Overview of the 2011 Bolivia trip
I. DESCRIPTION:
This international program is developed for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in developing a global understanding of the issues that impoverished countries face and in developing strategies to build a healthier, more humane, and just society for all. This program is ideal for students wanting to gain experience with community health, formal and non-formal education, human rights for women and children, and sustainable community development. This program also provides an excellent setting to see different paradigms of organizational development that foster flat team-based organizations with high levels of participation, collective management, and co-agency by all members.
II. PURPOSE:
This program seeks to:
- Facilitate Global Thinking on the issues of poverty and health. Global Thinking recognizes the interdependence of humanity and all of life. It is a holistic way of thinking that resists compartmentalization (isolating into neatly organized, separate categories—or boxes—the deeply interrelated phenomena of human existence) and reduction (oversimplification of complex issues and concepts).
- Expose participants to concrete, practical ways in which they can engage in building healthy societies and a more just and peaceful world for all. Practice is the counterpart of Theory. This part of the program seeks to move from thought to action by providing participants with opportunities to engage with the community and surrounding environment. This concrete, practical experience provides the appropriate context for further developing and deepening Global Thought.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience firsthand several projects that help to address and overcome public health problems interrelated with education, gender violence, health services, and poverty. These projects include:
- Community Health Clinic
- The School for Life Education
- Center for Children and Adolescents who have been sexually abused
- Health Guardians in marginal urban neighborhoods
- Health Promoters in Rural Communities
- Center for People with disabilities
- General Follow-up visits to Rural Communities
Participants will be able to engage with these various projects at different levels of engagement: Level I, Level II, Level III. These will be discussed.
IV. SAFETY
Security is very important at MAP International, Bolivia. The different activities in Chilimarca will be done in a safe environment and always around the staff of the organization. MAP International has more than 50 full time employees in Chilimarca and several volunteers. When we travel to the city or other places, it will under conditions safe for all participants. If for any reason the security of the group or any of its members is at risk, the trip will be immediately suspended and the appropriate measures will be taken.
Day of Departure:
May 15, 2011
V. COSTS
Costs for participating in the program:
- Each participant will have to buy their own plane ticket. (cost varies)
- Each participant must buy their own visa and vaccination (only yellow fever required)
- $800 for 2 weeks and $175 for each additional week up to 14 weeks and $70 a week each additional week after the 14th week.
Upon acceptance: Must submit $70 fee which goes toward the $800 for the first two weeks.
How long can I come for? Minimum 2 weeks (for level I), maximum 14 weeks for level II, and up to a year for level III. Can combine programs.
What is Included? Pre-departure orientation and support, airport pickup, local transportation, accommodations (all included), meals, overnight stay in La Paz, and a visit to the Inca ruins.
Meals:Allmeals included (also includes Vegetarian and lactose free).
Donations: Any donations of school supplies, art and craft supplies, books, new born baby clothing, yarn, and stuff for children’s activities (e.g. soccer balls) are welcome!
*Transportation at the end of the program varies from year to year, and will be discussed.
Syllabus for Levels
SYLLABUS FOR LEVEL I The purpose of Level I is for you to learn about and engage with each of the programs in Bolivia.
EDUCATION ASPECT:
2. How is this project related to justice (or health), or how is it not? Is it important?
Level II is created for participants who have completed Level I. In Level II, you will be able to bring your experience and deeply engage with one of the projects based on what you have seen and experienced in the first level.
EDUCATION ASPECT:
A Note on Level III
The third level is a longer period of involvement with the institution (three months or longer). This third level is highly specific and usually linked to dissertations, theses, publications, or long term service as a professional. Participants will select a project to work with and will present a plan for their involvement. The coordinators of the selected project in dialogue with MAP staff will review the plan to insure that the plan is beneficial for all (i.e., the local community, MAP -Bolivia teams, participants, and institutions or universities that participate, etc.). The specifics of the projects and plans will be discussed independently with each participant.
Example:
For example, for a pediatrics resident seeking third world health experience, s/he will be involved in clinical activities similar to those of primary healthcare clinic in the United States. The additional things s/he will see is an abundance of intestinal parasites (almost all amoebas and giardias), enteric E. Coli infection, which is self-limited like chickenpox and mumps (again, self-limited), and more bacterial infections both systemic and local. S/he will work with the health team, and together with the staff will prescribe medicines (similar to the USA but with the benefit that there is not much antibiotic resistance, other than Bactrim which is fairly worthless now because of overuse). The resident may
spend about 4 to 6 half-days per week in the clinic; ½ to 1 day in the school teaching, checking on specific patients, assisting in health campaigns (vision, dental, etc.); ½ day with the Community Based Rehabilitation Program for People with Disabilities; chunks of time may be allotted to the program of health promoters in rural villages or to support the center for child victims of sexual abuse for consultations; and finally, some additional community outings with family health guardians.
EDUCATION ASPECT:
- In order for you to get to know each of the seven programs, a team from each program will present a power point with pictures and information about their activities, the purpose of their activities, and their stories. Each session will last 2 to 3 hours.
- In addition, you will be able to participate in 1 to 3 workshops on public health issues of global importance (e.g. Community Development, Historical Western Health Paradigms and How they Operate in Society, Personal and Social Health Determinants, Global Thought, Fundamental Concepts of Total Health and Self-empowerment, Psychological and Neurobiological Effects of Child Sexual Abuse, Root Causes of Poverty, etc.). The topics of the workshops will vary on every trip according to the interest and needs of the trip participants. Each workshop is expected to last between 1 to 2 hours.
