AUSSS Magazine - Vol. 01

What's Inside?

Folklore: Oedipus!

Triple H approved!

A letter from the president! Not your Disney Princess!

A 20-minute recipe.

Crosswords!

News? Nah, tea. Khufu and more! Culture shock.

Face blindness.

Sustainable Development Goals.

Medicine? Pffttt, handle the kitchen. Concept Note Writing 101. A visit to the clinic.

What have our SCs been up to?

What about YOU?

Quick monthly recap! Credits.

Letter from the President!

Dearest AUSSS green family, AUSSS has always created legacies throughout the past 52 years, but during these last few years, specifically, AUSSS has witnessed more growth, development, and empowerment than ever.

The first AUSSS magazine is officially out, all the articles show different aspects of AUSSS from each SC point of view, youth interests, and from the perspective of medical students.

Special thanks to every single person of the MWG who contributed to this magazine and helped make the first AUSSS magazine unique and different and special thanks to the most energetic and the most creative: our one and only CBSDD Ms. Heba Ismail, who’s always impressive and thinking out of the box and Ms. Habiba ElMasry CBSDD GA; both of whom worked really hard to bring this magazine into light. Not to mention Ms. Hamees Magdy, our lovely PnSDD, who made sure this magazine is one of a kind!

Green love, Merehan

Fouda AUSSS President 22-23.

In ancient greek oedipous literally translates to "SWOLLEN FEET"

Oedipus Oedipus

Acautionarytaleabouttheproblemwith abandoningyourchildinthemountains.

Oidan meaning to swell and pous (from podos) meaning feet!

In honour of mothers day, we decided to share with you one of the most famously disturbing mother/son relationships.

Born to the King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes, an oracle predicted that Oedipus would end up killing his father and marrying his mother. Fearing this prophecy, King Laius ordered his servants to pierce the baby’s ankles, rendering him unable to crawl, and instructed one of his shepherds to abandon him in the mountains and leave him to die. Unfortunately for King Laius (and quite fortunately for us), the story did not end there. Having taken pity on the baby, the shepherd decided to give him to another shepherd who took him to Corinth where he was later adopted by that same king and his wife (the first of many ironies to come).

When Oedipus grew up, he got into a fight with a drunkard who told him that he was adopted (lame, I know). Hoping to learn the truth, Oedipus visited the oracle of Delphi, who told him about the prophecy. Wanting to protect his (adoptive?) parents, Oedipus left Corinth and headed north wanting to get as far away from his parents as possible (most of you can probably guess where he’s heading now *wink wink*).

On his way up north, Oedipus encountered a man with whom he quarrelled and later killed before heading up to Thebes. Upon his arrival, he encountered Sphinx, a monster who plagued the city and terrorised passersby by requiring them to answer a riddle. The Sphinx asked Oedipus the same question she has asked everyone (yes, it is a she) and when he answered it correctly, she killed herself as she was unable to bear the fact that her riddle had been answered correctly! (It is a bit dramatic, especially since the riddle is so dumb that it is not even worthy of being in this magazine!).

Oedipus Oedipus

As a reward, Oedipus received the throne of Thebes and the hand of the widowed Queen (yep). With neither of them knowing who the other is, they had four children together. Years later, Thebes is hit with a plague (no rest for the wicked, I guess.) and a visit to the oracle of Delphi reveals that it is due to the murderer of King Laius not facing any consequences. Oedipus being the traditional Greek hero, with all bravado and a little bit of stupidity, takes an oath to find the killer. His investigations revealed that years prior, King Laius was headed south to confront the oracle of Delphi and on his way, he met a younger man who killed him in a fight. Having realised that she married her son, Queen Jocasta hung herself. After finding her, Oedipus took out a pin from her dress and blinded himself (I know, I know, the beauty of a greek tragedy *dreamy sigh*).

Guided by his daughter Antigone, Oedipus left Thebes to never return.

Now, let’s leave behind ancient Greece and transport ourselves to 1899, Sigmund Freud, instead of focusing on the role of fate in the story, decided to introduce a new concept to psychoanalytic theory called “Oedipus complex”. According to Freud, it is when a child (aged 3 to 5 years old) begins to develop a desire for sexual involvement with the parent of the opposite sex and a rivalry towards the parent of the same sex (certainly not what Sophocles intended but, as everyone who studied behavioural science knows, the devil works hard but Freud worked harder).

News?

