SAVING SCOGGIE – IFMSA-Panama

Name of the activity: SAVING SCOGGIE

Country/NMO: ANEM Portugal

Program: Environment and Health

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: First-time Activity

Category: Campaign

Focus area: Climate Change, Water Sanitation

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

General description:

We seek to raise awareness about the impact of climate change and its effect on the species of sea turtles that reach our country and the communities surrounding these beaches. The activity consists of two phases:

The first phase includes collecting donations and giving them to people in the communities surrounding these beaches, as well as conducting a medical tour.

The second phase includes helping the wildlife refuge check nurseries and move turtle eggs, to keep them from harm.

Problem statement:

The ocean and its wildlife are critical to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. They supply half of the oxygen we breathe and annually absorb 26% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions emitted into the atmosphere.

Sea turtles are a fundamental link with marine ecosystems. They help maintain the health of seagrass beds and reefs coral reefs, which benefit species with commercial value, such as shrimp, lobster, and tuna. By doing this turtles maintain our oceans healthy.

Target groups:

• General population
• Medical students
• Children
• Youth

Beneficiaries:

• General population

Objectives:

Objective #1 – Promote the conservation of underwater life through volunteering, for a three-day period, in a wildlife refuge where at least 15 medical students will participate with the help of marine biologists.

Objective #2 – Bring primary medical attention to a minimum of 30 people from the community that surrounds the beach where the turtles will nest in a period of one day.

Objective #3 – Deliver donations to 35 families in the community that surrounds the beach where the turtles will nest in a period of one day.

Indicators of Success:

Objective #1

Get at least 15 medical students belonging to IFMSA to participate as volunteers.

Look for marine biologists who can guide us in the nesting process.

Have the support of an arrival beach for our stay.

Train members on the precautions they should take when in contact with the different species of sea turtles.

Promote care for the beach through garbage cleanups.

Monitor through night rounds the nests of turtle eggs and turtles.

Raise awareness through talks of the importance of preserving sea turtles and the planet.

Objective #2

Organize a health fair for at least 30 members of the community.

Perform blood pressure, blood glucose, weight and height tests.

Promote different topics through educational talks that can help raise awareness in the community.

Teach healthy lifestyles that can be carried out in the community according to the age range.

Provide supplies of vitamins, cleaning and hygiene items to the attending members.

Obtain positive feedback from at least 20 of the people served.

Objective #3

Assemble bags of food with the necessary supplies for a minimum of 3 meals for a family.

Provide clothing in good condition for children and adults.

Methodology:

Saving Scoggie is an activity carried out with a minimum of 4 months of planning and 3 days of duration. The methodology of the activity is based on:

– Set up a working group of 5 people to organize the activity 4 months before the start date.

Create 2 SWG, for donations and for the medical tour.

– Carry out 2 fundraising activities in order to meet the donation and mobilization objectives.

Know how and how many families the community is made up of.

– Organize our volunteering with the authorities of the reserve area.

– Promote the activity through social networks so that members are interested in supporting and learning about the cause.

– Coordinate the date and time of arrivals / departures of volunteer members.

The activity requires the collaboration of an organization focused on the preservation of sea turtles or marine biology and also, obtaining funds and donations to accomplish the needs and objectives of the activity.

Plans for evaluation:

– Promoting the activity through NGA, social networks and WhatsApp groups to have the opportunity to apply.

– Remember that turtles enter an international database, it is very important to be accompanied by a professional on the subject.

– Having good communication is the basis for carrying out the activity.

– Remember to try to comply with wearing a red light and comfortable clothes for volunteering.

– Make rounds in the morning to check the area and collect the garbage that is contaminating the beach.

– Try every 30 minutes to take a walk to check the nests and arrival of turtles.

– Educate community members with talks that achieve our mission and give us a surprise.

– Summon at least 8 clinical degree students to serve the population.

– Get the necessary inputs to provide excellent care during and after the visit.

– Present educational topics to children and adults about public health.

– Ensure that the food that will be distributed to each family is rich in nutrients and balanced.

External collaborations:

We collaborate with the UMIP, which is the first university in Panama that offers a specialized career in Marine Biology (since 2008), with the mission of preparing professionals with scientific training, aimed at valuing, conserving and evaluating the marine and coastal environment. 

To cover the costs of mobilization and donations, we carried out 2 fundraising activities, which allowed us to cover everything necessary for the activity to be carried out.