News
Stefanie Pender (Class of 2006) – volunteering as a doctor on a rescue boat in the Central Mediterranean
Stefanie Pender (Class of 2006) has just come back from two missions volunteering as a doctor on a rescue boat in the Central Mediterranean. In the four weeks, over 2000 people were rescued from overcrowded wooden and rubber boats fleeing Libya. Many lives were also lost. Her stories are harrowing and a stark reminder of the inequality in the world. Also a reminder that our Radford community are in a position to do something. Her brother Lucas (Class of 2009) has set up a fundraiser to show support.
Help Sea-Watch Save Lives
By Lucas Pender (see his Collegian profile here)
After graduating from Radford in 2006, Stefanie Pender went on to study medicine at Monash University in Melbourne. She worked as a Doctor in Melbourne and more recently in Darwin Hospital and around the Northern Territory where she worked in Indigenous health. Her latest move has seen her working as the on-board Doctor on the Sea-Watch rescue boat in the Mediterranean. Sea-Watch is an not-for-profit NGO based on donations from volunteers. They operate a rescue boat along the Libyan coast. Their mission is “saving lives where states fail to act”. In 2016, Sea-Watch rescued over 20,000 migrants and refugees. In the same year, more than 5000 drowned or remained missing. This year, the numbers are only escalating.
A Message From Stef
“I don’t know where to start with the last weeks. I have experienced terrifying moments; overcrowded sinking boats, people drowning, CPR in speed boats, multiple patients strewn across the deck, armed coast guards targeting the ship, traumatised children that no longer cried, faces of the deceased in my hands. Desperation, panic and grief…but also relief and a lot of joy. Far above all, I am deeply touched and inspired by the beautiful people I met—their stories, strength, perseverance and remarkable ability against their horror to manage a smile and keep hope. It would mean so much to me to gather support for these people’s lives, rights and dignity. Also to show that despite our Government’s policy, Australian communities are generous and supportive of refugees.”
Sea-Watch 2: Debriefing May 5-7
57 Stunden – viel länger hätten wir die Gäste an Bord der Sea-Watch 2 unter keinen Umständen versorgen können. Nach zwei Tagen waren unsere Notrationen fast aufgebraucht. Ärztin Stefanie Pender kümmerte sich rund um die Uhr um dehydrierte Patient*innen – und auch für die Crew waren die Wachen nervenaufreibend.Wir sind auf eine schnellere Unterstützung von EU Schiffen angewiesen, damit so eine Situation nicht eskaliert.Hilf uns, Leben zu retten: https://sea-watch.org/spenden/––––57 hours – much longer we could not have provided the guests on board the Sea-Watch 2 under any circumstances. After two days, our food rations were almost exhausted. Doctor Stefanie Pender took care of the dehydrated patients around the clock – and the guard-shifts were nerve-racking for the crew as well. We need support of EU ships so that a situation does not escalate!Help us to save lives: https://sea-watch.org/en/donations/Video: Raoul Kopacka
Posted by Sea-Watch on Tuesday, 9 May 2017
Stef’s brother Lucas (Class of 2009) has set up a fundraiser to show support. To learn more and to show your support visit the website here: https://chuffed.org/project/seawatch
We wish Stef all the best on her next mission to sea and know she will put all resources bought with donations to good use.