University students train women at risk of social exclusion in health aspects of their lives

The Schools of Nursing and Education and Psychology of the University of Navarra have carried out an innovationproject professor aimed at women at risk of social exclusion in Navarra. Students of nursing and pedagogy have been in charge of implementing the project. Specifically, they have carried out a health evaluation to each participant to then analyze the data obtained from these assessments and, through scientific evidence, carry out a health intervention. The interventions have been focused on orienting women on the use of the health services offered by the Government of Navarra, offering tools to face migratory grief, a basic training on health issues, such as nutrition or first aid, or offering a mapping of community assets, among others. The project has been launched in Villa Teresita, a religious community that serves this group.

This project arises as an opportunity for our students to interact with migrant population and population at risk of social exclusion through a service learning methodology" emphasizes Maider Belintxon, professor of Nursing, "we live in a globalized society, but the reality is that at the health level we have a long way to go to have a health system with culturally competent professionals and culturally competent organizations", Katya Palafox, professor of Pedagogy, assures that "we are looking for the learning and the development of the students in aspects such as the acquisition of professional competencies in a sector of the population that they will attend to professionally. She adds that "this allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems that require the use of creative ideas, facilitates the work of interdisciplinary teams that seek to achieve common goals and responds to the Service-Learning methodology that is part of the University's own values".

Blessing is Nigerian. She came to Pamplona five years ago with her four children and is one of the mothers who participates in this project: "This work helps me to learn how to take care of children in health. To know what to do if they are sick. For example, a student has taught me how to perform CPR in case something happens" and ends "I am happy for this opportunity because there are many things I didn't know how to do". 

Andrea Beobide is a fourth year nursing student "it is a very rewarding job, because what I have learned in the four years of degree program we are putting it on internship". It is her first work in partnership with pedagogy "they have guided us on how we can talk to them or give them the material. It has helped us to see it from another perspective". Ana María Vega is a third-year pedagogy student and says that this project "is a challenge, because you deal with people in a vulnerable point and you have to have a lot of empathy with them". Working with fellow nurses "seems to me a very interesting idea, because, although we have different points of view, we work for the same goal. The University of Navarra has given me everything: the theory and the human side. It is essential to take the person into account in order to apply the theory".