Presented annually by the ECHO Foundation, the ECHO Awards give recognition to students from non-western communities studying in higher education and creating impact on pressing social issues.
Three VU students are eligible for an award this year. Rashmi Jadnanansing and Endo Ozana Eloïs have made it to the final for the ECHO Award WO, and Soumeya Mezian for the ECHO Award Current Affairs.
Rashmi is pursuing two masters - one in Medicine at VU and one in Neurobiology at UvA. She focuses on improving educational opportunities and access to good healthcare for youth and vulnerable groups in Suriname through her foundation GratefulGiving.
Endo recently completed his bachelor's degree in Political Science at VU and is currently pursuing a master's in Political Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He remotely runs a recovery centre for women and girls in the Congolese city of Goma, and before moving to London, he provided policy advice to the Municipality of Rotterdam as a member of the Rotterdam Youth Council Young010.
Soumeya also just finished her bachelor's degree in Medicine at VU, and is now pursuing a master's in Health Care Management at Erasmus University Rotterdam. She advocates for equity in healthcare and education through her community outreach work at Erasmus MC's memory clinic and her Talent Academy.
Rashmi, Endo and Soumeya will hear on 10 December whether they have won an award at the awards ceremony at the Hague University of Applied Sciences. Want to know more about the ECHO Awards? Consult the webpage about these awards on vu.nl or check the website of the ECHO foundation.
