You who fight ! A Welcome Message by the SCOME Director

This is the first quote that caught my attention since the beginning of 2020. It is a casual phrase common in Brazil, said whenever someone strives to achieve simple day-to-day goals. I couldn’t help but reflect this quote on our day-to-day IFMSA life and the fights we lead for a better tomorrow: you who fight for a better teaching and learning opportunities for your peers, you who fight for representing medical students, you who fight for the quality of your education, you who fight for healthier communities, you who fight decent working conditions in healthcare, you who fight for a stronger health workforce, you who fight your fights, wherever you are: we are here to fight with you, we are here to fight together. The SCOME Sessions are the arena where all the fighters gather, so they can share their experiences, discuss common strategies and develop a united vision on students’ involvement in Medical Education locally, and globally.

The Standing Committee on Medical Education (SCOME) is the global platform for medical students worldwide to join forces so as to learn, empower one another and lead actions to advocate for meaningful students’ participation in Medical Education. Since the past years, SCOME has developed many initiatives in ensuring medical students worldwide are capacitated with Medical Education knowledge and representation skills, in order to ensure they are actively taking part in the decision-making within their Medical Education Systems. The SCOME Sessions during IFMSA General Assemblies are a special occasion for medical students worldwide, since it is the largest youth gathering across the 5 regions to discuss Medical Education, exchange ideas and brainstorm a common mission to achieve together: in other words, it is the embodiment of the IFMSA motto: “thinking globally, and acting locally”, but sometimes it is relevant on the other way around, as members can think locally and act globally within the global participation opportunities IFMS offers, so as to shape and strengthen the voice of medical students all over the globe.

Looking forward to joining forces with you in Rwanda,

Marou