Cultures of Resistance

American University of Beirut (AUB)

The American University of Beirut (AUB) is a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher learning, committed to the ideals of critical thinking, open debate, and diversity. The University places a high premium on developing students' appreciation of, and responsibility to, their respective societies and cultures.

Since October 2001, the Volunteer Outreach Clinic (VOC) at AUB has been providing primary health care services to patients in Beirut's Shatila Refugee Camp. The Clinic is staffed with volunteers, a heterogeneous group consisting of medical and nursing students, interns, pharmacists, nutritionists, residents, and attending-physicians, as well as with AUB students from various majors. VOC tries to bring the best in health care to a destitute population, which has no access to medicine whatsoever.

We have helped VOC create a special fund dedicated to the expenses of patients the clinic cannot treat on site. Some of its patients are very ill and need extra care or minor surgical procedures. VOC can now transport those patients for brief admissions or procedures.