This month, WOMEN are everywhere!! Starting with the "Selena and Hailey" tea (by the way, which side are you on?) For me I keep on worrying about poor Justin who will clearly never move on, “I am so grateful that I didn't end up with what I thought I wanted”, like man, seriously? Personally, I believe both of them are way above Mr Bieber and for god's sake, the fans need to move on (including me). What I don't really get is why my FYP is mostly dumb (does this say anything about me? *side eye*) but I know how the algorithm loves to hide what matters and directs all spotlight on analyzing whether Kylie Jenner's story was promoting her new product or shading Miss Gomez (but really who still buys Kylie Jenner's makeup?). No shade for whoever buys it though but take it from me, try Rare Beauty.

More of this tyranny, the video of Iranian women dancing to Selena Gomez's song going viral and when those same Iranian women are fighting for their rights, being killed under the sun on the streets for not covering up their bodies, it falls on deaf ears. They get robbed of their rights and souls, and no one talks about it because check this out: Ms Selena just hit 400 million followers and with that she becomes the most followed woman on Instagram. Nevermind the women in Iran who are followed and stalked and can never find safety. And when Mrs Bieber asked the fans to "leave her alone’’, the internet went up in rage, while when Iranian women asked the world to "help them get their rights'', no one moved a muscle.

Trivia!

Women speak about 20,000 words a day. That is 13,000 words more than the average man.

Tea Tea Naah

Everything is so messed up and how the internet showcases these news is unfair. I feel that it is also our fault for using those platforms only as way of entertainment when we all know the power of social media and how much change it could do to our real world. Just allow yourself to think and imagine with me the internet giving half of its attention to what is happening to women in Iran. How would that change millions of women’s lives? Next time you retweet or repost something, just think for two seconds and ask yourself "Was Ms Selena wrong all this time?".

No matter, let's focus on the TEA. Recent development: Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber have officially called it quits (we hope?). With both women publicly supporting each other and asking for an end to all the hate, is the drama well and truly over with? *lifts eyebrows*

Let's find out what the colonoscopy of Khufu revealed!

A 30 feet long corridor has been discovered close to the main entrance of the 4500-yearold Great pyramid of Giza. Egypt’s former antiquities minister called this “the most important discovery of the 21st century”. It is 6.6 feet by 6.6 feet (2 by 2 m) in width and height and is precisely located behind a chevron-shaped structure that is visible outside the pyramid, according to the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

So far nothing has been found beneath it but the head of Egypt's supreme council of antiquities said that the scanning will be continued.

What's fascinating is that despite being one of the oldest and the largest monuments in the world, very little information has been revealed about how the pyramids were built. “The discovery today tells us there is something important to be discovered soon under that tunnel, which could be "the real burial chamber of Khufu,” Hawass said. What needs to be taken into account is that the project needs to carried out in a manner that doesn't damage anything through the process of scanning.

Archaeologist Kate Spence told the US magazine National Geographic and Egyptologist Mark Lehner told the Weekly in 2017 that research has shown that the ancient Egyptians likely built gaps into the Pyramids to relieve pressure and keep them structurally sound.

HABIBI! Come to space!

Sultan al-Neyadi, from UAE, became the first Arab to go on a long duration space mission and the fourth in space. As stated by NASA, the crew launched at 12:34 am ET March 2 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from Launch complex 39A from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. They will be respectively spending 6 months in the orbiting laboratory.

MAKING

Easy Cookies

INGREDIENTS

Cold butter : 1 cup. Brown sugar : 1 cup. 2 eggs. Vanilla extract: 1 tsp. flour: 2 cups. cornstarch: 1 tsp. Baking soda : 1 tsp. salt : 1 tsp. chocolate chips : 3 cups.

It offers you 8 MEGA cookies!

• Start with adding the cold butter and the brown sugar then beat them until light & fluffy.

• Add 2 eggs ( one at a time and mix). psst: don't forget to add vanilla extract.

• In a separate bowl , combine the dry ingredients:

1) flour.

2) cornstarch.

3) baking soda.

4) salt (don't be afraid).

• Add the dry ingredients to the eggs and butter. Then mix well & add the chocolate chips.

• Refrigerate for 30 minutes, the shape them and bake at 200 for 10-12 minutes (don't over bake). Let sit for 10 minutes before moving them off the tray and enjoy.

If you don't have a glass of milk with these cookies, you're CRAZYYYY.

Fashion Trends Recommended

CARGO PANTS

The return of Y2K era. Finally, we banish skinny jeans from closets.

FASHION

CORSETS!!!!

This year's obsession is corsets. Corset dresses, blouses, sweatshirts & belts.

MAXI SKIRTS

Responding to the ultra impractical mini skirts of 2022, maxi skirts are here to dominate this year.

Expect lots of low-rise, and floor-grazing jean skirts.

COBALT BLUE

Being the colour of the ocean and sea, it can never be out of trend anyway.

BANDANAS!

Spicing up the clean girl style with a bandana is definitely a 2023 thingy!

Moms,Menstruation,andtheMonth ofMagic:AFemaleRamadan.

