Global Issues: World Health Students Travel to Belize Over Spring Break

By: Dr. Ron Kinser, Senior School Biology Teacher

Sewickley Academy World Health students traveled to Belize over spring break to provide basic health assessments to patients in several Belizean communities.

This trip gives students the opportunity to participate in authentic, curriculum-based service learning in a culturally diverse community. This collaboration between Sewickley Academy and Global Public Service Academies (GPSA) is in its second year.
 
Students learned how to take blood pressure, blood sugar, and other vital signs as part of the "Global Issues: World Health" class and then put these skills to use in Belize with the help of local community health workers and GPSA staff. Students also learn about Belizean culture through home stays over the course of the 10-day trip. These home stays offer opportunities to practice Spanish or learn Mayan as well as sample a diverse array of Belizean food.  
 
Over the last two years, students have helped nearly 500 patients by providing critical health-related information. We are eagerly looking forward to our third trip in the spring of 2019! 

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