May 27, 2010 - 2:02am
Rebekah Shoop, a graduate of
Vancouver Island University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, is
surprised and honoured to be the recipient of the 2010 Alumni Horizon Award.
More
importantly, she hopes the recognition might inspire additional support for
ALIANZA, a non-profit organization that runs five successful rural community
health projects in Comitancillo, Guatemala.
Shoop, who
grew up in Alert Bay and now lives in Hamilton, Ontario, is being recognized at
VIU’s spring convocation on June 1 for her vision, enthusiasm and commitment in
founding and serving as director of the Canada-Comitancillo Alliance for Rural
Health in one of the poorest regions of Guatemala.
“This is a
real honour. It makes me feel we are on the right path and gives me optimism to
keep working on this and making a difference at the grassroots level,” Shoop
said.
Shoop
appreciates the strong support from VIU for her work in Guatemala, particularly
from Philosophy and Religious Studies Professor Robert Pepper-Smith. She is impressed
by the fact that VIU tracks the work of its graduates and asks the question,
“What are our grads doing in the world?”
Pepper-Smith
is proud of Shoop’s achievements. “Rebekah’s commitment to health care as a
fundamental human right is an inspiration to us all. Her work in
Guatemala is an example of what one individual can accomplish with patience,
persistence and compassion.”
Shoop
earned a Biology degree from the University of Victoria in 1998, a VIU nursing
degree in 2002 and recently completed medical school at McMaster University in
June 2009. She is currently a Resident in Family Medicine at McMaster. She
plans to return to Comitancillo for six weeks in January and February 2011 to
complete a community pediatrics elective course.
Since her
initial visit in the summer of 1998, Shoop has visited the country four times,
working with the locals and establishing ALIANZA and its projects. Thanks to
initial funding from the Duncan Rotary Club, Shoop opened ALIANZA’s first
nursing station in Comitancillo in February 2005. Today, five projects operate
in Guatemala under the ALIANZA umbrella, including the Women’s Health Program.
Asked why
she feels compelled to help the people of Guatemala, Shoop said, “I am inspired
by their example. The Mayan people have faced so many threats. They
consistently face poverty, marginalization, racism, hazardous working and
living conditions, and an almost complete lack of access to health care and
education services.”
“For a long
time, I felt overwhelmed by all the things I couldn’t fight against –
environmental threats and social injustices that I learned about as an
undergrad and during my travels. It seemed that as a younger person, I was
powerless to do anything about it. But Comitancillo gave me space to focus my
energy. It’s a community that I feel part of, and I admire the people. Once I
focused my energy, I could see that the outcomes were real and tangible. I felt
much more at peace and less restless and frustrated.”
Shoop’s focus is firmly on the future. “I feel
privileged to have experienced and learned about two distinct societies and
look forward to ALIANZA continuing to move towards its goal of establishing a
permanent, collaborative presence in Comitancillo.”
Shoop’s father
Gregg will accept the VIU Alumni Horizon Award on her behalf at the convocation
ceremony at Nanaimo Port Theatre June 1.
For further
information about ALIANZA, visit the website at http://alianza.kics.bc.ca.
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Tags: In the Community
