The support fund for nursing students in economic need created by the Sigma Phi Xi Chapter (honor society of nursing), hosted by the Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), helped nine students from six public higher education institutions in its first year of existence.
The financial support of a little over 1800 euros was used to cover expenses with accommodation, meals, school fees, transport, and medical appointments/exams. Students from the Nursing Schools of Coimbra (2), Lisbon (2), and Porto (2), as well as the Health Schools of the Polytechnic Institutes of Leiria (1), Portalegre (1), and Santarém (1), benefited from this support.
The Phi Xi Chapter Emergency Support Fund for Nursing Students was created in January 2021 to help mitigate the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on education. The Fund aims to reduce poverty and social exclusion of undergraduate nursing students in a proven situation of economic need, as long as they are committed to finishing their degree. According to its regulations, the Fund aims to “contribute to preventing school dropout and failure in national public higher education (...) to promote social inclusion, equity, and equal opportunities”.
Apart from financial support, the Fund also provides counseling (giving information and referring students to other social support). In 2021, 11 students from the Nursing Schools of Coimbra, Lisbon, and Porto, the Nursing School of São João de Deus (University of Évora), and the Health School of the Polytechnic Institute of Beja received this support.
The Fund also depends on donations
The Fund draws inspiration from the first of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030: “To eradicate poverty.” Its inherent costs are supported by initiatives developed by the Phi Xi Chapter, the student associations, and the Portuguese National Federation of Nursing Students through donations (five in 2021) or future protocols that may be established.
The managers of the Fund, a community outreach project coordinated by Professor Margarida Alexandra Moreira da Silva, considered that “this initiative’s success, measured by the effective financial contribution to students and families with impact on their well-being and happiness, was possible due to the team’s continuing efforts.” The members of the Fund’s project “examined each student’s situation and reached out to each one to provide the social support needed.”
The managers warned that “the fund also depends on donations from entities and institutions willing to associate with this essential contribution to the lives of students and families.”
Individuals and companies can contribute to the Phi Xi Chapter Emergency Support Fund for Nursing Students through bank transfer (IBAN: PT50 0007 0000 0012 6622 4432 3) - in which case proof must be sent to fundo.apoio.estudante.sigma@esenfc.pt, with the person’s name in the transfer description -, or on the GoFundMe platform (payment by card).
Created in 1922, Sigma Theta Tau International is an honor society of nursing dedicated to improving the health of populations through the scientific development of Nursing. The Sigma Phi Xi chapter was formally established in September 2011.
[2022-01-31]
