Ban Ki-moon Global Citizen Mentorship Program - SDG Micro-Projects

GLOBAL CITIZEN MENTORSHIP
PROGRAM 2021
EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS
IN GLOBAL HEALTH

BAN KI-MOON CENTRE
GLOBAL CITIZEN
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
2021
The Ban Ki-moon Centre’s Mentorship Program 2021 empowered 15 emerging young
women leaders in Global Health. Global Health is closely linked to SDG 3 ‘Good health and
well-being’, a field where women are still underrepresented in decision-making and policysetting
despite making up over 70% of the global healthcare workforce.
The Centre collaborated closely with the ENLIGHT European University Network for this
impactful program. Mentors and mentees from 4 ENLIGHT universities based in Europe
(University of Bordeaux, Ghent University, University of Göttingen, and University of
Groningen) and 5 global partners (University of Ibandan, University of Lomé, Universidad
Autónoma Metropolitana, Universidad de Cuenca, and Mbarara University) participated in
the program.
The mentees implemented SDG Micro-
Projects in their communities with the
support of their mentors, focusing on
spotting challenges related to Global
Health and finding meaningful solutions.
Through one-on-one mentorship, peer-topeer
exchange, capacity and skillsbuilding,
support in the implementation of
an SDG Micro-Project, and networking
opportunities, the program empowered
the mentees to become leaders in Global
Health, in turn supporting a more
sustainable and equitable future in
healthcare for us all.
1

SDG MICRO-PROJECTS
SDG Micro-Projects are initiatives that
tackle one or more of the SDGs in a given
community and context. The projects are
designed and implemented by young
changemakers who participate in the
leadership and empowerment programs of
the Ban Ki-moon Centre.
As a part of the Mentorship Program 2021,
15 SDG Micro-Projects were proposed and
14 were finally implemented by the
mentees with the support of their mentors
reaching over 4,580 beneficiaries.
The type of SDG Micro-Project per mentee
varies from launching a campaign to
hosting a workshop.
8
6
4
These projects addressed mental health,
sexual health and reproductive rights,
sexual violence, sustainable diets, stigmas
around blood donation, and more.
While all projects were related to SDG 3,
they also addressed SDGs 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 16,
17.
2
0
Podcast
Consultation
Campaign
Lectures
Academic Research
Training/Workshop
Online Platform
2

The mentees had the opportunity to
attend additional expert workshops to
support their leadership development,
including a workshop on SDG Micro-
Project ideation and proposal writing, an
expert talk with Austrian Doctor's without
Borders CEO, a workshop on burnout
prevention, and a final workshop on
project pitching and public speaking.
This report spotlights the SDG Micro-
Projects implemented, including the
mentee's name and a short description of
their project.
Danielle Fernandes
"Development of a decolonization framework for
global health at academic institutions" workshops
carried out in Belgium
BKMC Mentee Shireen Shehzad Bhamani’s SDG
Micro Project supports resilience building in elderly
persons in convalescent homes in Pakistan.
15
MENTEES
9
COUNTRIES
14 4.580
IMPLEMENTED
PROJECTS
3
PEOPLE REACHED

BAN KI-MOON CENTRE
GLOBAL CITIZEN
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 2021
SDG MICRO-PROJECTS

XIMENA ESTEFANÍA ÁLVAREZ
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA
"Conferences about sexual and reproductive health in students of the
University of cuenca"
My project was a lecture series with the objective of contributing to
the education of students on sexual and reproductive health at the
University of Cuenca, Ecuador. The lectures targeted university
students and emphasized contraceptive methods, care for our bodies,
and exercising your rights. The aim was to raise awareness amongst
the student body on the subject of sexual and reproductive health, in
turn hopefully reducing the high incidence of unwanted pregnancies
and the inappropriate use of contraceptive methods. To assess the
knowledge gained during the lectures, a feedback questionnaire was
distributed.
DANIELLE FERNANDES
GHENT UNIVERSITY
"Development of a Decolonization framework for global health at
academic institutions"
My project aimed at developing guidelines for the the decolonization of
the Global Health Program at Ghent University. The project utilized a
participatory approach involving current students and faculty from the
university. I set up a working group consisting of students and
researchers within the department to provide oversight and guidance
on the topic and to offer recommendations. Moving forward, I will
conduct a sensitizing event and workshop for students and faculty of the
medical department to promote awareness and co-develop a further set
of recommendations. These recommendations will be delivered to
program committee and the working group will provide further
feedback on their implementation.
ELIZABETH OKOYE
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
"Demystifying Blood Donation: What's True and What's not"
My project identified and debunked common myths around blood
donation amongst students and staff at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
A survey was conducted to gather insights and to identify what was
causing the reluctance to give blood. This information was then used to
prepare a poster campaign aimed at raising awareness and reorienting
the prospective of blood donors using science-based facts.
4

