Sophie and Samuel will be joining our team in Cambodia from March 2025. The two medical students will be working for two months in our children's hospital and maternity ward in Siem Reap. Here they introduce themselves.
Sophie Ammann, 23, Zurich
When I was at elementary school, I had to spend several days at the Kispi because of an accident and was fascinated by all the equipment and the doctors. I found it fascinating to find out what happened to the other children who were in the room with me. As a result, my childhood dream job (besides being a singer) was to become a doctor. At secondary school, I was particularly interested in science subjects and I wanted to understand exactly how the body works - which is why it quickly became clear to me that I wanted to study medicine. I like the contact with other people and the fact that you can work both clinically and scientifically.
I love traveling, and it is important to me to gain as much insight as possible into the culture and situation of a country. As part of my Matura thesis, I visited a school system that was set up in Zanzibar by a Swiss man and analyzed its sustainability. I really enjoyed doing that. I learned a lot about the living conditions there, which I also hope to gain from my assignment in Siem Reap.
During my two-month assignment in Cambodia, I'm trying to be as open to everything as possible. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of new people and learning a lot from this experience. I'm a little worried about the language barrier - and to be honest, the heat.
Samuel Wüthrich, 26, Zurich
After leaving secondary school, I was unsure which degree course was right for me. Because I enjoyed science subjects, I started to study physics. After a few semesters, however, I realized that I didn't want to continue. That's why I then attended various lectures, but I liked the medicine ones best. I like the mixture of theoretical knowledge and interpersonal contact. On the one hand, it is possible to carry out research and, on the other, to accompany new people every day.
It was clear to me that I wanted to spend part of my elective year abroad. The children's hospital in Siem Reap offers the perfect opportunity for this. I am looking forward to getting to know a different healthcare system. And I want to learn as much as possible and take as much with me as possible.
I'm looking forward to getting to know the people and learning more about the culture. Otherwise, I'm curious to see how well communication will work and whether I can cope with the high temperatures and humidity.
Best regards
Sophie and Samuel
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