Trivia!

5 minutes to Maghrib

You can feel the chaos radiating from the kitchen before you step in to see it. You walk in and your little sister is pouring Karkadeh into small cups. Counting the number of cups, messing up, and starting over. Your aunt is checking in on the Mahshy for the third time and yelling at the oven to cook faster. And there she is; your mom in all her glory, gasping as the Molokheya splashes into the pan.

Maghrib time

Everyone has started stuffing their faces, chatting about their day, and drinking half a gallon of water. Your mom is still frying the chicken, but she says she’ll be there in a few minutes. You sigh, when is she ever going to get a break?

The truth is, our moms never get a break, especially during Ramadan. For many of us, Ramadan is a time to recharge our souls and faith, a time to put the world on pause and reprioritize. But moms don’t have a pause button and for them, Ramadan is often a very lonely, tiring, and long month. Between juggling responsibilities and their families, they rarely find time to practice spirituality. How many times have you walked in on your mom sleeping over her Quran? Or heard her light snore when she was saying her athkar post-prayer? While these memories seem sweet and selfless, it’s a sad reality for many women. It also serves as a steady source of anxiety and shame for them and a reminder of their shortcomings.

On average a woman menstruates for about 7 years of her lifetime.

Those feelings of shame do not stop here. Menstruation is a nuance for many women, and is frequently associated with feelings of embarrassment and guilt. Although they have a God-given pass not to fast, women still feel the need to hide it. They hide their pain, their discomfort, and they get very creative trying to find a spot to eat. How many times have you seen your sister disappear in the middle of the day? Girls, how many times have you hid in a bathroom to eat a snack just so you can survive the rest of the day? Menstruating during Ramadan can feel isolating and shameful, especially if fasting is the only way you feel connected to everyone around you. But the reality is, menstruating is a normal part of womanhood. Use that time to rest, practice other forms of ibadah, and to make sure the food is spiced correctly (please).

The Female Ramadan is a portrayal of everything beautiful (and ugly) about being a woman in a family. Not only is it a reflection of our strength, resilience, and selflessness, but also an indicator that we need to do things differently.

Our moms, sisters, and daughters are the pillars of our home. Without them, the spirit of Ramadan is dull and tasteless. This Ramadan, let us make the intention to help around the house, to take care of each other, and to be kind to ourselves and the women we love. Let’s be generous with our time, starting from our homes. Ramadan Kareem!

Not Not

Princess Your Disney

We can almost always attribute such stereotypes to the values, biases, and prejudices of the communities in which we live, but have you ever wondered how our communities enforce them?

To answer that, let me tell you a Sudanese folklore story called “Beautiful Fatima and Ugly Fatima”. It's about two step sisters that carry the same name, but one was referred to as beautiful and the other as ugly.

MISREPRESENTATION OF BEAUTY IN DISNEY AND TRADITIONAL CULTURES

Have you ever called a person beautiful because of a certain behavior or personality trait that they possess that had nothing to do with physical appearance?

Have you ever done the opposite? Have you ever associated a trait with a certain image or made an immediate judgement based on appearance? It doesn't have to be obvious. They are usually things like assuming someone is dangerous based on their skin color, weak because of their gender, or evil because of their disability.

"Beautiful Fatima would walk into a forest and pass by a flower, a tree, and an old woman, each asking her for something which she would immediately give them, as she was generous, considerate, and polite. So in return, they asked Allah to make her as beautiful as the flower, as tall as the tree, and as white as the moon. When her sister made the same trip, so she could become as beautiful as her, she was greedy, rude, and cruel, so they asked Allah to make her as wilted as the flower, as fat as the tree, and as black as the moon's shadow.”

I must have heard this story a million times growing up, and as much as we would love to think that stories, movies, and so on don't affect our real lives, they slip into our subconscious, and without us knowing, they stay there. And that's how they're passed on through generations.

Now let’s talk about Disney. The world of Disney has long been criticized for the lack of empowered princesses, racial representation, and unrealistic body images in its princess films. While steps have been made to provide a fairer representation through the bodies of the princesses, there has not been much progress in the way villains’ bodies are depicted. Most Disney villains exhibit a form of disability or a non-normative embodiment including missing limbs, old age, or fatness.

Captain Hook in Peter Pan, had an amputated hand which characterized a lot of his actions throughout the film and could be what led him on his path to being a villain in a way—his amputation is only portrayed as a horrible experience and his hook is consistently used to threaten other people, further villainizing his character.

And Scar, the pure image of a villain in The Lion King who embodies disfigurement of both the body and soul? He dies in the end, eradicated in the way that all true evil should be.

