When it comes to Global Health, this is a new topic for me that I'm exploring. I happen to be planning a trip abroad to volunteer in the Dominican Republic. I will be doing my traveling with International Student Volunteers (ISV).
The traveling consists of helping build homes, teaching English & health, after school programs, and more. Since the topic of global health is new to me, I wanted to do some exploring online. I was able to find information on Global Health Force. The focus on their program is to deliver medical services and supplies to understand areas around the world. I was able to read some posts on their site that is reflecting on trips that their program has previously made to the Dominican Republic. Here I was actually able to get a better understand of global health that is happening in this area. They actually have some of the same plans when going over seas to help with conquering global health. It was interesting when reading some of their reflections though because you were able to see that although they were well prepared to help with personal hygiene and more, when they went there, their plans changed. I was able to learn that going into these foreign countries, you actually find yourself getting more emerged in the culture.
I'm curious to know, has anyone else studied or volunteered abroad? What experiences have you had when you found yourself in another country? Seeing the experiences of others helps me with having something to look forward to and helps with knowing what to expect. It would also be nice to hear about what challenges I should expect.
Overall, when it comes to global health, this is still new to me but I'm interested in learning more. When it comes to volunteering abroad, this is something that I'm really looking forward to and the more I know the better. In addition to the International Student Volunteer program and the Global Health Force are there any other programs that help students explore the opportunities of volunteering and studying? At the moment while I'm still learning, these programs are interesting me in helping to learn more about global health.
Global Health Force posts
Thank you,
Angela Frazier
Thanks for the post. What a cool opportunity for you! Nine years ago I went to a small town on the Mexican side of the Mexico-California border and built a house with a group of volunteers (Nine years?? Maybe I should get busy again!). In retrospect, I wish that we had gotten more into the culture of the family we were helping out. We were providing them with something they needed, but we could have gotten friendlier and learned about their lives a little more. Instead, we showed up with building materials and manpower, built a house (the family helped, by the way), said "you're welcome," and were out of there. I try to imagine what it would like to be on the receiving end of that... Maybe bittersweet, because on one hand, you've just received a house, but on the other, who were those people who were here for a week?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you will have the opportunity to get much closer to the people you will be helping. If I could do it over again, I'd try to act more like a guest and figure out what they really wanted from me. Like the public health version of offering to help with cleaning after an acquaintance's dinner party, and then actually doing what the acquaintance suggests.
I love that you're reading up on others' experiences with the program you're doing. That's one thing I didn't do before my mini excursion in Mexico. It seems like you're really on the right track to be of maximum service.
Angela, this is so exciting! One of the last days of class we'll talk about ways that students can get involved, and I'm hoping you might share this with the class. Think about it, okay! :-)
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