HEBATALLAH ABDELRASOL
UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN
"Together for a better parkinson's care in Nigeria"
My project aimed at helping to improve Parkinson's disease care in
Nigeria, the most densely populated country in Africa and the 7th
worldwide. There is an urgent need for immediate interventions and
approaches in order to help relieve Parkinson's disease care in Nigeria.
My project included two complementary approaches: first, an online
patient survey to provide the first insights about patients' experiences
with the limited access to care and affordable Parkinson's disease
medicines. Second, the creation of a teleneurology platform to provide
neurologists and non-neurologist health workers with training as well
as knowledge and expertise regarding Parkinson's disease treatment
and diagnosis.
PAULINA KELLERSMANN
UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN
"Increasing awareness of a domestic violence hotline in georgia"
My project was a campaign to raise awareness on domestic violence in
Georgia. Domestic violence is a major public health issue in Georgia,
but many people are not aware of the available support services. I
implemented a sticker campaign to inform locals about a national
hotline which provides free consultation on violence issues, and
created an Instagram page to support and document it. The project
enables survivors of domestic violence to receive important
consultation and necessary support and contributes to gender
equality in all of Georgia, but particularly in rural areas.
ISABELLA VON POLENZ
UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN
"Healthbutcare"
My project raises awareness for the mental health of healthcare
workers all around the world and aims at de-stigmatizing the issue
through an online exhibition on Instagram. I gathered stories from
healthcare workers including quotes, photos, pieces of art, and more
to share on my platform. Together with a graphic designer, I came up
with the design and logo for the Instagram campaign. I hope to grow
the campaign further moving forward.
5

LUCIE VANHOUTTE
UNIVERSITY OF BORDEAUX
"Dietary Supplement - A food podcast"
My project was a 5-episode podcast about food and how good
nutrition lies in diversity and acknowledging the intrinsic beauty of
family recipes. Each episode described a national dish with nutritional
information. I conducted interviews for each podcast with restaurant
owners or residents who could present a dish from their country.
Contributors were living in various countries and places depending on
the topic of the episode (France, Ethiopia, Togo, Indonesia, Belgium).
My project contributed to raising awareness about healthy diets as
well as cultural acceptance.
LEA LEMKE
UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN
"Parkrun Leeuwarden"
My project was aimed at encouraging inclusive physical and mental
health through an organized run through the global Parkrun network.
I planned to host parkruns in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands free of
charge and also including a socializing element following the run.
Further, the runs were envisioned to be barrier-free and inclusive for
those less mobile or with special needs. However, given COVID and
other considerations, the final runs could not take place. I learned a lot
from my project and look forward to applying these lessons-learned to
a new project in the future.
MARIA BELEN TIRADO
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA
"Adherence to the papanicolaou test in female patients of reproductive
age attending the sinincay-san pedro del cebollar health center"
My project sought to identify the key barriers to adherence to the Pap
(Papanicolaou) smear screening tests in women at the San Pedro del
Cebollar and Sinincay health centers in Ecuador. Barriers identified
included fear about the test, shame, and concern that the personnel
performing the test would be male. The project helped improve
coverage of Pap tests and raised awareness amongst women in the
community about the importance of performing the test regularly. The
project helped improve access to this vital preventative healthcare
measure for those who have difficulty approaching health clinics.
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CÉCILIA DUMAR
UNIVERSITY OF BORDEAX
"Mind, your business"
My project was a portrait photography project highlighting mental
health and how it impacts so many of our lives. The aim was to open a
dialogue, normalize mental health struggles, and contribute to fighting
the stigma surrounding it. 20+ portraits were taken for the project and 2
exhibitions are planned to showcase the photos along with a
establishment of a dedicated website gallery.
AKIME YVONNE MURIEL NAPO-KOURA
UNIVERSITY OF LOMÉ
"violence among sex workers in Togo, 2021"
My project enabled sex workers in Lomé, Togo, to better understand
the concept of violence and to identify the different types of violence
they experience. This empowered them to denounce the violence they
may face in the future. I surveyed 447 sex workers in order to raise
awareness about the violence they suffer as well as the prevention of
sexually transmitted diseases. It is important to note that this is was
the first time that data was obtained on sex workers in Lomé, Togo
and the violence they are often subject to. The project supported the
sex workers through sensitization and awareness raising regarding
their rights as well as by providing information on sexually transmitted
diseases. I look forward to taking this project forward and perhaps
creating an NGO to support sex workers in Togo.
SHIREEN BHAMANI
GHENT UNIVERSITY
"Reducing depression, increasing resilience and healthy coping among
older adults living in elderly homes"
My project aimed to decrease depression and increase resilience as
well as healthy coping practices amongst elderly persons residing in
care homes in Karachi, Pakistan. I did this by providing group
workshops on different resilience building skills during a two day
event. The theme of the first day was 'Expressing Humanity' and the
second day's focus was 'Fostering Optimism.' This helped to minimize
depression in the elderly community. I hope to scale this project up
and to bring the tools developed to other settings.
7

IDA ZIDA
UNIVERSITY OF LOMÉ
"Epidemiology of arboviruses in togo"
My project sought to increase the number of healthcare workers with
knowledge about arboviruses responsible for febrile syndromes in a
country like Togo where malaria is endemic. I conducted a survey to
assess the knowledge of healthcare workers on dengue in Togo, wrote
an article analyzing the prevalence and immunization coverage for
Yellow Fever, and equipped 11 labs with with rapid diagnostic tests
(RDTs) for dengue. As a next step, I plan to equip all the labs in Togo's
health structures with dengue RDTs and yellow fever ELISA kits and to
train healthcare works in the use of these tests.
Maria Belen Tirado
"Adherence to the pap test in female patients"
questionnaire & campaign carried out in Ecuador
Cècilia Dumar
"Mind, Your Business" photography project
carried out in France & Germany
Paulina Kellersmann
"Increasing awareness of a domestic violence
hotline" campaign carried out in Georgia
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Elizabeth Okoye
"Demystifying blood donation" campaign
carried out in Nigeria

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