7th Conference on Volunteering in International Cooperation for Students of Healthcare Professions

On February 23, 2026 we took part in the 7th Conference on Volunteering in International Cooperation for Students of Healthcare Professions, an event to which we have been invited in recent years, aimed at complementing academic training with a committed and global outlook on health.

The conference took place in the Meeting Room of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Gregorio Marañón Mother and Child Hospital, organized by the Department of Public Health and Mother and Child Care of the Complutense University of Madrid.

A space to discover volunteering in cooperation

Aimed at students of Medicine, Nursing and other healthcare professions, the conference had the following main objectives:

• Explain the characteristics of volunteering in international cooperation during the university stage.
• Provide information about concrete opportunities to take part in projects run by different NGOs.
• Show real experiences of professionals with a track record in the field.
• Inspire an ethical, responsible and committed vision of healthcare practice.

OAN International: commitment and training

On behalf of OAN International, Sara Triquet shared the organization's mission and lines of work, highlighting the importance of structured, sustainable cooperation focused on strengthening local health systems, and presenting our PreMaSe project to combat child malnutrition.

Key aspects for students were addressed: prior preparation, support, ethical responsibility and the value of interdisciplinary teamwork.

Experiences that inspire

The program also included the participation of various organizations working in healthcare and social cooperation:

• The Surgery in Turkana project, presented by Carmen Hernández, offered insight into the surgical reality in resource-limited contexts.
• AISE, represented by Zahida Jiménez, presented its initiatives and the active role that students can play.
• Zerca y Lejos, represented by Laura Portela, shared its experience in cooperation in Central Africa.
• Asociación Colaboración y Esfuerzo (ACOES), with Javier Urbano, focused on education and community development.
• The Omar Mosquera Foundation, presented by Maxwel Omar Mosquera, highlighted the importance of continuity and long-term impact in projects.

Each presentation allowed students to learn about different models of cooperation: from one-off surgical interventions to educational and community programs sustained over time.

At OAN International we thank the organizers, the speakers and all the students who attended for their enthusiasm and commitment. We continue working to offer spaces for training and reflection that drive an ethical, professional and transformative healthcare cooperation.