NOV 16 · 2026

Trusted Practitioners Transforming Lives

Let’s share the experiences that inspired us, so others can see what’s possible

Share your story Find your way to take part

Before we were students or practitioners, many of us were patients.

Many of us can name the experience.

The moment before all of that, when we were just someone who needed help, sitting in a waiting room, hoping this might help.

An acupuncturist entered our life and it affected us so deeply that we decided to give years of our lives to learning how to do it for somebody else.

That passion, that so many of us embody, is one of the most persuasive things our profession owns.

Few of us share it.

A woman laughing, relaxed, sitting in a busy café

You speak from two places at once

As a practitioner or student, you bring training and credibility. As a former patient, you’re relatable: an ordinary person who was once looking for help.

When people hear a story of change so significant that it inspired you to change your career, the natural thought is:

An acupuncture tutor guiding students around a treatment couch in a teaching clinic
They are just like me. Maybe that could help me too.

Tell us your story!

Share the experience of having acupuncture treatment that inspired you to train.

Video Audio Written In your own language

Talk about what is relatable: how life actually felt.

  • What was hard?
  • What had you lost?
  • What became possible again?
  • What made you decide to train?

If your first thought is “my story isn’t dramatic or inspiring enough”, that’s exactly the kind of story we need. No special equipment, experience or presentation skills needed.

Personal authenticity is what speaks.

Share your story (2-minute form)
A practitioner recording a short video on a phone with two colleagues in a clinic room

How can you join your community in taking action?

  1. Are you an ETCMA member organisation or do you work with students?

    Contact us to use the materials the ETCMA WAAD working group is providing to help your members or students share their stories.

    Email the WAAD team

  2. Are you a practitioner or student?

    The experience that brought you to acupuncture. Tell us about it.

    Share your story

  3. Are you on social media?

    Follow the ETCMA channels and help us share and elevate our inspiring stories. Every repost, every translation, every colleague you nudge adds to the same voice.

    Follow and join the community

It takes just 30 seconds to find out more. The ETCMA will support you.

A group of practitioners chatting and laughing together outdoors in a park

Join the WAAD community

Our WhatsApp community is where practitioners, students and organisations across Europe share ideas, get the latest materials and encourage each other in the run-up to 16 November.

Join on WhatsApp

Follow and share

If recording yourself isn’t for you, sharing the campaign counts just as much. Our community doesn’t have massive marketing budgets, but there are thousands of us who deeply care.

LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube

WAAD 2026 is your chance to join your colleagues in speaking together.

It is the many small drops that make a wave.

Share your story Join on WhatsApp

Campaign resources

Materials from the ETCMA WAAD working group for member organisations, colleges and practitioners. More will be added as they are released.

Coming soon

Story guide

Simple tips for recording a short video or audio story on your phone.

Coming soon

Social media templates

Editable posts and graphics to share the campaign in your own language.

Coming soon

Toolkit for organisations

Everything a national association or college needs to involve its members and students.