And the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Disney employs the physical disfigurement of the Beast as an outward representation that parallels his internal struggles. The message that comes across to viewers and is especially impressionable is that physical “beast-like” characteristics and “ugliness” are associated with bad behaviour and a bad personality. Most notably, the fact that the film emphasizes the transformation of the Beast as a necessity hints at the idea that deformities are unnatural and ought to be changed so he got his happy ending when he became ‘normal’ and so did Ariel in The little mermaid when she gained the ability to walk, and Pinocchio’s happy ending came with a nose that was “normal.”. And Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame had friends at the end of his tale but he didn’t have romantic love. After all, how could he? Would Quasimodo fit in a Disney Prince?

So the next time you see a story misrepresenting people with disabilities, enforcing unrealistic beauty standers, or presenting unfair stereotypes about people with colour or different cultural backgrounds remember that those aren’t just stories, they simply mirror how people think, setting grounds for future generations and influencing how they view the world.

PLAY PLAY PLAY

2. A type of headache that is usually unilateral, periorbital and tearing with conjunctival erythema.

4. An irritating buzzing sound heard only by the patient.

Down

1. A valve in the right side of the heart.

3. An oral antidiabetic known for causing lactic acidosis.

5. A group of drugs to treat hypercholesterolemia.

Across

1. Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement.

2. The regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina.

5. A person or thing causing inconvenience or annoyance.

Down

3. An idea or mental image which corresponds to some distinct entity or class of entities, or to its essential features.

4. The action of spoiling the appearance of something or someone.

Since this month marks the beginning of our first exchange program in 2023. It only makes sense to talk about phases the exchange students get exposed to upon arrival to Egypt and throughout their stay, which conclude cultural shock.

For medical students around the world, Egypt is a popular destination for internships and clinical rotations. As one of the oldest and most renowned medical education systems in the world, Egypt offers a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in a diverse and challenging environment.

CULTURE SHOCK

One of the most significant culture shocks for non-Egyptian medical students is the language barrier, since English is usually not a first language for neither the doctor nor the student. While many medical professionals in Egypt do speak fluent English, communication can still be a challenge. Not to mention that medical terminology may differ from what students are accustomed to in their home countries, and there may be differences in medical practices and procedures that the incoming students need to learn.

Medical facilitiesMedical facilities

The medical facilities in Egypt can be quite different from those in other countries, particularly in terms of equipment and technology. For non-Egyptian medical students, this can be a form of culture shock. In some cases, students may need to learn how to use older equipment or work with limited resources in some departments and then be surprised by how well-developed other departments are. Additionally, the standards of hygiene and cleanliness may not be of the same standards as in other countries, which can be unsettling for some students.

Social normsSocial norms

Egypt has its own set of cultural practices and traditions, and for incoming medical students, it can be challenging to navigate. For example, there may be certain dietary restrictions or cultural beliefs that need to be taken into account when treating patients. Additionally, there may be differences in the way that patients and their families interact with medical professionals, which can take some getting used to.

Egyptian society has its own set of social norms and customs, and for exchangees, it is a big puzzle. For example, there may be different expectations around gender roles or social interactions. In addition, medical professionals may be viewed differently in Egypt than somewhere else, which would require extra attentiveness and observation to try to make sense of it all.

Healthcare systemHealthcare system Traffic Traffic

The healthcare system in Egypt is not similar to other countries, particularly in terms of access and affordability. Our incomings may encounter patients who are unable to afford healthcare or who lack access to essential medications or treatments but, fortunately, are still treated in public hospitals with no fees, unlike private hospital systems. Moreover, there may be differences in the way that healthcare is delivered, with a greater emphasis on community-based care and preventative medicine.

Summary Summary

We all know that Egyptian traffic and driving are ones of a kind! Exchange students are always surprised to see the way Egyptians drive and how chill the drivers are in the middle of all road adventures and chaos!

In conclusion, for incoming medical students, there can be a significant culture shock when arriving in Egypt for internships. From the language barrier to the differences in medical facilities and cultural practices, there are many aspects of the Egyptian healthcare system that may need some getting used to. However, with an open mind and a willingness to learn, the exchange students can come to appreciate the unique challenges and opportunities that Egypt has to offer.

Blindness Blindness

A symptom related to covid-19.

Marie-Luise Kieseler, a researcher at the Dartmouth College Social Perception Lab in Hanover, New Hampshire, said that the condition typically arises when there is damage to the brain’s face-processing network following a stroke or head injury. But Kieseler and her colleague, Brad Duchaine, have identified the first case of face blindness related to a COVID-19 infection.

There is no cure for prosopagnosia at the moment. Annie identifies her loved ones through voices, and similarly, other patients are compensating.

