If someone were to ask me on the spot what Gators for Refugee Medical Relief (GRMR) is all about, I'd say we support refugee families through donations, tutoring, workshops, and by making a difference in Gainesville and beyond. But if you were to ask me what GRMR truly means to me, it would go much deeper—it's a community, a family. Joining GRMR as a freshman was more than just a step toward helping refugee families; it was becoming part of a team where every single person, especially the board of directors, is so genuinely passionate about making an impact. We’re not just volunteers—we're teammates and leaders, all driven by the same mission.
Hope on the Hardwood: Basketball's Unifying Power in South Sudan
As the buzzer sounds to signify the end of the first-round game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, a member of Angola’s national men’s basketball team heaves a three-point shot that bounces harmlessly off the back of the rim (FIBA, 2023). With that, the South Sudanese men’s basketball team secures a 23-point win along with their first-ever birth in the Summer Olympics (Reuters, 2023). While the 2024 Olympic games have yet to begin, there is already a winner in the form of this team that has overcome countless obstacles to success since they began playing for the world’s newest country only 10 years ago. However, the team appropriately nicknamed the “Bright Stars” isn’t just looking to be a feel-good story. They’re going to Paris this summer as the top-ranked African team with the same relentless and dedicated drive to win that they’ve had since day one (FIBA, 2023).
Mental Health and Neurological Challenges in Refugees: Navigating Complexities for Well-being
Refugees often face severe psychological pressure due to various factors like trauma and adaptation challenges. Leaving one's home, traveling with anxiety, and adapting to a new country can worsen mental health problems. The trauma and stress refugees face from migration lead to complex mental health needs, which caregivers and organizations may not be accustomed to handling. Challenges include variations in trauma experiences. Sociocultural contexts influence how trauma is expressed. There is a significant need for culturally sensitive care.
Deportation and Mental Health: The Health Implications of Asylum Denial
Mental health is a well brought up topic in regard to family life, school, and the workplace. Removing yourself from stressful situations and giving yourself time to relax and rest is often articulated by institutions to maintain one’s mental health. But what do you do if you are not allowed to seek asylum in a safe environment? How is mental health maintained when the country you believed was safe sends you back to a dangerous environment?
Refugees in Malaysia Find a Home in the Arts
Reflection on Jordan International Aid Trip
In November of 2019 Gators for Refugee Medical Relief (GRMR) joined the organization Atlantic Humanitarian Relief (AHR) to provide medical and humanitarian aid to Syrian, Palestinian, Yemeni, and Iraqi refugees in the Kingdom of Jordan.
I had the privilege of joining Valentina Fandino, Nikka Bakhtiar, Nickou Memari, Nushrat Nur, and Alyssa Quinn from GRMR on this mission. The night before our trip, we all met at Valentina’s apartment and we packed all of the medical supplies we fundraised for as a club to bring to Jordan. We each had one suitcase for our clothes, and one suitcase full of the donations we collected. It took a day and a half of travel to get to Amman. We had a twelve-hour overnight layover in New York City before our flight to Doha, Qatar, and then finally to Amman.
Once we arrived, we all…
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Gators for Refugee Medical Relief started in the summer of 2017 in response to the growing tension in the media and the world revolving refugees' status and assistance. A group of students at the University of Florida reached out to local communities to provide academic and professional development services to refugee and migrant families relocated to Northern Florida. As mentioned in other sections, the United Nations HCR now estimates the number of forcibly displaced persons at…