Global Action Expands to Public Health

A New Group of Global Awareness in Action Programs focuses on Public Health.

When we launched the first three Global Action programs in the summer of 2005, we knew that their combination of specific issue focus, hands-on community service work, thoughtful research and discovery, and interaction with people in developing nations would provide useful and interesting experiences for participants. We expected to attract an outstanding group of creative, energetic, and committed young people. We were right!

By summer 2007 the selection of Global Action programs had expanded to 7 countries located around the world, culminating together in two extraordinary days of presentations by group participants at Yale.  With 115 students and over 200 parents and friends attending, it was an inspiring and hopeful display of commitment by the students to continuing engagement with serious challenges facing developing countries.

The success of the Global Action model demands that we offer more options for students. The 2007 group at Yale, however, represented the maximum manageable size to foster meaningful exchange between each group’s participants.  This led us to create a new structure for 2008.  We have divided Global Action into two categories that will convene separately at Yale—and we added new programs.

In response to students’ interest in the challenges presented to developing countries by AIDS/HIV, other infectious diseases including tuberculosis and malaria, and the effects of environmental degradation associated with economic development, we have created the Public Health category of Global Action programs.  These programs focus on the provision of health services with a particular focus on AIDS/HIV and related public health issues in Africa (Rwanda, Malawi, and South Africa), and on infectious diseases and the effects of environmental pollution in China.  Dates for all Global Action Public Health programs are June 29 to July 30.

A second category, World Issues, includes programs that span a range of challenges confronted by developing countries, from economic transformation to children’s issues to environmental stress.  Cambodia, China, El Salvador, India, and Madagascar are the 2008 Global Action World Issues destinations.  Dates for all Global Action World Issues programs are July 3 to August 3. 

If you are presently in 9th through 12th grade, are committed to lending a hand and to learning about critical global issues through an intense, thought-provoking, interactive, and challenging immersion experience we urge you to take a closer look at our Global Awareness in Action programs for 2008!