A 28-year-old woman named Annie had contracted COVID, and it was in June 2020 when she first noticed that she couldn't recognize her loved ones. She had planned to meet up with her family for dinner for the first time since she got COVID, and she walked past them at the restaurant as she couldn't even recognize their faces.

Once she was examined, her conditions seemed to point towards a deficit in face memory processing.

“The combination of prosopagnosia and navigational deficits that Annie had is something that caught our attention because the two deficits often go hand in hand after somebody either has had brain damage or developmental deficits,” Duchaine said, as per Daily Star. It’s unclear how a respiratory infection could lead to persistent neurological issues for some people even after their bout with the disease. It’s also unknown if the issue improves or resolves on its own.

Trivia!

The first disposable diaper was invented by a professional-turned housewife Marion Donovan. Using material from a shower curtain, she cut and sewed pieces into a waterproof diaper cover.

Medically termed as Prosopagnosia, also known as "face blindness," is the inability to recognise faces. It impairs the ability to discern one face from another, accordingtotheUSNews&WorldReport.

Sustainable development goals Introduction

Understanding, recognizing and conceding all the violations, conflicts, and dilemmas that occur daily on a personal, national, and international scale is nothing short of an arduous task. This understanding and recognition must be followed with meaningful actions, and taking actions aimed at achieving an immense change are even more exacting. Despite that, these are salient steps that must be taken to achieve what many call a “utopian world.” This “utopia” is nothing more than a world in which human rights violations are eradicated, and all people are given a chance to flourish, a chance to prosper. Achieving this so-called “utopia” will be a challenge; however, it is not impossible. It is a journey that requires collaborative effort at an international level, all countries and stakeholders included. The destination of this journey, regardless of how exacting it is, is indispensable.

Recognizing the urgency to make changes to ensure the sustainability of current future generations, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on 25th September 2015. This agenda is “a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity” that aims to ensure universal peace, eradicate poverty in all of its dimensions, and realize the human rights of all.

This agenda consists of a political declaration, 17 goals, 169 targets, over 230 indicators for measuring progress, and a framework for follow up and review that sets a high level of ambition. An ambition to continue the MDG’s unfinished work. An ambition to pursue an integrated approach to all the challenges that face humanity, regardless of how complex and big they are, over a 15-year timeline. It's an attempt to create a new approach that is fundamentally socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. The agenda foregrounds the roles of not only governments but also citizens, civil society, businesses, and others, where everyone is a stakeholder in solving humanity’s challenges. Simply put, it is a call on humanity to save itself from what it can do to itself. That being said, what makes this agenda truly unique is its emphasis on leaving no one behind, reflecting its sense of urgency. It commits to protecting the rights of all people.

MDGs refer to the Millennium Development Goals. It is derived from The United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000. It consisted of only 8 goals .

Why are the SDGs important to us?

Imagine that you are the only person in the world working on activities to ensure good health and wellbeing for your community, and that through your work you have impacted 2,000 people. Now imagine that all the countries and initiatives within these countries are aligned with you on the common goal of ensuring good health and well-being for everyone. On your own you’ve impacted 2,000 people, but when counting the cumulative impact of all the initiatives aligned with yours, the impact is MUCH MUCH larger than 2,000. This is what makes aligning with the existing strategies and goals (SDGs and Egypt 2030 vision) very important. We can impact and create much bigger and impactful change that way.

Pro-tip: Always align your goals with the SDGs to amplify the impact of your activity.

The glow-up:

Asyoucantell,aglow-uphappened.

TheSDGsarealotmorecomprehensive thantheMDGs.

These are the MDGs.

Sooooooo..... What now?

As you've already seen, there are a lot of goals under the SDGs. And each goal has its own objectives and indicators. Accordingly, following the theme of different editions of the AUSSS magazine, we will be diving head first into a coupleofSDGsatatime.

Considering the obvious theme of this magazine, our SDG forthiseditionisssssssssss:GENDEREQUALITYY!!!

SDG 5: gENDER EQUALITY

This SDG contains 9 targets, 3 of which are Means of Implementation. Each target has a specific indicator. You can viewthemthroughthislink: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5

MEDICINE? PFFT, WHO WILL HANDLE THE KITCHEN?

Undermined, unseen and unheard despite the endless daily extraordinary achievements they put forward on the table for society, whether in their jobs or simply being mothers raising generations, women should be looked up to as warriors and not just simply pushed to the side.

For starters, women in medicine have been discriminated and stripped of their rights in various forms and under different titles. One of them is “civilization” and the famous example of the British colonization in Egypt.

The remodeling done by the British imperial system to the Qasr al-Aini’s segregated medical system has led to the pioneering of male doctors at the expense of female doctors. How? By allocating medical education of the highest levels solely to men, while narrowing down the range for women to only midwifery and nursing, who were previously taught to be “doctresses” before the union.

