On October 10 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Africa Partners Medical is sponsoring Pasta at Patrick’s to help raise money for scholarships that fund secondary school education for Nigerian students.
Africa Partners Medical (APM) has been around for four years on the Gustavus campus. It was started by two former students who worked at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, which is where APM originated.The organization was founded in Minnesota by a Ghanian doctor who had moved to Minnesota and wanted to continue helping his native country. APM at Gustavus has gained strength and often partners with APM at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Since then, APM at Gustavus has continued to grow, with its current size being 25 members.
“I joined APM my [first] year when I checked it out at the Involvement Fair. I wanted to make a difference outside of Gustavus, and APM seemed like a good fit,” Sophomore Biochemistry Major Alex Chubick said.
“I joined APM because I have a strong interest in travel and world issues. Sometimes we forget what’s happening up here on the hill, almost [like] a bubble effect. I like knowing that I feel more connected globally,” Senior Biology Major Jill Scheel said.
Pasta at Patrick’s is a first time event for APM. They previously had sold grilled cheese and brownies in the dorms to raise money. The money from the event will be used to fund scholarships for Nigerian students to attend secondary school. The Nigerian school partnering with APM is located in the Delta State of Nigeria.
Often students in Nigeria are too poor to afford to continue their education, so the scholarships give them that opportunity. The teachers of Delta State let their students know that APM is raising money for them. The students are instructed to submit a video saying why they want the scholarship. Later in the year, Gustavus APM will watch all the submissions and decide who to give the scholarship money to.
“In America, going to high school is an automatic choice for us,” Chubick said. “We take our own education for granted sometimes, and [we] don’t realize what we have here. Going to secondary school isn’t always a choice for the students over in Nigeria. Helping these students out is a great opportunity for them.”
“The scholarship funding is a good way for us to connect with people who have less in the world. Giving back is a seemingly small commitment to us, but it really makes a huge impact in their lives. Studying abroad in Mali last year really helped open my eyes up to the poverty and low living situations they deal with. I want to continue giving back and return to Africa,” Senior Biochemistry and Chemistry Major Courtney Kerestes said.