Aziza

Uzbekistan, SUSI 2017

Aziza was determined to meet a pressing need in her community. At first, she had an idea to provide supplies to children living in orphanages. However, upon doing research, she learned that the orphanages in the capital city of Tashkent are quite well funded and did not truly need her help. So when she learned of a need for medical supplies at the oncology hospital in Tashkent, she organized a two pronged-approach to help. Not only did she want to help the patients in need, but she also wanted to engage college students in service leadership. So she held a seminar for 18-19 year olds to teach them some of the principles she learned in SUSI about the importance of servant leadership. According to Aziza, many youth in Uzbekistan have “a narrow view of leadership” and she wanted to expand their understanding of what it means to be a leader. During the seminar, Aziza was impressed by how “students showed their interest on this topic by their active participation in the question and answer session.”

The next day, the students participated in a service activity that Aziza had arranged in advance. Aziza purchased high priority medical supply items with funds she and her friends and family had raised. The students then assembled and distributed kits for 45 children receiving cancer treatment at the hospital. The kits included hygiene products such as liquid hand soaps, hand sanitizers, antibacterial hand wipes, paper towels and syringes. The hospital administration and parents of patients were very grateful for the support. Aziza writes that she plans to organize additional fundraising and service leadership activities in the future.

Aziza at a blackboard presenting to a classroom of students.
Aziza, at blackboard, leads students in the Service Leadership seminar.

Aziza with a child hospital patient.
Aziza shares a medical kit with one of the hospital patients.

Contents of a supply kit.
An example of the medical kit contents.