Semmelweis University, celebrating its 250th anniversary starting later this year, was the host of this year’s National Touristic Meeting of University and College Students (EFOTT) festival. As the host, the University worked hard to organized fun and valuable programs centered around disease prevention and health. Screening examinations were one of these programs, and we were able to speak with a volunteer about her experience.
To begin, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Maria Vrentzou, and I am from the island of Crete in Greece. I am a fresh graduate from the Semmelweis University Faculty of Medicine.
How did these screening examinations begin, and how you get involved in volunteering?
It all started from our University. It’s a project created by the Semmelweis University Students’ Union and the Semmelweis Health Promotion Center. It began as this crazy idea of doing screenings in Ukraine, in the Carpathian Basin, and it really grew to be something much bigger. We all became a big family – the screening crew, and the student volunteers from the all of the university’s different faculties. We have been to five screenings so far, if I am correct, and when they told me we were going to be doing one at EFOTT I was so excited. Prevention is the best treatment, and I can see that people are really interested in it. It’s been an amazing experience so far and can only recommend this type of volunteering to everyone – Hungarian and international students included.
That’s wonderful to hear. Why do you think this type of volunteering is important, especially for students / young professionals like yourself?
I think that to call yourself a multifaceted person, you can’t just focus on your field of studies – you have to give back to the community. It’s also a great way to meet new people and for international students to connect and get to know Hungarian students because it can be a challenge due to our separate studies. These kinds of programs are the best way to get out of our own little bubbles and connect with other communities that share the same interests.
Would you recommend getting involved in these kinds of volunteer projects to international students? Why?
I would absolutely recommend it to everyone. I have two main reasons for this. One: I urge international students to take part in these kinds of projects because we don’t get many chances to meet Hungarians during our studies, and it’s such a win-win opportunity for both sides. Both Hungarian and international students get to practice their language skills, and you get to meet so many new people; like I said, it feels like a small family. The second reason is that we gain a lot of valuable practice: we get to apply the theories we learned at university in real-life situations, which is something we don’t get to do on a daily basis. These opportunities that are offered to us help us become better, and help us learn how to interact with patients and be on the “frontline”, so to speak. It’s a priceless experience.
What has been your favorite experience with the screening team at the EFOTT festival so far?
That’s a tough one! Firstly, I love where the festival is situated: right on Lake Velence, and everyone is relaxed. I love conducting screenings, and I love knowing many of the people that are also working at the festival. I also had the chance to go backstage at one of my favorite DJ’s performances. It’s been an amazing experience, one of the best so far.
Faye Gillespie
Photo: Faye Gillespie, Maria Vrentzou
