It's called “A Different Christmas”, but in fact the idea is that everyone is entitled to an equal, human, and joyful Christmas surrounded by people who transmit harmony and affection. The project is organized by the Association of Students of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, in partnership with the Association of Students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

 

Mariana Ruivo is one of this year's project general coordinators and gave us a guided tour of what will happen on 24 December. “Our mission is to offer a smile to the inpatients during the morning of the 24th who are unable to spend the Christmas season in their homes. What medical students do is to embrace the true Christmas spirit and provide the sick with a familiar and unique environment by giving them a symbolic gift, a friendly word or even some music and enjoyment”.

The ritual has been repeated for over 20 years, but with the recent joining of the Association of Students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, the number of hospitals visited has been expanded. And whereas in the last edition there were 18 partner hospitals, this year the number has gone up to 23. They are predominantly in Lisbon and nearby cities, but there are also other areas covered, such as the Madeira island.

 

Inpatients not only receive student visits but they also have special messages on postcards, handwritten by medical students and designed by children who are admitted to the various paediatric services of partner hospitals. Positive messages can also come from the population, who can leave their postcards in a specially created mail box.

But one would be mistaken if thinking that these students only have solidarity initiatives on Christmas Eve. Although 24 December is their main focus, students have been conducting projects throughout December to raise funds for the Ajuda de Mãe institution. It was for this purpose that on 3 December they held a Christmas solidarity show at the João Lobo Antunes Grand Auditorium, in the Faculty of Medicine. "What is Christmas for you?" was the topic of the talk show presented by two Faculty students. The event involved sharing of Christmas ideas and dynamics, and fun and artistic moments. By making material donations, people could attend the show, thus helping the institution.

In 2018, the “A Different Christmas” project brought together a total of 530 volunteers who sent over 2000 letters of hope. This year the numbers are expected to increase given the over 600 volunteers and more than over 2,500 postcards distributed.

Numbers of hope for a different Christmas that is the same for everyone.

Check out the list of participating hospitals and offer someone a different Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

- Hospital Beatriz Ângelo 

- Hospital das Forças Armadas

-  Hospital de Cascais - Dr. José Almeida

-  Hospital de Santa Cruz

-  Hospital de Santa Maria

- Hospital de Santo André, Leiria

-  Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira

- Hospital Distrital de Santarém

-  Hospital Dona Estefânia

- Hospital Curry Cabral

-  Hospital dos Marmeleiros (Madeira)

-  Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça (Madeira)

-  Hospital Egas Moniz

-  Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada

-  Hospital José Joaquim Fernandes, Beja

- Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca, Amadora-Sintra

-  Hospital Pulido Valente

-  Hospital Santa Marta

-  Hospital Santo António dos Capuchos

-  Hospital São Bernardo, Setúbal

-  Hospital São Francisco Xavier

-  Hospital São José

-  Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPO)

 

 

 

Composition of the Organizing Committee of 2019:

 

 

Overall coordination:

Mariana Ruivo (3rd Year, FMUL)

Raquel Marques (5th Year, FMUL)

 

Department of Madeira:

(C) Margarida Ferreira (3rd Year, FMUL)

Inês Sousa (2nd Year, UMa)

Pola Marchewczyk (2nd Year, UMa)

Vera Silva (2nd Year, UMa)

 

Animation Department:

(C) Sílvia Lopes (5th Year, NMS|FCM)

Johanna Hietala (5th Year, NMS|FCM)

Leonor Ramos (5th Year, NMS|FCM)

Mariana Silva (5th Year, FMUL)

 

 

Image and Disclosure Department:

(C) Guilherme Nunes (4th Year, FMUL)

Bárbara Godinho (3rd Year, NMS|FCM)

Kevin Rocha (4th year, FMUL)

 

Sponsorship Department:

(C) Carolina Oliveira (5th Year, FMUL)

Francisco Mendes (3rd Year, FMUL)

Rita Paulino (2nd Year, NMS|FCM)

 

Department of Services:

(C) Filipa Canha (5th Year, FMUL)

Catarina Soares (5th Year, FMC|NMS)

Carolina Costa (3rd Year, FMUL)

Inês Fernandes (3rd Year, FMUL)

Joana Sousa
Editorial Team