General News
21 June, 2023
For those in need
MORTLAKE mother-daughter duo Allison and Sophie Goldsworthy are fundraising a trip to Kenya to offer free medical care to those in need.
MORTLAKE mother-daughter duo Allison and Sophie Goldsworthy are fundraising a trip to Kenya to offer free medical care to those in need.
Allison, a midwife with Terang and Mortlake Health Service, and her daughter Sophie, a nursing student at Deakin University, will represent World Youth International in Kenya later this year to provide free medical support to those who would otherwise go without.
Allison and Sophie will travel to the rural city of Yala, which will require a number of different modes of transport to reach their destination for their three-week volunteering stint.
“There are a few different clinics and a larger hospital we’ll be working at, as well as the Rang’ala mission hospital so there are different stations we’ll be working at,” Sophie said.
“Because I’m a student nurse I’ll more be assisting mum, who will be very much in the frontline.
“We’ll be delivering health care to people, and meeting up with a group of volunteer nurses and running a mobile medical clinic.
“They treat up to 500 people each day, with most of them travelling from far and wide for the opportunity to get free medical treatment.”
The pair visited Africa earlier this year as part of a family trip, during which time Sophie said her eyes were opened to how fortunate she was to be born in Australia.
“It was my first time going over there, and I think part of it was mum and dad wanted to give us a better understanding of how lucky we are,” she said.
“I was very fortunate to experience the townships surrounding more affluent areas of Johannesburg, such as Soweto, which is home to more than a million people; and many of them are living in poverty.
“It was an eye-opener to see areas where the government had five taps between so many people who relied on that water for everything from drinking, to cooking and cleaning.
“Seeing all of that, but also seeing so many people who seemed very happy, made me realise how lucky we are.
“Touring Soweto was the pivotal point for me in wanting to go and help people who cannot access the things that we can.”
Sophie said her experience in Africa previously, and her anticipation for their trip at the end of the year, had expanded her horizons for what her medical career could involve when she graduates.
“I see my purpose as to help people, and I could see myself living in Africa and helping people over there,” she said.
“I’m so fortunate to have this privilege, and luck, to be born in Australia and in to the family I am in.
“I want to use my privilege for something good, so it’s definitively motivating me.
“I originally wanted to be a paediatric nurse in Australia but this has already swayed me to want to spend time overseas. “
Allison said her previous travels throughout Africa, including ticking off the bucket list item of seeing the endangered mountain gorillas trekking through the Uganda rainforests, had also given her a glimpse at the realities those born in to a developing country face.
“I think travelling through Uganda really showed me the lack in services people experience, especially in health care,” she said.
“So why not?
“I came home from the experience wanting to go back and Sophie offered to join me, so we’re going to hopefully provide something of benefit.”
The duo will set off for Kenya in October, and have launched a fundraiser to support their efforts with an influx of desperately needed medical supplies.
“We have been told we need to bring over everything we possibly can because they essentially have nothing,” Sophie said.
“The funds we raise will go to the hospitals we’ll be working at and once we’ve reached out target, we can use additional funds to buy equipment and other necessities we’ll need to work with to give people the best care possible.”
The online fundraiser had already surpassed $4000 at the time of publication.
“We want to thank everyone who has donated, and make a special mention of the Mortlake Market for their donation of $124 this month,” Allison said.
To donate to the fundraiser online visit https://worldyouth.org.au/volunteers/sophie-goldsworthy.
