Global Field Experience

Nigeria is a West African country with a rich and diverse culture and over 200 languages. While English is the main language spoken in the country, indigenous languages are spoken, with a large population being multilingual. This is a country that is home to incredible tech startups, amazing food and art, and, of course, the famous Nollywood industry that has produced major blockbuster productions.

For this trip, we will dive deep into the health care system of the eastern part of Nigeria in Owerri, where will work with community organizations on the integration of mental health services into HIV care. Students will be involved in capacity-building activities, data collection, analysis, and community service. Students will gain a better understanding of differences in health systems from a strength-based lens.

In Nigeria, safety is of paramount importance, and we will take all necessary to keep everyone safe. Accommodations will be modest, and students will stay in shared rooms. We will do our best to ensure adequate access to Wi-Fi and electricity, but please be prepared for intermittent outages. You can expect driving on bumpy, dirt roads in a Landcruiser, temperatures in the 90s, and lots of rain, as this will be during the rainy season.

You’ll consume local food, which includes rice, garri/cassava, tomato-based stews, soups, and meats in addition to other local dishes.

Tanzania is a beautiful country in East Africa. It is home to over 100 tribes, speaking over 100 languages, with Kiswahili being the unifying language. It is home to people with vibrant cultures and strong traditions. It is also home to some of the most magnificent national parks and animals in the world. 

For this global field experience, we will be exploring various organizations throughout northern Tanzania to give you an overview of different cultures, various types of health care facilities, and several community-based projects. We will visit both public and nongovernmental hospitals, schools, a children’s village, and a national park, and we will speak with leaders and healers from different communities. 

The focus of this trip is to gain insight into the rich diversity of cultures in Tanzania and to explore various aspects of the health care system and health projects to expand our understanding of how health services are delivered. There will be an emphasis on cultural humility, equity and justice, inner bias work, understanding the burdens of diseases, and comparing health care systems. The trip will consist of site visits, lectures and discussions, workshops, and, of course, time for fun! We will visit local markets, explore important sites, and spend time with local communities. 

Safety is the top priority, and while Tanzania is very safe, we will still take all the necessary precautions to ensure a safe experience. Because we will be visiting rural locations, accommodations will be modest. You will stay in a shared room with one other person, and while we will do our best to ensure adequate access to Wi-Fi and electricity, please be prepared for intermittent outages. You can expect driving on bumpy, dirt roads in a Landcruiser , temperatures in the 60s-70s, and little rain, as it will be the dry season – this also means lots of dust! We will be eating local food, which consists of rice and beans, ugali (corn meal, starchy dish), vegetables, meat, fresh fruits, pilau (spiced rice), and more specialized dishes.