AMSAHK Newsletter: Volume 3 (2008)

IFMSA General Assembly in beautiful Jamaica

In August 2008 a few of our AMSAHK Executive Committee members set off on an adventure across the globe to the beautiful Caribbean to attend the 57th General Assembly (GA) of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The week-long meeting gathered over 600 medical students from 92 member countries and was a highly regarded event with the Prime Minister of Jamaica as guest speaker of the opening ceremony.

The GA was truly an eye-opener and full of opportunities for self-enhancement on many levels. The project fair and presentations were a chance to display the hard work put into the different projects each country took on to serve their local community. This array of highly creative and meaningful projects stimulated each of us who attended and brought on many new ideas to bring back to Hong Kong. Our very own project on ‘Healthy Eating and Food Safety’ won us first runner-up for the ‘Best Project Presentation’. From the Standing Committee sessions and training workshops we were taught various skills such as campaigning, motivation and negotiation and through group activities we gained a better insight on how other countries managed their organizations.

One very important mission of our Standing Committee of Exchange (SCOE) was to find clinical attachments to other countries for our fellow students during contract fair. This year we successfully signed exchanges with countries including Germany, Israel, Slovakia and more! For those of us who weren’t in SCOE (namely our two Publications and Promotion secretaries) we helped with what we did best – promote and what better way to promote than through the exchange of small souvenirs. By the end of the day, we had exchanged a collection pins, flags, bracelets and even teddy bears!

Of course, at an international event like this we cannot miss out the cultural experience. International food and drink night brought delicacies from around the world all into one room in a buffet of flaming chocolates, Swiss cheese and wine to name a few. Dressed up in the colourful traditional costumes of each country we ended the night happily in song and dance. Our Jamaican experience of sun, beaches and clear blue waters was accompanied by the warm
hospitality of the people, dolphins and even stingrays! It was also a test of bravery as we conquered the famous Dunn’s River Falls, roared across rocky hills on all terrain vehicles and dived off a 15 ft cliff into the sparkling waters of Chukka Cove.


Swimming with stingrays	Man Hon diving off a cliff into the sparkling waters at Chukka Cove

This GA in Jamaica had been more than just a learning experience; it was a learning adventure and we look forward to using our brushed up skills and newfound knowledge back here in Hong Kong - especially our mastered Jamaican accent..."yah mon"!

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