International Education

Demetra Horotan

"My name is Demetra Horotan, I am 23 years old and I am in my final year of nursing. Choosing a career was never easy for me, but I found my inner peace with nursing. My past experiences as a rescue scuba diver, being vegetarian and an environment activist shaped me into becoming a more self-aware, patient and empathetic person. Being part of the Malawi Nursing Exchange program is an amazing opportunity that I hope will round those sharp edges of innocence that I, as a future nurse, posses. I am looking forward to emerging into a different culture, a new environment, a new way of critical thinking and problem-solving and to grow more as a person and as a human being. Coming from a Romanian background and having to adjust to a "new" home was not always easy. Still, moving to a multicultural country such as Canada allowed me to increase my boundaries and better adapt to my surroundings. I hope this trip will further expand my knowledge regarding culture-awareness, embracing other's values, beliefs, sharing love and affection, and practicing "shared humanity". So I'm starting this trip with great enthusiasm and commitment and I hope that along with my teacher and peers/ travel buddies, this trip will allow us to share and gather knowledge, experience and skills that will forever be useful in our careers as nurses."

Duchelin Joseph

My name is Duchelin Joseph and I am a third year nursing student at Vanier College. I am originally from Brooklyn, New York born and raised; however I do speak three languages including French fluently. I decided to pursue a career in nursing not only because of the perks (which include but are not limited to; very long shifts, stress beyond coping and a need for critical thinking skills that rival that of a Japanese super computer) but because of the satisfaction you receive at the end of the day knowing that you were able to provide care for someone in need. As a child I always looked up to healthcare professionals, nurses especially, because I thought it was selfless to devote time and energy in taking care of complete strangers. But at the same time I realized that giving your time to another individual was one of the essential gifts that made us human. With that said, it is a true privilege to have been chosen to represent Vanier College in Malawi, as I am confident that I will deliver professional care to the best of my abilities. Going abroad to deliver nursing care is not only an experience of a life time, but a serious opportunity through which my nursing skills will benefit and grow. I look forward to interacting with the Malawian people and learning about their culture and values. I accept this challenge whole heartedly as I know it will be like nothing I have ever experienced.

Helen Curtis

Choosing nursing as a career is much more than taking care of patients in the hospital setting. Whether it be taking care of an elderly relative, experiencing motherhood, or donating to a local charity, nursing is one of the few professions that allow us to incorporate professional qualities in our everyday lives. Sometimes this advantage can lead to personal questions from our friends and families asking for our health advice, and sometimes it can lead to life-changing opportunities...like this one.

Having lived in Africa before, I am able to appreciate my "universal" right to health care here in Canada, but it's obvious that the term "universal" only spans within a small number of fortunate countries. To these countries that have fallen outside of these borders, humanitarian aid from the outside is sometimes their only means of survival. In return these opportunities offer a gratifying, personal experience, and a new outlook to a beyond doubt, worldwide profession.

I anticipate the qualities I will gain, the rich culture I will absorb, and memories that my friends and I will share in the "warm heart of Africa".

Kara Redden

Being a nurse is more than just a job: it's a way of life. As a nurse, I learn the skills of compassion and empathy that are at the root of caring for my clients. But also, they are skills that motivate me to reach out to other aspects of my life and become a better person in my relationships with those around me. As a result, I have developed a strong desire to be an active participant in my society, both near and far. The Malawi Nursing Exchange will allow me to do just that. As a member of a global health community, I am committed to being a socially aware nurse and seek to understand the various health issues that affect populations in different parts of the world. Having the opportunity to travel to Malawi will allow me to help communities in need and educate myself about the role of the nurse in different cultural contexts. I am always on an adventure to learn new things and enhance my understanding of health and illness in different societies. This is exactly the learning experience I am looking for. Becoming a nurse has been the most rewarding decision I have made to date, and I have only just begun. I can't wait to share my Malawi experience with you all!

Michelle MacIsaac

Nursing comes in many different forms and opportunities and I am grateful to be able to experience nursing within the Malawian culture. My name is Michelle MacIsaac, I am 23 years old and currently in my last year of nursing. I was born and raised in Montreal and come from a large family of five children. Nursing was not my first career choice but over the years developed a great love and appreciation for the many compassionate and hard working nurses. This profession allows us the opportunity to help those in need and make a difference whether big or small. I am very excited and honoured to be able to travel to Malawi and to get the experience to work in conditions different from those in Canada. This experience will enable me to learn to work under diverse conditions as well to learn and appreciate their culture. I have always enjoyed travelling and what the world has to offer and hope that this experience will open up the many doors available to nurses wanting to work abroad. I look forward to the 6 weeks that will be spent in Malawi with my peers and teacher; learning the culture and traditions and putting my knowledge and abilities to work, helping those in need.

Stephane Duong

My name is Stephane Duong. Since I was a child, I have always liked to go to clinics and hospitals just because I like seeing how all the health care professionals work. The body anatomy and how everything works together to make us intelligent functional human being amaze me. I then knew I wanted to work in health related career and that's how I found nursing.

I had my doubt about coming to nursing as a male for my first semester, but all the female classmates were really welcoming and friendly, which eased me in. To all the future male nursing students, this is a great profession that does require our point of view and other attributes in order to provide better quality care and it's NOT a girly career!

I have always liked challenges as it helps us improve our life. Having conquered the physical world by running the full Marathon Oasis 2011, I think it's time to conquer the professional world by going to Malawi with my nursing buddies!

This trip will be one of a lifetime opportunity and it will be engraved in my memories. Of course there will be good and sad stories, but I know I will be telling them for many years to come to my colleagues, friends and family. The thing I'm most excited about is learning their way of nursing without all the expensive technology we have here in a developped country. Also, I find that going to Malawi is a better way for me to help the people in a more personal way. I'm sure I'll meet different people and make a lot of friends there too. In addition, I think this experience will also help me grow as a stronger person clinically and emotionally. Having said that, it's an added benefit for whenever I decide to join the Canadian Forces as a nursing officer.