UPG Viewer

25 Years Old

Egypt

Female

Yes! That is really who you are!

My name is Zeinab Farahat, a physiotherapy graduate in Fırat University-Turkey. Originally Egyptian, I moved to Turkey in 2017 for
my studies, which opened many doors in my life for personal and professional development. Throughout the years, I have gathered a lot of hands-on experience through various internship opportunities in different settings, working on neurological disorders, scoliosis, and orthopedic problems. My work has deepened not only my clinical skills but also my ability to communicate effectively across cultures, as I am proficient in Arabic, English, and Turkish.

Leadership has always been one of the driving forces in my journey. Whether it is leading a project or guiding a team, I find leading is about inspiring and motivating others toward common goals. In my prosthetic project for blind amputees in Egypt, I led in the design of the framework and in liaison with various parties for the success of the project. I am passionate about creating tangible impact in other people’s lives, and leadership in healthcare should be a call to service and empathy in helping others reach their potential as you create meaningful change.

Additionally, I’ve been active in various volunteer and educational initiatives where I have taken the lead in organizing events and helping others build professional skills. I strongly believe in empowering others to succeed, and this mindset drives me to constantly seek opportunities for growth, whether through learning, mentorship, or leading by example.

I aspire to deal with major Egyptian healthcare systemic issues of poverty and unemployment by leading the initiative that creates policies and mechanisms for inclusion of care. Through my leadership, I hope to inspire future generations of healthcare professionals to be innovative and drive positive change.

I am deeply committed to addressing global challenges, such as environmental sustainability, healthcare access, and social equality. My passion for creating positive change drives me to actively participate in initiatives aimed at improving the world. Strong Leadership and Teamwork Skills: I have developed sound leadership skills from my academic and professional background. I am very strong at leading teams to shared goals and working with cross-cultural backgrounds. I do believe in the power of team effort to bring about effective change. Cross-Cultural Communication: My experience of living and working in different countries has added to my ability to communicate and collaborate across cultures, such as Egypt, Turkey, and Romania. It further enables me to resonate with people from different communities and understand their respective points of view on sustainability. Multilingual Abilities: I am proficient in Arabic, English, and Turkish, which helps me to relate to people of all walks of life all over the world. This linguistic flexibility will be helpful in connecting with different communities and spreading the message about sustainability. Strong Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: I am able to analyze complex problems, root out the cause, and create actionable solutions. Be it seeking sustainability in healthcare practices or going ahead with an eco-friendly initiative, my analytic approach makes sure my actions are informed by research and evidence. Experience in Healthcare and Rehabilitation: Being a physiotherapist has built in me a very strong foundation of how important health and well-being are, both at the individual and community levels. I am particularly interested in the interaction between sustainability and health, including the promotion of sustainable practices within healthcare systems. Commitment to Lifelong Learning and Personal Growth: I am committed to continuous learning through seeking new opportunities that foster personal and professional growth. I strongly feel that a UPG Sustainability Leader should be flexible enough to learn continuously to actively and constructively respond to emerging challenges in sustainability. Empathy and Community-Focused Mindset: I am a very empathetic person and find community involvement to be very instrumental in all matters of sustainability. My firm belief in the power of “we” rather than “I” propels me to create sustainable solutions that impact whole communities. Strategic Thinking and Vision: I can think strategically, formulate long-term plans that center around the achievement of goals on sustainability. I have been able to understand that having a vision for the future and taking active steps toward the realization of this dream is important. Volunteer and Advocacy Experience: I have taken part in volunteer work and the advocacy of causes associated with social issues: health care, education, and sustainability. This has provided me firsthand experience in driving community-based change.

Strength: Empathy and community-focused mindset

One occasion in which I used empathy and a community-focused mindset to achieve something was while working at MaviKardelen Özel Eğitim Kurumları, a rehabilitation center in Turkey. This institution deals with children with disabilities, and I got an opportunity to work closely with a team in providing these children with appropriate physiotherapy sessions.

One such case involved a young child who had very bad physical limitations because of neurological problems. The family felt isolated and struggled to receive appropriate health resources. By employing my empathetic approach, I listened to them and gave full understanding to the emotional and physical challenges they were going through. This helped to develop a very trust-based relationship with the family and ensured they felt supported and heard.

Beyond the clinical aspect, I had to work with the community of caregivers and health professionals at the centre to establish a more coordinated and participatory treatment plan for the child. Resources, knowledge, and techniques were shared, with one another aligned in goals that pertained to the progress of the child.