- After each presentation of one of the programs you will be able to engage in the activities of the program. For example, after the Community Clinic presents its project in the morning, you will be able to spend the rest of your day engaging in different on-site or out-reach clinic activities. You will be able to work close to the nurses, the doctors, the dentist, and the pharmacist.
- In addition, if any of the projects is in need of hands, you will be able to participate in that project (e.g. construction of a park, painting classrooms, community housing improvement, etc.).
- After each day of presentation and engagement, you will write 2-3 paragraphs answering two questions:
2. How is this project related to justice (or health), or how is it not? Is it important?
- Optional questions to answer: What do I think about the project? What have I learned, if anything?
- At the end of the trip you will write a 1 page paper expressing your thoughts about the trip and the projects you have gotten to know.
Level II is created for participants who have completed Level I. In Level II, you will be able to bring your experience and deeply engage with one of the projects based on what you have seen and experienced in the first level.
EDUCATION ASPECT:
- During your trip you will be doing some personal reading. For this you must chose a book that is related with justice or health and read it before and during your trip.
- You will participate in 1 to 3 workshops on issues of global importance (e.g. Community Development, Historical Western Health Paradigms and How they Operate in Society, Personal and social Health determinants, Global Thought, Fundamental Concepts on Total Health and Self-empowerment, Psychological and Neurobiological Effects of Child Sexual Abuse, Root Causes of Poverty, etc.). The topics of the workshops will vary on every trip. Each workshop is expected to last between 1 to 2 hours.
- Depending on the area you are involved with, you may be required to do some additional reading or to attend other workshops so that you can better serve the population you are engaging with.
- In Level II you have two choices for engagement: 1) shadow someone in a project and engage with them in their regular activities; or 2) create your own activity. Before going on the trip, you must write a 1-5 page proposal on which of these two choices you pick and why you want to do it. If you are doing the first and second levels on the same trip, you may present your proposal before the trip or during the first two weeks of your trip. If you choose to present your proposal for level two during the first two weeks of your trip, you may do some personal research on the programs and interview the staff to help you find a program more in line with your interest. Based on this research and interviewing, you may write up your proposal.
- SHADOWING: If you are interested in shadowing someone, then your proposal will sound something like “being a TA in a class room” or “shadowing a nurse in the clinic.” For example, if you choose to shadow a nurse, you will be accompanying the nurse in all of her activities and you will be able to engage in whatever she is engaging in.
- CREATING YOUR ACTIVITY: In this proposal you may be as creative as you want (for example: art therapy; dance relaxation for sexually abused children; or any other creative activity in areas such as medicine [clinical, laboratory, and pharmaceutical]; community health education; school support; etc.). For your activity, you must specify the hours needed, the number of people who will participate (if applicable), the materials you will use, and a small plan. (For an example proposal, see the attached document, "Proposal Example.docx"). This proposal will be reviewed by the coordinators of the trip, who will either approve, suggest modifications, or ask you to consider a different project. Once your proposal is reviewed and considered appropriate, you will put your proposal into action. You will receive close support so that you may achieve your goals as outlined in the proposal.
- Each day you will have to write 1-2 paragraphs, which may include the activities of your day or your thoughts on the book you are reading and how it is or is not related to the work you are doing.
- At the end of the trip you will have to write a 1 to 2 page paper about the outcome of your project, the pitfalls and the successes. In addition to this, if you wish, you may write about how the trip affected you, or changed you.
- For those who are interested in learning or strengthening their Spanish, a program of Spanish classes can be arranged. The classes are available at varying lengths and frequencies. Also, involvement with the projects is a “total immersion experience.” Everything is done in Spanish. Spanish classes will include additional costs. If you are interested, just let us know.
A Note on Level III
The third level is a longer period of involvement with the institution (three months or longer). This third level is highly specific and usually linked to dissertations, theses, publications, or long term service as a professional. Participants will select a project to work with and will present a plan for their involvement. The coordinators of the selected project in dialogue with MAP staff will review the plan to insure that the plan is beneficial for all (i.e., the local community, MAP -Bolivia teams, participants, and institutions or universities that participate, etc.). The specifics of the projects and plans will be discussed independently with each participant.
Example:
For example, for a pediatrics resident seeking third world health experience, s/he will be involved in clinical activities similar to those of primary healthcare clinic in the United States. The additional things s/he will see is an abundance of intestinal parasites (almost all amoebas and giardias), enteric E. Coli infection, which is self-limited like chickenpox and mumps (again, self-limited), and more bacterial infections both systemic and local. S/he will work with the health team, and together with the staff will prescribe medicines (similar to the USA but with the benefit that there is not much antibiotic resistance, other than Bactrim which is fairly worthless now because of overuse). The resident may
spend about 4 to 6 half-days per week in the clinic; ½ to 1 day in the school teaching, checking on specific patients, assisting in health campaigns (vision, dental, etc.); ½ day with the Community Based Rehabilitation Program for People with Disabilities; chunks of time may be allotted to the program of health promoters in rural villages or to support the center for child victims of sexual abuse for consultations; and finally, some additional community outings with family health guardians.
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