International Volunteer Day 2021

December 5 is International Volunteer Day! #IVD2021

Established by UN Volunteers, today is about recognizing and promoting the tireless work of volunteers across the globe. Every day, volunteers around the world dedicate time and effort to ensure the inclusion of those often left behind, and FAME uses this as an opportunity to give an extra special thanks to the many people who support our work through volunteering.

Today we share a recent story of one of our rockstar volunteers, Karen Denison. Volunteers are central to FAME’s mission and the Volunteer Program at FAME is a rich learning experience for both our Tanzanian medical team and our volunteers. Doctors, Nurses and Laboratory Specialists from medical communities all over the world work side by side with FAME’s Tanzanian medical professionals, sharing knowledge and expertise.

Karen Denison first came to FAME in 2018, after hearing about FAME from a vendor selling pictures of African animals at a farmer’s market in Woodland, Colorado.

“Our conversation moved from the wildlife pictures to Tanzania, and he mentioned if I ever visited, I should check out FAME.”

As an infection control nurse, Karen is a registered nurse (RN) who implements best practices for halting the spread of viruses and bacteria in hospitals, and delivers top care to patients who have contracted infectious diseases. She contacted FAME's Co-Founder and Co-Director, Dr. Frank Artress, introduced herself and asked him if FAME would have any use for her expertise, he replied with a huge YES!

Karen packed her bags and traveled across the world to volunteer at FAME for three weeks. That was in 2018. She has been back two times since then, in 2019 and this year in 2021.

A few days ago, during her most recent time volunteering at FAME, Karen was at a staff meeting with the doctors when she heard of a young woman who had arrived at FAME the previous night. The woman had been bleeding for 10 hours before she reached FAME. She had a placental abruption, and sadly had already suffered an intrauterine fetal death before reaching FAME.

In order to save her life, the medical team took her in for emergency surgery. Due to her heavy bleeding, she required a transfusion of O-negative blood. This is a rare blood type that is difficult to keep in stock at FAME. The lab team had enough for her initial transfusion, but needed more. Karen, who is also O-negative, immediately volunteered to donate blood and headed straight to the lab. Thanks to Karen and FAME’s medical team, the patient is now stable and conscious, and the team is optimistic for her recovery.

This is just one of the examples of how our incredible volunteers go above and beyond to save lives at FAME and strive for our shared humanity every single day. At FAME, we are deeply proud of our volunteers and happy to have hosted 21 volunteers so far this year.

In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, FAME hosted 66 volunteers. While it has been challenging to host volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic due to safety concerns and travel restrictions, we are hopeful and looking forward to hosting even more volunteers in the years to come.

“I have received many requests for volunteers interested in coming next year. I already have 10 volunteers booked for January”
- Prosper Mbelwa, FAME Volunteer Coordinator

Interested in volunteering at FAME? Email volunteer@fameafrica.org and request our Volunteer Packet.

If you are not in a position to volunteer your time in Tanzania, you can volunteer using telemedicine. We at FAME believe that volunteers make a difference and are an important part of FAME’s culture of life-long learning.

Nurse Karen Denison doing her rounds at FAME by visiting different departments. Pic 3 she is donating blood.

“FAME is a wonderful facility. It provides so much for people in a rural location. Everyone is striving to provide quality care, not just care. The Tanzanian medical professionals have such great knowledge and experience. I have learned so much at FAME medical! In my first year I saw a patient with human tetanus, the following year I encountered rabies in a young boy. This is not something you see in the US, it's quite rare”
-Nurse Karen Denison