A personal and professional growth internship: the experience of physiotherapy students at the DREAM clinic in Bangui
The internship for students of the Physiotherapy Degree Program at the University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO) at the DREAM Clinic in Bangui, Central African Republic, recently concluded. Now in its third edition, this project has provided a valuable field training experience, allowing students to engage with a complex and stimulating healthcare environment.
During the internship, students dedicated time and effort to working with patients of different ages and rehabilitation needs, both neurological and orthopedic. Interaction with children and adults already under treatment allowed for progress monitoring, while new patients, selected by the Clinic’s staff, benefited from personalized care plans. Special attention was given to young epileptic patients, whose improvements were evident thanks to their mothers’ commitment to following home programs learned in previous editions and the constant support of local activists.
The results achieved were remarkable: a child who managed to sit up, another who started crawling, a teenager who can finally enjoy playing soccer, a grandmother who finds it easier to help her grandson move around, a mother relieved to see her child gain autonomy, and a man with hemiplegia who now moves more confidently through the city streets.
This internship experience had a profound impact on the participants, who return home with a wealth of unique experiences and lessons: the joy of patients, the dedication of families, the interest of healthcare workers, and the personalized approach of the DREAM Program.
Each day was lived with enthusiasm and dedication, always aiming to find effective solutions for everyone. The experience also highlighted how the line between teacher and learner can blur: the greatest value of this journey was the ability to improve the quality of life for those involved.
The DREAM program, and consequently the Clinic, is based on fundamental principles that guide every action: dedication, placing the patient at the center of every intervention; responsibility, being aware that care can change a person’s destiny; experience, resulting from knowledge sharing among staff members; accessibility, guaranteed by free treatment and the motto “ici tout est gratuit”; and motivation, in the continuous search for the best therapeutic path for each patient.
This experience meant much more than just an internship: it was an extraordinary opportunity for personal and professional growth, a moment of exchange and mutual learning that will leave an indelible mark on the hearts of all participants.