Participants in the program for Scholarship Support for Roma students enrolled in medical studies gathered virtually to talk about the exam period during the pandemic and about their lives during the last months of online studies. The students united around the worries and struggles caused by the lack of practical exercises which are key in the preparation of all students with ambitions to become good medical professionals.
We also talked about the scholarship program and the organization of volunteer activities during times when social isolation is highly recommended.
41 are this year's scholarship recipients within the program for Scholarship Support for Roma students enrolled in medical studies, managed by the Trust for Social Achievement and implemented within the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria with the financial support of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway in the context of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.
While 14 of the scholars continue their participation in the program after being approved following the previous 2018/2019 academic year, 27 were the newly approved students. The aim of the Scholarship program is to contribute to the formation of a community of health professionals, motivated and prepared to contribute to solving health problems in the Roma community and with the potential to become significant role models for young people of Roma origin. Many of the scholars shared their about increased activity, including volunteering at the local level, related to the participation or organization of initiatives, including informational or disinfection activities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Participants in the program receive financial support in the form of scholarships for a period of one academic year, as well as mentoring by a mentor – a healthcare professional. Despite the complexity of the situation and the transition to distance learning in all universities in the country in order to limit the spread of Covid-19, the scholars successfully worked with their mentors during the 2019/2020 academic year. As part of the accompanying project for Mentorhip Support for Roma students enrolled in medical studies, mentors support students both in developing their academic and professional skills as health professionals and in preparing and organizing awareness-raising initiatives to address common health problems and improve the health of the Roma community. This year, scholars and mentors were supported in their joint work by specially prepared manuals and online discussion groups and events, created in order to address the inability to organize experience-sharing events in person.