Some important questions:

*Where is the trip?*
Yaxunah, Mexico
**
*When is the trip?*
January 3 - January 10, 2006
**
*What will we be doing? What is the point of this trip?
*From January 3 - January 10, up to 15 students will travel with our BCUPHS
coordinators to Yaxunah, Mexico.  Once there, trippers will be working with
a medical anthropologist.  Significant health risks facing Yaxunah include
respiratory illnesses, dental problems, and the threat of a dengue
pandemic.  Throughout the trip, trippers will be involved in efforts to
improve sanitation to prevent a dengue pandemic, to improve environmental
health (planting trees and gardens) and to engage with the community.
BCUPHS will be working with a medical anthropologist who has significant
experience and ties with the community in Yaxunah.  He will work closely
with the group to ensure that each day is productive, educational, and fun.
Before, during and after the trip, we will be learning more about the
specific public health concerns that affect the community of Yaxunah and the
context in which these public health issues emerge.

Many public health interventions involve identifying a problem, analyzing
the context in which that problem emerges, and then devising creative
methods to try and address these problems and effect a change in behavior to
target the problem.  Because public health interventions often take months,
years or even decades to have significant effect, we do not anticipate being
able to launch and run a successful and meaningful intervention in one
week.  However, the experience of traveling to Yaxunah and learning about
its problems and the context of these problems will provide a model from
which students can begin to think critically about and begin to understand
how a public health intervention functions.  As part of the trip, trippers
will be asked to think critically about different ways to address the issues
facing Yaxunah from an integrated and thoughtful public health perspective.
**
*How much is this going to cost?*
$900 - 1000 (to be fund raised per person)
**
*$1000 seems like a lot to fund raise.  How can I do this?*
$1000 is a lot, but we feel confident that with diligence, you can do it.
In addition, you will have help!  Our very own fundraising coordinator,
Christine White (SEAS '08) will be working closely with trippers to achieve
fundraising goals.  Christine will be applying for grants to cover some of
the cost, but the majority of the cost will be raised by trippers
themselves.  Christine will assist you in achieving your fundraising goals
through the following methods:
(1) writing letters to friends/family members asking for donations
(2) sending letters to local businesses and following up with them
(3) participating in and promoting fundraising events, including a bake sale
and/or a party at a local bar to raise money for the trip
(4) asking corporations with gift matching programs to match donations
you've already received.
(5) Any other method of fundraising you find successful

Whatever portion of the trip you haven't fund raised, you will have to pay
for.  However, Christine's job is to help you get where you need to be with
fundraising, and we feel confident that you will be able to achieve your
goals for the trip.

*I have other questions. Who can I ask?*
Email [email protected].  We're happy to hear from you!

APPLY FOR WINTER BREAK TRIPS

Applications are due Friday, October 27 by 11:59 PM