"In the Process of Accompaniment we work more intensely with people and families who have been detected as more needy in the Process of Reception. We seek to create a relationship, a bond," explained Amelia Loitegui, from Caritas Pamplona, at a roundtable organized by the classroom Saludable of the School de Enfermería. "It is very shocking to see the loneliness in which the women we work with find themselves," she added.

Teresa Gutiérrez, from Tantaka; Santiago Martínez, from AUNON; and Mariam Albardíaz, from network Madre Navarra, also participated in the activity. The roundtable has closed the training cycle "Maternity and breastfeeding" in which more than 60 students of 3rd grade have participated. The goal of this last session was to present to the students the profile of women who approach these associations, in order to prepare the activity of the second semester. Once their own training has been completed, the students will carry out various workshops and sessions to advise mothers, with whom these associations are already working, who are immersed in the breastfeeding process, and who have voluntarily expressed their desire to participate.

"Breastfeeding expresses a lot: it is a look, a bond. It's not just feeding," Amelia Loitegui stressed. "The way you touch a newborn child conditions his or her life. Being able to accompany a woman at that moment is very important," she concluded.

For his part, Santiago Martínez, professor at the School of Philosophy and Letters and promoter of project AUNON, invited the students to be idealistic: "Thinking that you can change the world is a great starting point to be able to do many things". "In AUNON we open ways for refugees to overcome fear and loneliness: we help them to get to know language, we organize plans with families, we give them English classes and financial aid legal ... In final, we help them to weave new networks, like the ones they had in their countries of origin", he explained. And as committee, she invited them to look and listen with affection to the women they help: "Let them see that you care about their problems".

Along the same lines, Teresa Gutiérrez, doctoral student at School and manager of project of Tantaka, which combines sport and training for children and mothers at risk of social exclusion, insisted on the need to know the reality of the women to be helped. "We must approach them with respect. Treat them one person at a time," she said.

For Mariam Albardíaz, of network Madre Navarra, "the core topic is that they do not feel alone, that they feel welcomed". "We must know how to listen to them, accept them without ever judging them, and treat them authentically, without pretending to be something else".

A Service-Learning project

This project of training on breastfeeding, on a voluntary basis, complements the subjects of "Nursing Care in Childhood and Adolescence", "Child Nursing Care" and "Nursing Care for Adults IV"; and is part of the professor Service-Learning methodology promoted by the University.

The activities, both theoretical and practical, are being tutored and guided by professors Maider Belintxon and Marta Vidaurreta from the Nursing Department at School ; Esther Peña, midwife at the Clinic; Esperanza Berástegui, Sonia Villafañe and Ana Imízcoz, Pediatrics nurses also at the Clinic; and student interns Marta Belmonte and Irati Valencia. Clínica Universidad de Navarra Esperanza Berástegui, Sonia Villafañe and Ana Imízcoz, Pediatrics nurses also at the Clinic; and student interns Marta Belmonte and Irati Valencia.

The project is part of the Healthy classroom of the School of Nursing, an initiative that seeks to promote a culture of health in society through various activities of training and awareness.

More information: unilacta@unav.es