In the field of global health, knowledge exchange and intercultural collaboration are vital for sustainable development. MAría Laínez Martí and Ana Belén Hernández Navarro, dedicated physiotherapists, share their testimony with us about the experience they have just lived as volunteers for the Recover Foundation in Cameroon.

For three weeks, María and Ana Belén have experienced the intensity and cultural diversity of central and southern Cameroon, getting involved in local life and in the development of physiotherapy projects. Their daily work involved the running workshops, therapeutic sessions and training, and with that they sought to inspire patients and colleagues to see physiotherapy as a means of hope and recovery.

“When you put on your patients” glasses, you feel that spark of hope and energy placed in the treatment you are about to perform, hoping that your session will return, for example, a malunited fracture to a new joint, a child who doesn't walk to a child who plays, or a hemiplegic patient to a fit patient," they point out.

Precisely, interaction with the patients enabled these volunteers to understand the hopes and challenges facing the local population. In a society where mutual aid and family unity are key, María and Ana Belén observed the healthcare and economic difficulties they face, but also the strength and resilience of a united community.

“We, with our glasses, see a population that lives from hand to mouth, with a paid-for healthcare system and few means to cope with illness, with harsh working conditions and few opportunities for change, but when we go out with our Cameroonian friends and they lend us their glasses again we see a united, family-oriented society, where the help of a neighbour is vital for survival.”

Their stay in Cameroon led María and Ana Belén to reflect on their role in this society and to question the idealisation of volunteering. They realised that, although their contribution might seem limited, the cultural richness and human relationships built were the true treasure of the trip.

“You learn more from the cultural immersion of living with your patients, sharing meals with colleagues and enjoying moments of friendship in spite of all cultural differences,” they pointed out.

From Recover Foundation, we encourage health professionals like María and Ana Belén to explore volunteering opportunities, to immerse themselves in new cultures, and to contribute to the strengthening of global health systems, as well as to the advancement of intercultural knowledge and understanding.