ECO_CARE meets Laura Plens Shecaira, Practicum student from McMaster

By: Laura Plens Shecaira

Hello! My name is Laura Plens Shecaira, I am a Brazilian geographer who graduated from the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). I am currently a student at the Masters of Global Health program within the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. 

While there were several reasons that drove me to study and work health, there was a particular one that marked me. This happened when I had the opportunity to visit an Indigenous community in the Brazilian countryside. Before the visit, we were advised not to bring sweets, such as cereal bars or chocolates, which at the time I thought was an unusual request. I later understood that this guidance was because the community encountered several barriers to access healthcare in general and oral health in particular. Since then I knew that I would like to work with health and access to healthcare, especially with marginalized communities.

When I got introduced to the possibility of studying Global Health, especially the Disease Burden stream at McMaster University, I knew that this is what I wanted to do. And it was during my master’s studies that I had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Dr. Poto, where she mentioned something that deeply resonated with me, which was along the lines of: “nature regenerates itself and, as part of nature, we are also capable of taking restorative actions.” I was so glad to hear that, because I deeply believe that, collectively and inclusively, we are capable of transforming natural and social realities for the better. Following that lecture, I contacted Dr. Poto to talk about potential collaborations for a field practicum, which is a requirement for the completion of my master’s studies. She was very welcoming and soon I was introduced to Dr. Parola and to the ECO_CARE project, which aligned very well with my values and professional hopes. 

The possibility to complete this practicum with Dr. Poto and Dr. Parola is something that I am very grateful for, not only for the knowledge acquired but by the generosity and guidance of the professors. During the course of these ten weeks, I had the opportunity to be introduced to a diverse range of materials, methodologies and co-creation projects. Using the three emotions of the ECO_CARE project (namely empathy, compassion and care) to guide the co-creation of materials that can support communities, and the environment is truly something incredible. 

The democratization of knowledge and the empowerment of communities that I was able to witness through collaborative work in the ECO_CARE project are meaningful, necessary and transformative. I am thankful for the experience of understanding in practice what Dr. Poto have said on that first lecture: “we are, in fact, capable of taking restorative actions.” The guidance and teachings of Dr. Parola were invaluable: I came to understand the importance of novel methodologies and their applications in Brazil and beyond with such professionalism and kindness. Having contact with the work of other students also greatly enriched my experience and, although I have not yet had the opportunity to meet them, it felt as if we were working together. I can’t wait to see the results of this collaboration and I hope to keep in touch!

Laura

Laura Plens Shecaira at the Hamilton Public Library, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.