| Global Health Programs at SHU has partnered with The Comprehensive Rural Health Project, Jamkhed (CRHP) to provide a short-term, hands-on experience in Jamkhed, Maharashtra, India. CRHP has been working among the rural poor and marginalized for the past 45 years. Founded in 1970 by Drs. Raj and Mabelle Arole to bring healthcare to the poorest of the poor, CRHP has become an organization that empowers people and communities to eliminate injustices through integrated efforts in health and development. CRHP works by mobilizing and building the capacity of communities to achieve access to comprehensive development and freedom from stigma, poverty, and disease. Pioneering a comprehensive approach to community-based primary healthcare (also known as the Jamkhed Model), CRHP has been a leader in public health and development in rural communities in India and around the world. Annually, CRHP provides services that directly impact 500,000 people in the state of Maharashtra. Since the opening of the Training Center in 1994, over 30,000 local and 3,000 international representatives from NGOs, governments and healthcare professionals have been trained in the CRHP approach. At the core of this comprehensive community-based approach is its embrace of equity for all, utilizing healthcare as a means to break the cycle of poverty. The work of CRHP has been recognized by the WHO and UNICEF, and has been introduced to communities around the world. (jamkhed.org) |
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| Program | CHP: Occupational Therapy in India aims to promote students' understanding of global health, education, and ethical principles of service, respect for human dignity, social and economic justice, and address the needs of vulnerable and diverse populations. The program works to build cultural competence through interprofessional service learning within a global environment. The program in India will touch upon these principles in an experiential opportunity within a diverse, rural setting. Students will participate in a various Community-Based Integrated Health and Development opportunities through CRHP. They will have the opportunity to visit local villages supported by CRHP's Village Health Workers, tour the Hospital and prosthetic limb facility and work with various community members. Students will be providing direct services (occupational therapy assessments and interventions) under the supervision of faculty to children and adults in mobile clinics, school-based settings and home health. Students will also participate in the prosthetic clinic and provide education to patients and caregivers. |
| Faculty | Sheelagh Schlegel, MPH, OTR/L schlegels@sacredheart.edu (203) 365-4773 |
| Accommodations | Lodging is located on the CRHP campus in dorm-style, shared rooms. Most meals are provided and included as part of the program fee. You are responsible for your own snacks, if desired. Check out a short video describing a "day in the life" of an Elon student at CRHP: https://youtu.be/llXa4ctJna8 which shows the CRHP grounds and accommodations. |
| Costs | Fall Program Costs & Due Dates The total cost due to Sacred Heart University is $2,355. Due dates:
PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES: Program orientation, international airfare, local ground transportation, housing in a shared room, most meals on location, program excursions, and mandatory basic international health insurance PROGRAM FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Snacks, major medical insurance, trip cancellation insurance, visa/resident permit fees, baggage fees if applicable, and all personal expenses. A visa is required for entry into India which can be acquired from a simple online application. The approximate visa fee is $100. Trip cancellation insurance can be purchased through SquareMouth.Com |
| Scholarships | Suggested organizations for possible scholarship money is provided in the Fundraising Guide available here: CHP/CON Fundraising Guide. |
| Testimonials | "I learned so much from going to Jamkhed, and I’m so thankful that I got the opportunity to meet such extraordinary people on this program. While we were there, not only did I get the chance to better understand Indian culture, but I got to better understand healthcare, social work, and people in a whole new light. My favorite thing looking back at our trip to Jamkhed was hearing all of the heroic stories that were shared by the village health workers. They were able to overcome such unbelievable circumstances, and truly defy the odds in order to become role models in their communities, and I found that inspirational." (Senior Health Science Student) "My favorite experience was going into the villages and meeting the people who benefit from the knowledge of the Village Health Workers. It was amazing to see the influence one person can have on the community, using the knowledge they learned to become self-sufficient within their own village. Another favorite part of the trip was hearing the different stories from the Village Health Workers. Their experiences influenced who they are and gave them the drive to help others within their communities. For many of them, they have been silenced for a majority of their lives and it was amazing to see how they’ve overcome that with the help of CRHP. They’ve become an advocate for members in their community and did not let their negative experiences influence who they are today. I was inspired to here all of their stories and it gave me happiness to know that they’re living their lives differently today and sharing their stories of resilience." (Senior Social Work Student) |
| Contact | Meggy Adorno Assistant Director of Global Health Programs Phone: 203-365-4509 Email: adornom2@sacredheart.edu Location: Healthcare Education, N257 |
| Location | India remains one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Apart from its many religions and sects, India is home to innumerable castes and tribes, as well as to more than a dozen major and hundreds of minor linguistic groups from several language families unrelated to one another. Religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, still account for a significant proportion of the population; collectively, their numbers exceed the populations of all countries except China. At independence, India was blessed with several leaders of world stature, most notably Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, who were able to galvanize the masses at home and bring prestige to India abroad. The country has played an increasing role in global affairs....For almost all Indians the family is the most important social unit. There is a strong preference for extended families, consisting of two or more married couples (often of more than a single generation), who share finances and a common kitchen. Marriage is virtually universal, divorce rare, and virtually every marriage produces children. (www.britannica.com/place/India) Please note: The Zika virus is present in India. It is essential that all students visit a travel clinic before traveling to India for professional advice regarding Zika and recommended precautions. For information, please visit the CDC’s webpage. Additional information can also be found on the World Health Organization’s website. Travel to India is not recommended for pregnant women, women who may be pregnant, or who are actively seeking to become pregnant at the time of travel or near future. |
| Duration | Dates: TBD |