One of the most rewarding experiences in my volunteer life was volunteering at Fırat University Hospital in Turkey. Being a student of physiotherapy, I offered my support to the rehabilitation department by assisting patients in their processes of recovery, especially those suffering from musculoskeletal conditions and neurological disorders. I also helped in organizing awareness campaigns about physical health, aiming at educating the local community on the importance of proper physiotherapy for recovery and prevention.

Another significant volunteering experience was during a project organized by a local NGO focused on improving healthcare access for rural communities in Egypt. I worked with a team to provide basic health screenings, distribute medical supplies, and raise awareness about the importance of preventive healthcare. We also conducted workshops on basic first aid and health education in underserved villages.

From these experiences, I learned several valuable lessons:

Empathy and Active Listening: Volunteering in healthcare settings helped me understand the diverse needs of patients, teaching me how to listen attentively and respond with compassion and care, particularly in emotionally challenging situations.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Working with healthcare professionals, volunteers, and community members taught me the importance of collaboration in achieving meaningful outcomes. Each person’s contribution, regardless of their role, was vital to the success of our projects.

Adaptability and Resourcefulness: In both environments, more so when working in rural or resource-limited settings, I learnt how to adapt my approach and use whatever resources are available to have the maximum impact.

Cultural Awareness: Volunteering in various settings, especially rural Egypt, furthered my appreciation for the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need to tailor health care solutions to meet specific needs and beliefs of a particular community.

These experiences have further developed my passion for volunteering and helping others, especially in the fields of health, sustainability, and community empowerment.

Undergraduate: I have completed an undergraduate degree

The kind of project I would like to spearhead in the community or within my organization on the issue of sustainability would entail accessible physiotherapy and health education among underserved populations.

The reason being, people in low-income or rural areas have poor access to health care, let alone rehabilitation services, due to a lack of resources or awareness. Leading a project that brings such services to those communities would be a way for me to contribute to improving the physical well-being of individuals, as well as their long-term health outcomes and quality of life.

The project would involve:

Mobile Physiotherapy Clinics: Establishment of mobile clinics that can reach every rural or underprivileged area to offer free or low-cost physiotherapy treatments. In this way, people in areas that do not have access to health facilities can also be treated. The main rehabilitation would be for conditions such as musculoskeletal injuries, neurological disorders, and post-surgery rehabilitation.

Health Education Campaigns: Beside the treatment offered, the project would offer in-service training and educate them with pamphlets regarding preventive care, physical activity, and ergonomics. That will help them to lead life independently for a long period and manage their health with improved awareness.

Collaboration with Local Partners: The project would be designed to collaborate with local healthcare providers, community leaders, and NGOs to ensure the sustainability and success of the initiative. By involving the local community, we can make sure that the project addresses their specific needs and is sustainable beyond its initial implementation.

This initiative is important because it addresses the immediacy of health care with long-term health education and sustainability. This would help people have more wholeness in their health, lives, and activities and be able to self-sustain within their communities regarding health issues. I strongly believe that through this project, a ripple effect could be created in which each individual becomes an ambassador to others, enabling better health awareness among them.

In leading a project on accessible physiotherapy services and health education for the underserved, I foresee a number of challenges, but I am confident that with strategic planning and collaboration with the community, they can be effectively overcome.

1. Financial Constraints
One major challenge would be securing adequate funding to cover the costs of mobile clinics, healthcare equipment, and educational materials. In low-resource settings, financial limitations can restrict access to essential services.

Solution: In order to overcome this, I would seek funding from multiple sources, including but not limited to government grants, partnerships with NGOs, and private sector corporations. I shall also look into crowdfunding campaigns and call upon various international organizations focused on health and sustainability. Further, local community involvement through in-kind donations or volunteer services would go a long way in reducing the overall costs associated with this initiative.

2. Resistance from the Community
Some members of the community do not want to accept physiotherapy services or to participate in health education, possibly due to cultural reasons or ignorance on the importance of such services.

Solution: I would work with local leaders and healthcare providers who are already well-established in the community to try to build trust and help overcome this resistance. Second, I would develop tailored educational campaigns that show the benefits of physiotherapy in ways that resonate with the local culture and concerns. The offer of free workshops, demonstrations, and success stories from early beneficiaries would help to break down skepticism and encourage participation.

3. Logistical Challenges
In rural or underserved areas, logistical issues such as limited transportation infrastructure and difficulties in reaching remote locations could hinder the accessibility of the mobile clinics and healthcare services.

Solution: To mitigate these challenges, I would carefully plan the routes and timing of the mobile clinics. I would choose vehicles that are suited for different terrains and look into partnerships with local transportation providers to facilitate movement. Furthermore, we could hold clinics in smaller, more localized groups so that we could maximize the area coverage and make services more accessible to those in need.

4. Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability
One of the challenges for many healthcare projects is to maintain momentum an

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