Trivia!

Agnodice also known as the first female physician or midwife in ancient Greece practiced medicine disguised as a man but was later found and tried for it Fortunately, she was acquitted. Following her trial, the law which barred women from practicing medicine in ancient Greece was also revoked.

Seemingly, British colonization was the only one to blame for the women’s suffering in the Egyptian medical field; however, the engraved societal relegation towards females to “socially acceptable” roles for femalesmeaning of lower stature in the community or the mere confinement to what is good for them, which was thought to be a housewife, had its effect too. To sum up, Victorian science handed Egyptian male physicians their desire to rule on a silver platter.

Next station, traveling to the far east to Japan, we would find the same problem, but at a different time with a different scenario. Japan has one of the lowest percentages of female physicians globally due to various reasons. For instance, sexual harassment in the workplace, abnormal levels of societal pressure thrown at them for family building and childcare, and at the same time the lack of assistance in order to balance between having a family and working in the medical field. In addition to this, the scarcity of services for childcare and the overwhelming expensiveness of these services have exacerbated the situation.

Shedding the light on one of the hopeful cases: In Russia, although it was unintentional and for a relatively short period, change happened. During the Soviet Union, medicine was regarded as a profession of the community's inferior, and guess who suited the title best in the eyes of the society? Obviously, women. Unfortunately, only 10% of the attained places of the highly prestigious and wellpaid jobs were occupied by women.

Furthermore, this time, the story told will be on a more personal level. Despite it seeming far-fetched to reach her dream, she did nevertheless and inspired us -all women- with her courage and determination. Out of spite, towards the down casting comments of various doctors and the obstacles she faced, like the exclusion from watching surgical displaying, she pushed through to become the first-ever physician. The one and only Elizabeth Blackwell.

Examples like Elizabeth Blackwell have given us the sense of light at the end of the tunnel, paving the way for change.

With hardships, ease shall always come along. To illustrate my point, here are some innovative suggestions for assisting in reducing the problem:

1-Educating physicians enough to introduce an inclusive, diverse, and fair community.

2-Widening accessible resources required for leadership participation.

3-Implementation of firm opposition to various forms of discrimination and harassment.

4-Supporting and implementing programs and set of rules to ease family and medical leaves.

To conclude, medicine is a beautiful journey; however, it is full of obstacles, and it is a whole different level of difficulty for women. Innumerable hindrances have been thrown in the way of female physicians just because of their gender, which is completely incomprehensible and truly saddening.

Elizabeth Blackwell, the America's first female physician was accepted to medical school as a joke: after receiving only rejections Geneva Medical College a small rural school in western New York decided to let their students make the call. Administrators informed the approximately 150 students that a single “no” vote would end her bid. Some students thought her application was a prank, while others simply found the proposition amusing. Unanimously, they voted yes.

This is self explanatory. Write the name of the coordinator.

What is the problem?

Why is there a problem?

Where is the problem?

When is it taking place?

How will you fix this problem?

Whatarethestatisticsthatsupportandexplaintheproblem? Whatisthecurrentstateandgeneralsetuprightnow?

Byansweringthesequestions,youwillhave yourselfagoodbackground.

Should be ambitious and long-term. It Is not as specific or measurable as objectives.

Who are you targeting through this activty? Who will benefit from this activity?

Pro tip: Align your goals with the sustainable developmentalgoalsandegypt2030vision.

(In IFMSA Egypt, we choose to align our goals with the sustainable developmental goals and Egypt 2030 vision to ensure that our efforts at all levels of operations contribute to and are in alignment with the initiatives of NGOs and countries worldwide. This ensures that we cancreateabiggerimpact.)

What are the steps you are taking and tools that you will be using to create this campaign?

You *Need* to address all these questions when writing a problem statement.

Example: To contribute to ensuring womens’ continuous access to non-discriminatory, quality, and safe healthcare in accordance with the 3rd (good health and well-being), 5th (gender equality), and 10th (reduced inequalities) SDGs as well as Egypt’s 2030 vision.

Pro tip: Be precise.

6Kisarealisitcnumbertoshootforconsidering theaveragereachofourpage.

example: To present facts about the improper diagnosis of women’s health conditions due to the lack of trust in women on their own bodies to 6k medical students by the end of 15/3/2023 through instagram and facebook

(can be measured through instagram insights)

Indicators are a way to measure the extent to which we achieve our objectives.

