Motivation Letter

Dear NMOs, IFMSA Family,

Today, the world is witnessing a critical period that will mark modern history. Between the irrecoverable damages of climate change, the breakout of multiple fatal epidemics and the human rights violations oppressing people in all regions, there is a huge flow of information crossing the world every little minute.. The world is shifting rapidly, and with this huge flow of communication, so are its means.

As the biggest worldwide students organisation, we need to adapt to these events, as they fall under our fields of Advocacy. Thus, we also need to shift.. We need to adopt these new ways of communication. Not only because they increase our capacity to cover these global health events, but it’s also because of the fact that communication plays a vital role in our Public Relations. It strengthens our position between health stakeholders and advance our advocacy efforts. In this big whirlwind, Public Relations and Communication might seem complicated . Covering numerous amount of very specific skills ranging from graphic design, social media management, marketing strategies, website processing..ect It might seem complicated yes, But for me? It is a passion, and a life fulfilling journey. Before diving into PR and Communication, let me introduce myself first.

My name is Mohamed El Amine Youcef Ali a 6th year medical student from Algeria. And I am going to tell you about the journey that has led me to writing this letter today.

It all started 4 years ago, when I filled this form on facebook to join my LC. Little then I know then, that simple form was about to change my life. I have joined SCORP in my LC, and it wasn’t much time before I proposed my first activity. The topic wasn’t that original of idea, but all what I focused on then was how to reach the maximum of people through Social Media and how to be creative in the promotion. At that time, I didn’t know much about these big fancy words. But

when you look at it, my entire plan was about PR and communication, almost instinctively And the activity has reached a success that is still talked to until today.

After that activity, my popularity within my LC has been boosted. To the point that I became LORP the year after, and NORP eventually. As LORP, I had some sort of creative liberty, and I found myself organizing campaign after campaign. it was also the same year when my designs were posted for the first time. I was eager for knowledge and capacity building, on both human rights and and PR&C skills. This is why I started teaching myself through online videos, reading manuals and guides, trying out software... ect

Coming from a NMO that have always wanted to reach an IT, or the IFMSA TO but couldn’t, members started placing their bet on me, and encouraging me to maybe succeed and reach the «International Team» milestone. So I became NORP. NORP to a non experienced group of LCs, without any bases to build up on. And that is when I understood the utility of PR. I started trying to organize activities, but members were not interested, they were not even understanding the concepts shared with them. And I so I turned to campaigning, and to building national databases. Little by little, the national FB group started coming life, members’ engagement increased considerably, and I ended up designing our first National guides, creating our first national database with the LOs, and having multiple successfull campaigns under our belt.

During that term, my main inspiration was the SCORP GA which was responsible for SCORP PR&C back then. I used to watch everything done by the GA and try to apply it on a national level, dreaming that maybe one day, I will reach that position. And after having successfully delivered the sPRead it workshop in preAM19 with 2 IFMSA VPPRCs, and being a part of the sessions team of that same AM. Here I am today, the SCORP Public Relations and Communication Assistant as part of the SCORP IT of 2019/2020.

Being part of a the only standing committee that has a position that focuses solemnly on PR&C has given me a huge advantage in our federation. As I am able to focus all my attention on our publications, platforms and campaigns. But also have an overview of the work of IFMSA’s VPPRC. As I am the link between him and the SCORP IT. And at the same time, this position has enabled me to see the PR&C disparities between standing committees and really understand Public Relations and Communication formalities within our federation.

This is why today, I believe that I am fully able to take on this next challenge, to become part of IFMSA’s leadership as Vice-President for PR and Communication. My passion and understanding of PR&C has never been stronger. And If elected, I pledge to take our federation’s image and Identity to a new level of consistency, increase members’ engagement in our activities and build their capacity, and amplify our impact and our notoriety between health stakeholders.