We see education as an accumulation and development of decentralized knowledge, and emancipatory technology & science. In the name Medical Self-Defense Network, self-defense does not point to reaction, but to our philosophy and practice. As mentioned in our manifesto:
“…healing, medicine and free access to them are key pillars of communitarian self-defense.”
Communal health lies in the balance and reconciliation of the individual and commons. For each person, strong spiritual, mental, and physical health is foundational for self defense. Mechanisms that help us to heal and recuperate within ourselves and the communities around us build the core of collective care and security. Education and knowledge are both fundamental parts of communitarian self-defense.
For the development of healthy society, we need educational processes that makes knowledge and skills accessible to everyone who might need it. These processes can empower the society, if distributed in a healthy way.
To educate means to guide people through knowledge, skills, values, and development. Such guidance leads to autonomy, not dependancy. Our objective is to build knowledge and capacity, together with mentors and guides who can support others in empowering their communities. Despite the urgent pressure and ongoing crises, giving priority to education is essential in the long term. Some years ago in North East Syria, emergency field care was nearly not existing or organized by few individuals, often internationalists. After time of building trust and deeper connections, the importance of scaling up that work and passing this knowledge to local people became a question of importance. Nowadays, people within local structures are mentoring processes in this field. Another inspirational example is the women’s village, Jinwar, where women healers teach other women about accessible medicine as well as it’s production, application and connection to the cycle of life.In an environment where conventional civilian medical infrastructure is under attack , wounded people (both civilians and soldiers) are more likely to die from easily preventable injuries.
While members of MSDN hold educations in NE Syria, new teams give seminars on first aid to resisting people in Ukraine. In future we would like to focus on setting low threshold courses and seminars in Europe, North America and beyond, as well as to connect and learn from initiatives in sharing knowledge in all fields of medicine.
If you are interested, please get in contact with us at
medicalselfdefense@protonmail.com