An international health service learning program: Impact Belize

An international health service learning program, Impact Belize, was established at Western Kentucky University in January of 2005. Through the Belize Ministry of Health, a partnership has been formed that allows public health, nursing, dental hygiene, and women's studies students to provide health services to a remote village in Belize. Impact Belize is differentiated from traditional study abroad programs in that an interdisciplinary team provides services on an annual basis and functions as a living and learning community. Services provided to the village have been established by a social contract. Villagers also become teachers as learning opportunities include cultural traditions, such as drumming, fishing, cooking, and basket weaving. Impact Belize adheres to the principles of service learning and combines those practices with a focus on social responsibility. As a result, students evaluate the connections between their service, social interactions, and real-life applications. Integral aspects of the program are leadership, cultural competence, reciprocity and reflective learning.