Trondheim, Norway – At the heart of the 2025 International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT) was a powerful call to action: reclaiming agency and rethinking solidarity in global health. Under the theme, “POWER”, the Global Health Solidarity project played a central role in sparking dialogue on how young people can drive change.
The conversation began on March 15 with a high-impact panel discussion on the “Weaponisation of Healthcare,” featuring Dr. Caesar Atuire, lead of GH-Solidarity, alongside experts from Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and the pharmaceutical sector. Their discussion shed light on how healthcare is increasingly entangled with politics, conflicts, and profit-driven interests, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of solidarity in global health.
Building on this momentum, the GH-Solidarity, in collaboration with the United Nations Independent Expert on International Solidarity, Professor Cecilia M. Bailliet, hosted a dedicated solidarity workshop on March 18. This session provided a space for young international leaders to discuss how to move solidarity from rhetoric to action in tackling health inequalities. Youth voices in global governance are often marginalised, yet decisions made today have a lasting impact on their lives.
Bailliet challenged participants to rethink power dynamics, arguing that true solidarity must shift from a top-down model to grassroots-led engagement. She also urged students to move beyond seeing human rights as passive entitlements, instead recognising solidarity as an active responsibility, one that demands collective action to uphold dignity and equality.
“We are witnessing a weakening of multilateral structures, and states are no longer the sole actors in global governance. Civil society, corporations, and youth movements have a critical role to play in reshaping solidarity from the ground up. This workshop is about recognising that power lies in collective action and that solidarity must be inclusive rather than exclusionary,” Bailliet said.
Atuire reinforced this message, drawing on examples of grassroots solidarity examples from the Himalayas to Africa, where mutual support sustains communities. He highlighted how small actions—such as volunteering, crowdfunding healthcare costs, or community-led environmental efforts like Ghana’s ‘Bus Stop Boys’ initiative—demonstrate solidarity in everyday life.
“Solidarity is not just about empathy—it’s about action. “One of the things that make solidarity different from aid or charity is that solidarity relies on recognising similarities. Aid says, ‘I see how poor you are,’ but solidarity says, ‘I see myself in you.” Atuire emphasised.
Participants reflected on how solidarity plays out or can be used in their own communities. Some explored how friendships can foster solidarity, while others discussed how youth activism, sustainable consumer choices, and community-led health initiatives all contribute to global well-being.
“Solidarity comes naturally with friends—we show up for them, stand by them, and take action together. But how do we extend solidarity for people who have nothing to do with us? How do we stand with those across borders, outside our communities? We explored this through ideas like engaging in refugee support such as starting youth sports programmes, and even simple acts like spending time with the elderly or supporting mental health initiatives,” shared a participant from one of the discussion groups.
One key takeaway? Solidarity is most powerful when rooted in shared experiences and collective responsibility. The health of one is linked to the health of all. Young people have the power to engage, advocate, and take responsibility for shaping global health solutions. The real question is: what will you do with your power?
The session concluded with an invitation for students to join the Global Health Solidarity Ambassador Program an initiative designed to equip young leaders with tools to drive real, community-based health projects. Solidarity is no longer just a concept—it’s a call to action.
Register here to join the Global Health Solidarity Ambassador Program
- Log in to post comments