Anappropriateindicatortoourpreviousobjectiveis: “Atleast4kmedicalstudentshavewatchedthereelaboutthe improperdiagnosisofwomen’shealthconditionsduetothe lackoftrustinwomenontheirownbodiesbytheendof 15/3/2023throughinstagramandfacebook”

Your objectives should be:

SMART

S= Specific

M= Measurable

A= Achieveable

R= Realistic + Relevant

T= Time bound

Your indicators should be:

SPECIFIC OBSERVABLE MEASURABLE

Evaluation is the systemic examination of an activity’s achievements compared to its planned objectives and expected output It is important to start developing your evaluation plan when planning the activity

List all the externals (any entitiy outside of AUSSS) that you'd like to work with. They could be an NGO, another LC, or even university

Add all the resources you used to create this concept note (particularly the problem statement and background).

A good evaluation could include the following criteria:

● Effectiveness: Degree of which the activity has met the set objectives.

● Efficiency: Were there any wasted resources? Were you as optimal as possible. Did you waste any funds or time?

● Impact: What are the long lasting changes of your activity (both the positive and negative)

● Relevance: Are your objectives relevant to your goals, SDGs, Egypt 2030 vision, or even stakeholder’s strategies?

EXTRA RESOURCES:

Howtowriteaconceptnote(detailededition):

In this portion, detail all the actions you will take on specific dates. having a clear timeline is very valuable to ensuring the quality and organization of your activity.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WcT5clrAAD-Tf0WwGpjRgc05mjEq1dRW?usp=sharing

NationalCompass(SOIandenrollmentguide):

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11zS21ydtyOvDSV2vofQmoydLLts5uIa2/edit?

usp=sharing&ouid=102322782631452399252&rtpof=true&sd=true

Internationalmonitoringandevaluationmanual.:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NLRuOjHhgZ 30a2f8Hj4irWEOfhFwqDa?usp=sharing

Nationalprojectmanagementmanual:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1omfAqE1CYassYuZUwacyhkRVqE7s7NRj/view?usp=share_link

A VISIT TO THE CLINIC

Ms. Sama H. a 19-year-old female, went to the doctor after feeling incredibly tired for a long period of time. She has mentioned that she has gained so much weight in only one month despite losing her normal appetite. After she lists her complaints, the doctor asks her some questions and the conversation goes as follows:

-Have you experienced any symptoms such as constipation and intolerance to cold temperatures?

=Yes.

-What about your periods? Are they regular or not? =My period has not come for 2 months, but before that they were regular.

The patient wasdull and apathetic. Examination showeddry scaly and yellowish skin with generalized non-pitting edema, and her face was puffy. Her reflexes were slow and weak. Her blood pressure was 140/110 mmHg, she was hypertensive.

-May I examine you?

=Yes, sure.

-I am afraid you may have hypothyroidism, it’s common in females your age. =Ohh…

-No need to worry we will do some investigations to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause and I will see you in a week.

The doctor ordered a lipid profile, a thyroid profile (free T3, T4, and TSH), and anti-thyroid antibodies (anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies.)

Lab report

Investigations showed increased blood cholesterol and LDL, low free T3, T4, and high TSH, and anti-thyroid antibodies were minimal excluding Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis.

-Fortunately, you will not need to do any further tests because it has been confirmed, I'm afraid you do have hypothyroidism, but thankfully, it's common and easily treatable. I will prescribe Eltroxine for you.

=Will I get better after taking it?

-Yes, you need to be compliant though and your symptoms will be reversed in a short period of time. However, you will need to take the medication for life.

=Anything else I need to know?

-We must follow up every 6 months or whenever you feel ill. If you have any questions, be sure to let me know!

=Thank you so much Dr.

Rx/ 100 mg pill every morning on an empty stomach before breakfast.

What have our SCs been upto? What have our SCs been upto?

SCOME’s vision is centered around equipping medical students with the skills needed to participate in the development of their medical education and attain optimal professional and personal development. Our mission is to develop active, efficient, and culturally sensitive medical students while also maintaining a fun and creative experience.

The highlight of the year so far has been our SCOME session during the Local General Assembly - Medicine is Art. The point of the session was to remind everyone why they chose medicine and express it through art, offering a healthy outlet for the constant stress medicine puts us in. The session was super fun with around 13 participants that shared this creative journey of self exploration with us.

Sohaila Khokha, LOME GA.

The SCORA team has been busy spreading awareness on SRHR through various campaigns and informative sessions. Having a successful family planning session and an International Women's Day panel discussion. From members attending an HIV workshop all the way in Assiut, to attending physical family planning and FGM campaigns here in Giza. Us SCORAngels have truly gone above and beyond in our efforts to raise awareness and we are dedicated to make a change!

Youssef Abolyazeed, LORA GA.

I think that we can all agree that SCORP has come a long way, and truly none of it would've been possible without the tireless work of the previous LORP, now SEC GEN, Asmaa Dirar. She built a strong AND sustainable base upon which we were able to build SCORP this year, and don't you underestimate how valuable that base was to our operations.

