”OlimpHelp” project contributes to accomplishments of olympic high school students

A group of students from Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy initiated a new project for high school students with the aim of supporting their preparation for the biology and chemistry Olympiads. The project with the generic name OlimpHelp was carried out in online format, between January 17 - February 28, 2023, at the initiative of the Association of Medical Students and Residents of Moldova (ASRM).

During the project, 28 meetings were held, attended by over 200 students from 44 high schools and 20 gymnasiums from the districts of Cahul, Hîncești, Edineț, Străseni, Anenii Noi, Orhei, Cimișlia, Nisporeni, Balti, Dondușeni, Soldănești, Dondușeni, Ialoveni, Criuleni, Sîngerei, and from the municipality of Chisinau.

During the training the following topics were tackled: chromosomal mutations, the isomerism of chemical compounds, the chemical composition of natural minerals, basic concepts in analytical chemistry, the basics of anatomy, carbon and its compounds, the structure and physiology of the nervous system, etc. Also, tests for Grade 10 of the 2022 Municipal Chemistry Olympiad were solved. The trainers were students Daniel Cristea, Ion Cojocaru, Shannon Ioniță, Casiana Lapicus, Valentina Asaftei, Dorina Cebotari and Sorin Cenușă - members of ASRM, who provided the high school students with useful knowledge for the Olympiads.

Daniel Cristea, coordinator of OlimpHelp project, first-year student at Faculty of Medicine No. 1, has mentioned that the idea of ​​the project comes from his own experience, when during the preparations for the municipal and republican level Olympiads, he faced a lack of information sources. "There are young people with potential in the districts, but it is difficult for them to prepare because of insufficient information support.  They cannot get the desired results at the Olympiads, especially in biology and chemistry, which have many complicated aspects for a high school student. Thus, I came up with the idea that medical students, who themselves were Olympians in school, should participate in the training of school students. In this way, the knowledge obtained at university courses – in the disciplines of molecular biology, genetics, histology, biochemistry and biophysics – may serve as support for school students to participate in Olympiads”.

Several young people who got involved in the project later participated in the Olympiads and sent messages of gratitude.

According to Gabriela Niculai, a student at Petre Stefanuca Theoretical High School in the town of Ialoveni, "the project was a useful one, because I obtained very good results and I am sure that it helped many other students as well. The medical students were very receptive and understanding, they gave detailed explanations to all our questions".

"OlimpHelp project is an extraordinary opportunity for developing skills in the field of biology and chemistry: the lessons are interactive, the explanations are clear, and the project team has awakened our interest in these subjects. I suggest you participate in these activities with confidence. I assure you that you will not regret accepting the challenge!" urges Valeria Banu, a student at Mihai Eminescu Theoretical High School in the town of Dondușeni.

For her part, Doriana Lungu, a student at the Theoretical High School in the village of Zubrești, Străseni district, believes that the OlimpHelp project is a great support on the way to  Olympiads, considering the fact that the tests contain information that is not studied under the school program, and some questions are based on topics from the 1st-2nd years of faculty. "Knowing that there is someone willing to help you, to explain and to teach you, to answer your questions in an open and friendly way is extremely gratifying for every school student aspiring to Olympian status," specified the high school student.

In the opinion of Mirela Vintila, a student at Universum Theoretical High School in Sărata-Galbenă commune, Hîncești district, OlimpHelp is a very useful project for the students participating in Olympiads, because the subjects are taught in great detail and are quite complex. I appreciate the work of the medical students, I suppose they have a lot to study, but they give us their time too".

Twenty students enrolled in the first edition of the OlimpHelp project obtained first place, 25 - second place, 30 - third place, and 25 – an honorable mention at the district and municipal biology and chemistry Olympiads. First place holders represented their institutions at the highest level at the Republican Olympiads.

At the moment, six participants of the project are among the laureates of the Republican Olympiad in Biology, 2023 edition: Patricia Moraru (Mihail Sadoveanu Theoretical High School, Hîncești) became the winner of the first place; Ion Valeanu (Gymnasium in village of Bobeica, Hîncești district) and Daniela Neamțu (Ion Vatamanu Theoretical High School, Străseni) - second place; Nicoleta Rachiteanu (Mihai Eminescu Theoretical High School, Hîncești) - third place, Sofia Codreanu (Theoretical High School Olimp, Sîngerei), and Fiodor Marandici (Theoretical High School in the village of Costești, Ialoveni district) - mention.

Two other participants of the project are laureates of the Republican Olympiad in Chemistry: Roman Movilă (Dimitrie Cantemir Theoretical High School, Cahul) - third place, and Adelina Dîru (Mihail Sadoveanu Theoretical High School, Hîncești) – mention.

We admire the initiative and responsiveness of the students who chose to participate in this project. We wish them health, perseverance and outstanding achievements in the future! We hope that most of them will be among the new students admitted to our university.