Making Change

Temple’s Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) chapter is working to bring awareness to health issues both locally and across the globe.

Over the past four years, Temple University’s Chapter of the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) has been raising funds and awareness for health issues in both local and international locations.

FIMRC focuses on bringing awareness to important public health issues as well as educating people about topics such as health education, nutrition and hand-washing. The organization collaborates with approximately 10 major clinics in several countries including India, the Dominican Republic and Uganda.

Haritha Reddy, a senior biology major and three-year President of Temple’s FIMRC chapter, says she feels fulfilled by the work FIMRC is involved in.

“When you go to these clinics and work there you are with kids who don’t wear shoes outside are surrounded broken alcohol bottles on the ground. They are so grateful for you to come and teach them a little bit about nutrition or for you to come and play with them,” Reddy said.

Temple’s FIMRC chapter provides their members with opportunities to travel abroad at any time during the year. If one prefers working locally, members are able to volunteer at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia.

Recently, FIMRC planned an interactive event featuring cuisine from each country where FIMRC clinics are located. The event acted as a fundraiser and charged a $5 admission fee.

Teammates were blindfolded as they tasted different foods and attempted to determine the country to which they were from. FIMRC holds similar events regularly both members and non-members alike.

Shreya Inala, sophomore biology major and member of FIMRC, says that making a difference is her favorite part about FIMRC.

“Knowing that we are making a difference…it might change someone’s life drastically and we won’t know until we try,” Inala said. “If I had to describe FIMRC in one word, it would be ‘giving’.”  

Written by Morgan Pivovarnik

Photo courtesy of fimrc.org