Cameron Hawkins 2014-2015
Hometown: Durham, NC
Major: Biology
I arrived at CRHP in June just in time for the 3-week experiential course where I learned about all of CRHP's programs and the history of CRHP, visited several Project Villages, went out with the Mobile Health Team, spent the night in a village and at the farm and much more. This was an excellent introduction to the Jamkhed and the place I have called home for the past 5 months.
Thus far, I have written several grants to support current CRHP programs, implemented an herbal medicine demonstration at the Rajanikant Arole Demonstration Farm, supported activties at the Science Center, mastered my photoshop skills while working on the Annual Report, made several videos for social media, attended beekeeping training in Nashik, and helped with international and domestic visitors. I have recently been given much more responsibility at the Farm. For my remaining 6 months, most of my time will be spent working with the Farm. Some of my responsibilities include, setting up the nursery so we can sell saplings through Women’s Self-Help Groups, creating a ‘Guide to the Demonstrations’ document for donors and visitors, aiding in the creation of a training program and materials for Farmers’ Clubs and International Guests, giving the farm tour to international and domestic visitors, and continuing with monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition garden and milk production. The primary focus however, will be on creating a new 3-week summer training course about sustainable agriculture and is open to individuals from all disciplines.
One of the best parts of the Elon Fellowship, is you have the opportunity to get involved in whatever aspect of NGO and Public Health related work you would like. Anywhere from grant writing and social media to working out in the fields with the staff or in villages with the Mobile Health Team doing research for a grant. The opportunities are endless based on your skills and interests.
I would highly recommend this fellowship to someone who is flexible, able to work in adverse conditions, enthusiastic to learn about all aspects of health care and health education, and motivated and excited to learn about Indian culture.
Alyssa Dilly 2013-2014
Hometown: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Major: Public Health Studes, Spanish (minor)
During my CRHP Fellowship, my primary projects included working on an HIV/AIDS Research Grant. This included going out with the Mobile Health Team on a regular basis, helping to educate women in the project villages about HIV/AIDS, and testing women for HIV/AIDS. I also updated the organizational brochure and applied for and represented CRHP at the AmeriCares 2014 Spirit of Humanity Awards in Mumbai.
As someone pursuing a career as a healthcare professional, the opportunities to work in the hospital and with the Mobile Health Team at CRHP were incredible. I was able to scrub in on surgeries and assist with deliveries- opportunities that are rare in the US. In addition to the medical aspect, working with CRHP's programs and being immersed in the unique community at CRHP truly helped me grow to understand the community based medicine adn deepened my desire to incorporate public health into my education and practice as a PA.
Currently, I am working as a medical scribe in an Emergency Department while applying to Physician Assistant programs. I am hoping to begin PA school in the Fall of 2015.
Annie Huth 2012-2013
Hometown: Saxapahaw, NC
Major: International Studies
As the first Elon Fellow, I began my time in Jamkhed the way the Aroles did: building relationships, learning to listen and to speak the language (literally and figuratively) of those around me. During my first few months in Jamkhed I learned more about CRHP's organizational structure as I worked on several grant proposals, explored the intricacies of the hospital while I field-tested and worked on an electronic Hospital Information System and had countless cups of cha-ha (chai) with visiting students, professors, CRHP staff members and villagers, deepening my experience of what it's like to be a part of such a powerful project. During the early months of my stay, I also had the unique opportunity to embark on a community photography project alongside Village Health Workers and participants of the Adolescent Girls and Boys Programs. Through photography they shared and explored their own personal stories and those of their villages - stories that often spoke of water scarcity in a year of intense drought. It was a powerful experience to be present at their exhibitions in Jamkhed in Pune, where they displayed their work for their communities and to the world outside. In a place as constantly moving as Jamkhed, my work was fluid as well. Among other things I worked on the website, blog and annual report, helped orient visitors to their time at CRHP, facilitated a pilot project for VHWs to use mobile phones for data collection, and planned and facilitated a series of staff retreats focused on empowerment and capacity-building.
What stands out from my year at CRHP is how many life-altering friendships and conversations found me in the middle of rural India, four hours from the nearest city. The Village Health Workers and CRHP staff are some of the strongest and smartest people I've ever met, and their creativity and resolve will continue to inspire me the rest of my life. I can't imagine another opportunity after graduation that could have given me the wide array of opportunities that CHRP did in terms of program development and facilitation, understanding different aspects of NGO operation, cross-cultural learning and communication and networking with amazing professionals in the fields of health and development. And there aren't too many other places where you can have a goat and wear pants that feel like PJs every day!
Since returning to the states, I've been working as the Wellness and Community Coordinator for a family-owned construction company in NC, developing their wellness program, building community across geographic and cultural barriers and helping to disseminate a culture of health and well being throughout the organization. I can't count the number of times that I've used the Jamkhed model in my program development, or pulled on skills or memories from my year at CRHP to help me devise a solution. CRHP is a place that I'll never be able to give enough back to for what I've received. For the individual that is self-motivated, ready to learn, flexible and eager to experience many different types of work and contribute however they can, I would say that Jamkhed, its people and its passion for making a difference will be a place of unparalleled potential for you.
PAST ELON FELLOWS
