GlobeMed at UC
"It turns out that advancing equal opportunity and economic empowerment is both morally right and good economics, because discrimination, poverty and ignorance restrict growth, while investments in education, infrastructure and scientific and technological research increase it, creating more good jobs and new wealth for all of us." - President William J. Clinton
GlobeMed is a network of over 2,000 undergraduate university students who work at 56 chapters across the United States to support and promote global health equity and social justice. Each chapter partners with a grassroots health organization in either Africa, Asia, or the Americas in an effort to bring equitable healthcare to individuals all across the world. By engaging in fundraising and educational efforts, as well as yearly internships, students connect with these partner organizations to better meet the needs of the populations with which they work. In addition, students engage in initiatives on and around their campus communities to raise awareness not only about the work that they are doing with their partner organizations, but also about health issues and disparities that affect communities around the world, including their own. Activities associated with this more focused advocacy portion of GlobeMed's mission work towards solutions for issues like Maternal Health, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Nutrition, Income Generation, and Communicable Disease Prevention. Together, these aspects of GlobeMed's mission make it a unique and vibrant organization that deviates from the antiquated charity or service organization model. Instead of purchasing and supplying supplies or engaging in short term excursions like medical mission trips, students involved with GlobeMed form lasting connections with their partner organizations that allow them to both better understand the communities with which they work, and to create sustainable, long-term benefits in these communities.
"Throughout the year, GlobeMed chapters strengthen long-term partnerships through frequent communication, fundraise through innovative initiatives for health projects that help partner organizations achieve their mission, educate students about global health issues through a signature curriculum, and intern on-site with partner organizations."
The partner organization with which the University of Cincinnati chapter of GlobeMed works--Social Action for Women--assists Burmese immigrant communities scattered along the Thai side of the Burmese-Thai border, specifically around the city of Mae Sot. Most of these immigrants are refugees from oppressive military rule and ethnic conflict in their homeland, but unfortunately, Burmese migrants only leave one harsh reality to be welcomed into another. The vast majority of Burmese refugees in Thailand recieve minimal rights (non-native Burmese children often cannot attend Thai public schools, for example) and face extreme economic hardship. Another big problem within these communities is also health. Specifically, the Burmese migrant communities are often hosts to infectious diseases and sexually transmitted diseases that can be curtailed through proper educative measures. This is why the University of Cincinnati GlobeMed chapter has worked with Social Action for Women to develop the Community Health Outreach Program. Led by Dr. Htin Zaw and a group of community educators, this initiative provides health education to Burmese communities through workshops on topics like personal and dental hygiene. In addition, Social Action for Women provides services like shelter, rights awareness, counseling, and vocational training to Burmese migrant women and cares for and educates refugee children in an orphanage.
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GlobeMed at UC's partner organization, Social Action for Women (SAW), is based in Mae Sot, Thailand, along the Burma-Thailand border. Every year, 4-5 students from our chapter travel to Mae Sot to work with SAW as interns. Throughout the year, we also maintain active communication with the organization through Skype conferences and email exchanges, as well as via our partnership action framework and partner update forms.
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