Student life often focuses on lectures and late-night revision. But for Ali, a chance meeting turned it into something far more impactful: leading projects that are improving healthcare and saving lives across the world.
One meeting changed everything
I’ve always been interested in humanitarian work, especially on a global scale, so when I started medical school, I was looking at how I could get involved.
At Southampton, we have ‘medic parents’ from higher years who mentor us and give us advice. One of my ‘parents’ had just come back from Africa with Cameroon Catalyst, a charity run by students. He told me: “Just come to 3 sessions. If you don’t like it, I’ll never mention it again.”
I went along, and within 1 meeting, I was all in. They were filling committee roles, and no one had turned up for the Head of Fundraising position. I remember thinking, should I really go for this? I thought well, why not? And honestly, the rest is history. A couple of years later, and I’m now President of the society, which I was really nervous about at first, but it’s so rewarding.
Transforming ideas into impact
What makes Cameroon Catalyst different is simple: we don’t just learn and talk about change, we make it happen by designing and delivering real engineering and medical projects.
Our engineering team is currently restoring a medical centre the charity built around a decade ago. Although really successful a few years ago, over time the building has fallen into disrepair, and when we visited, it wasn’t really being used. Just 1 nurse, in his 80s, was still trying to keep it going.
We are now working on plans to renovate the centre and bring it back to life, giving it the potential to make a huge impact again.
One of the unique parts of the experience is seeing a project through from start to finish. You’ll work on something for 10 months and then actually have the opportunity to go to Cameroon and deliver it as a team.
Usually, you can’t really do anything meaningful until you have your degree. But here at Southampton, as students, here we are designing and delivering real solutions. Knowing that I was doing this before I was even halfway through my medical degree is really special.
Ali, Medical student
What attracted me to be part of Cameroon Catalyst, and what’s kept me here, is being around people who genuinely care: about each other, and about what they’re doing. There’s something incredible about coming together like that.
Small changes, big results
On the medical side, we’ve been running a malaria prevention programme. Malaria is a life-threatening disease transmitted through bites of infected mosquitos. Children under five and pregnant women are most vulnerable.
Last year, we distributed 100 mosquito nets, prioritising these vulnerable groups. Now we’re expanding into a neighbouring village and aiming to give out 200 to 300 nets.
Awareness raising is a key part of our work - we run workshops to raise awareness around simple measures that can prevent people contracting malaria. We’re not big enough to deliver a vaccination programme, so we’re focusing on the smaller changes we can make: things like covering water, avoiding stagnant areas, and closing windows at night. When these small changes are added together, they can make a huge difference to preventing people being infected with malaria.
Working towards lasting change
We’ve also started a new project focusing on maternal health. In our first year, we looked at period poverty, which opened our eyes to wider issues. Maternal and infant mortality rates are high in Cameroon, and malnutrition is a big issue in the country too.
We’re now looking to create a sterile birthing space within the medical centre. This will be a safe environment where women can give birth. It’s ambitious, but something we really want to try and make happen.
Our goal isn’t just to come into the country, do projects and leave - it’s to make a lasting difference that the local community is part of. We want to ignite the flame for the local community to keep lit so that it spreads onwards, keeping the progress going.
Chasing your dreams
Spending time in Cameroon changed everything for me. We visited villages with limited access to medication, no electricity, and just a single water source. But the people were incredibly happy. It really puts things into perspective.
The toughest part was speaking to the kids. I interviewed some of them about their dreams. They were so full of hope. But the reality is, many of them won’t get the chance to achieve those dreams.
I want that to change. I want them to be able to achieve their dreams, because for me, chasing your dream is the freest you can be. And it’s not fair that people can’t have those opportunities because of their background and where they come from.
All lives are equal; that’s something I live by, and this experience has given me the drive to act on that. It made me realise this isn’t just something I want to do in the future; it’s something I have to do.