When I first started my term, I had one goal, and that was to recruit and capacitate a strong and passionate team of human rights advocates. And as I type this, I can gladly say, with a huge grin on my face, that I did achieve this goal, and now I have the most amazing passionate team I could've EVER wished for (Obayda, Monima, Mina, Fatima, Mariam, Sayma, Wafa, Maria, Rania, and Menna I luvv all of uu). With this amazing team and all the people who participated in SCORP activities, we were able to target a plethora of human rights issues through online and physical activities. We not only had quantity but also quality. Through these efforts, we placed first in the 16 DOA activity fair, first in the WC activities fair, third in the october-november SCORP rankings, and first in the SCORP mid-term rankings, and reached over 275,000 people through our advocacy.

Thank you to everyone who has supported SCORP so far; none of this would've been possible without any of you <3

Until next time, Rodaina Abdelwhab, LORP.

What about You? What about You?

The issue of gender-based violence is rooted in power dynamics and privileges that are often embedded in social and cultural norms. To combat this violence, it is important to understand the intersection of power and privilege, so Shahenda and I conducted a session during the local GA, to raise awareness and understanding of these complex issues and to encourage speaking out against inequality and violence.

Youssef Abolyazeed, Year 4, LORA GA.

Habiba and I attended a stem cell workshop! We got to skin a rat's bone and sever it into two. Holding a mini blade, I felt bloody awesome.

Heba Ismail, Year 3, CBSDD

An artist is nothing without a gift. But the gift is nothing without work. Here are some of my works for you. My first painting represents spring or changing seasons. It is a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be, we need to just have faith in Allah and trust the process. And my second painting is of a pretty sunset and dolphins in it. Mashallah nature is one of Allah's blessings. It calms me whenever I paint natural landscapes or these beautiful creatures made by Allah.

Samiyah Khan, Year 2, General member.

I love drawing and painting! I've been making art pieces ever since I was a little kid and I love it! Always love challenging myself and trying out new styles, media, and ideas! Art to me is more than colours on paper; it's a way to express your ideas, emotions, and thoughts in a very different, and sometimes even, therapeutic way. I hope you enjoy my art pieces as much as I enjoy making them.

Darine Ahmed Elkased, Year 1, General member.

Quick monthly recap!

AUSSS has been busy making remarkable change this March, from our international representation in the 72nd March Meeting (Yes, I'm speaking of Ms. Merehan Fouda, President and Mr. Mostafa Wassim, SUP CO), to the local campaigns that our passionate teams have worked tirelessly on.

I would say - humbly, of course - that the highlight of this month was our Local General Assembly. As expected, the OC worked incessantly (and quite sleeplessly may I add) to bring you an amazing event.

Unravel: an exhibition of your identity featured many acts from the past, present and future. We were very very lucky to have been joined by Dr. Mohamed Elhemeily, Dr. Mohamed Eissa and Ms. Radwa Tourky for an immensely enlightening panel discussion on how advocacy shaped and still shapes careers. Focusing on YOU, the GA aimed to truly appreciate our members, let them express themselves and teach them a new skill or two *ahem crochet ahem*.

P.S You will find a mini DIY Kit for your very own Green Family Bracelet in your LGA welcome package!

We end this month with 4 impressive online campaigns, one online CB camp, a suturing workshop, a TBL workshop, an Upon Arrival Training; hosting 5 incomings, and 2 external collaborations: Hospice Egypt and Amgad School. Also, Ms. Alyaa Ashraf was a TNT trainer in Tunisia, and Ms. Radwa Tourky was a delegate in the CSW. Not to mention that we hosted the National Egyptian Woman's Day Panel Discussion. Phew, what a busy month! Nonetheless, you do need to hold your breath, we have way more coming!

I would like to take this chance to thank every single member who has contributed to our initiatives (and got Instagram famous), you truly are making an impact. Most of all, within us.

Get ready for April, stay tuned for further editions, have a blessed Ramadan and as always, stay passionate.

Heba Ismail CBSDD and Magazine Coordinator-Editor.

C r e d i t s

Rodaina Abdelwhab CN - SDGs

Heba Ismail CBSDD Coordinator Editor

Habiba Elmasry CBSDD GA Coordinator Folklore

Hamees Magdy PnSDD Tips and recipes Designer

Abdulaziz Mohammed Assembler

Omar Elsayed SCOPH Reporter

Samira Abdeen Exchange Reporter

Fatima Mohamed SCORP Reporter

Noha Khalil SCORA Reporter

Tabia Khan Trivia Trickster

Muskan Lateef World News Reporter

Obayda Abdullah World News Reporter

Hana Taher SCOME Reporter

Mina Sameh Video Maker