda communications about these volunteers’ experience.
