Child Health & Wellness in South Africa - Eastern Cape

Summer 2008: June 9- June 25 (tentative dates)

Program Location

The program base will be the Umtha Welanga Health Care Center in Hamburg, South Africa. Hamburg is located in the Eastern Cape near the coast of the Indian Ocean.   Also, we will visit several neighboring villages and towns for field work and weekend excursions.

Academic Program

Have you thought of being a Peace Corps volunteer or International Relief Aid worker?  This program will provide a select group of 10 JMU students with a similar, short-term experience.  They will be participating in a variety of activities that address the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual health & wellness needs of children living in a very rural and impoverished area of South Africa.  Thus, student participants must be true adventurers and possess a willingness to be flexible with daily itineraries.  We will go on weekend excursions to neighboring towns and villages as well as spend a day at a private game reserve.

Instructional methods include lectures, guided tours, field work, journal assignment and/or papers, and Blackboard.

Tentative course offerings:
HTH 490 Special Topics: Child Health & Wellness in South Africa - Eastern Cape, 3 credits

Accommodations

Students will reside in a rented private home in Hamburg that has all modern conveniences. Group meals will be provided.

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

In addition to the Short-term Application, interested students should submit an essay (instructions here), a one-page resume and contact information for a faculty reference. A personal interview will also be required. Applicants must have a 2.8 minimum GPA, and must be available to attend a cultural sensitivity workshop and trip orientation meetings during spring semester. Applicants should be majoring in a health related area and/or enrolled in a pre-health professional program.

Note: Students may apply but will NOT be accepted to both South African Western Cape and Eastern Cape programs.

For More Information

For additional information about the Child Health & Wellness in South Africa - Eastern Cape program, please contact the program director:

Dr. Debra Sutton
Associate Professor
Department of Health Sciences
Tel: 540-568-3392
E-mail: suttondl@jmu.edu