« La voix est libre », 40 years of Médecins du Monde

health / environment / rights of minorities

Médecins du Monde, 40 years of commitment

Going where others don't, bearing witness to violations of human rights and dignity: such is the struggle of Médecins du Monde, which celebrated its fortieth anniversary on February 1, 2020.

Founded in 1980, Médecins du Monde is a militant international solidarity medical association now present in 73 countries, in addition to France, and benefiting nearly 4 million people worldwide.

Working alongside the Lebanese after the explosion last August, with migrants in Calais, sex workers, drug users, homeless people... The association is committed to helping the most vulnerable people, who are excluded from the healthcare system. Its mission? To care for populations, bear witness to the atrocities of armed conflict, and fight for better health for all.

A podcast to share experiences

In this podcast, "La voix est libre", Médecins du monde looks back at the key events in its history. The behind-the-scenes stories of the NGO's founding events are recounted, and the personal anecdotes of volunteers, employees and partners reveal the challenges and developments of humanitarian action.

Each episode in these ten podcasts is devoted to a key date in the history of humanitarian projects. From the opening of missions in France to the recent migratory crisis, via the earthquake in Haiti and the Syrian conflict, each of the NGO's players recounts his or her impressions, questions and obstacles. It's an opportunity for the NGO to dive listeners into the heart of the contexts in which Médecins du Monde operates, and to share the experiences of its volunteers and employees.

Graphic design for the podcast

Médecins du Monde asked The Ink Link to illustrate this series of ten podcasts, ten events that have left their mark on the world and the association, so that those who carry out their actions can tell their stories in history.

The Ink Link assisted the NGO with the graphic design of the podcast, and asked Loïc Sécheresse to draw the pictorial representation of these ten episodes. In addition to bringing narrative coherence and a visual identity to the series, Loïc Sécheresse's eye and line give the listener a sensitive understanding of the subject before listening.

Loïc Sécheresse works regularly for the press and advertising. His precise, clean lines are reminiscent of "on-the-spot" drawings, a reference to the NGO's field work.

To enable the artist to immerse himself in the heart of the subject, Médecins du Monde gave him access to the sound and visual archives gathered for the preparation of the episodes, and to the recordings of the contributors before editing. These archives enabled Loïc Sécheresse to get close to the daily lives of those who build Médecins du Monde, and to illustrate each episode accurately.

In cooperation with the NGO, the artist has transcribed the highlights of Médecins du Monde, placing people at the heart of his illustrations. Men and women united in the same story, the same movement, despite differences in time, environment and theme, with the same goal: to share experiences and provide care. It's also an opportunity to show the NGO's incredible ability to adapt to the ever-changing humanitarian world.

Drawings now play a central role in the podcast, representing all the key moments in the history of Médecins du Monde. Each illustration captures listeners' attention by immersing them in the NGO's actions, and provides an original visual identity for the entire series.