The purpose of the Environmental & Global Health (EGH) Study Abroad program in Haiti was to provide students with opportunities where they would grapple with external disruptions to what have become adaptive contexts and supporting fluid (and marginalized/vulnerable) populations. Throughout their experiences they learned public health skills and knowledge through various interdisciplinary methods and practices in the very setting where these global health challenges persist. Students had the opportunity to practice research methods in the field, in addition to contributing to the efforts of local host organizations and communities.
Students were joined by EGH faculty (Drs. Wood, Maurelli, and Bisesi) as well as an Anthropology PhD student, Kelly Chapman, who has been managing the research project in Haiti since February.
Throughout the study abroad, students were able to observe and probe during water insecurity surveys alongside their Haitian counterpart who were the survey enumerators, to engage with local Haitian community members during the ethnographic interviews, and collect water samples throughout the commune with instruction from EGH faculty. To better understand and appreciate Haitian culture, students were able to visit the National Museum of Haiti, travel to Gainesville’s sister city Jacmel, attend a Haitian cooking course, and of course visit several of the beautiful beaches.