Dear Friends of Pathways to Children,
I hope this note finds you well. It has been a while and I wanted to reach out and give you the latest updates on our progress here at Pathways.
The last couple of years have been productive! The big news (and our largest
accomplishment this year) is the development of our new partnership with the University of Minnesota’s « Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility » (CGHSR).
Through CGHSR, Pathways sponsors medical students, graduate nursing and public
health students to embed a “hands-on” international research experience into their advanced degrees, thus training the next generation of global health leaders.
The recent pandemic, as well as the increase in undocumented immigrants crossing the border without being checked for contagious diseases, has brought to light the need for more global health providers and officials with international experience and training.
May 2024 course in Quito, Ecuador open to Pathways Community
As part of Pathways to Children's relationship with the U of M Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility (CGHSR), we are excited to share this opportunity.
Pathways Supports the Expansion of Global Health Education at University of Minnesota
As part of a longstanding relationship with the University of Minnesota, Pathways to Children is beginning a new chapter of support with the U’s Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility (CGHSR). Support from Pathways to Children will build on CGHSR’s work of critical global health education programs for graduate students and community learners.
Picture Caption: Students in CGHSR’s global health course in India visit the Viveka Tribal Center for Learning, a rural school run by the partner organization Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement.
As 2021 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on how much has happened since January 2020 when Pathways was last able to travel to India, Ethiopia, and Colombia to carry on the work of Pathways in the impoverished communities we support. Though Covid-19 curtailed our international travel, we continue to support our programs and partners from afar. We made much progress on construction of two classroom additions in Ethiopia before the violence and civic strife broke out in the area which then brought construction to a halt.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health Honors Grace Strangis
Grace Strangis, Founder and Executive Director of Pathways to Children, was recognized by the University of Minnesota for helping School of Public Health Students gain international experience.
Pathways has set up an endowment fund at the University of Minnesota to honor Ralph Strangis, devoted late husband to Grace Strangis, Pathways Executive Director. The fund will pay for public health students to travel to low and middle income countries to engage in community embedded public health activities. Ralph received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Minnesota. Ralph was particularly interested in the collaboration Pathways established with the U of M School of Public Health. Through this collaboration, graduate students gain international public health experience and poverty-stricken communities gain improved public health.
Public Health Student's Blog on 2020 Trip to Kolkata
"During our first week in Kolkata we had the immense honor of being invited into the homes of two families at Jan Seva. These two mothers graciously welcomed me and the two other UMN public health students into their homes and allowed us a glimpse into their lives. Together they have borne more burden and demonstrated more strength than I can even imagine. Everyone who has the opportunity to travel abroad, work in concert with local aid efforts, and become acquainted with people living really tough lives will tell you that it gives them perspective- that they are humbled by the experience. It does and I am. But beyond that I am filled with tremendous grief and somehow, a little hope. We learned different things from each woman and her life circumstances."
See pictures and information about the recent Dedication of Zemene's school in Ethiopia and article by volunteer Shelly Gill Murray. An addition to the school is being planned for grades 5-6.
The recent volunteer trip to Jan Seva School in India accomplished a lot. You can view pictures and an information board created by health students on this webpage to learn more.
"Over two days, we had two pediatric dentists from the United States and two local dentists from Kolkata screen 207 children at the Jan Seva School. These children ranged in age from 2 to 7 years old and included several children with special health care needs. Amounts of dental decay found mirrored and were slightly larger than their American counterparts. Fortunately, despite the large amounts of decay, we only saw two children with deep dental infections, also known as abscesses....."
The construction of the four classroom school in Belessa, Ethiopia is completed! 309 students attend a new school in an area that before now had no school. It was furnished with school desks and blackboards and handed over to the local community education office recently. Despite lack of water, civil strife, and great logistical issues, the local American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) succeeded in the endeavor to build this school.
Jan Seva Newsletter and CASFA students video honor Ralph Strangis
Ralph Strangis passed away on August 15th, 2018. Memorials and tributes poured in that speak to the many lives he touched in a positive way which have be used to fund the Endowment noted above. The newsletter from Jan Seva and a video from CASFA students in Colombia are a couple we wanted to share with you.
The 17 students from Bogota, Colombia arrived in Minneapolis the afternoon of July 3rd, 2016. While at their connecting flight destination in Houston, they got their first experience to pay with dollars for something to eat. Though having been prepped on the exchange rates, they were still surprised how many pesos an apple or a cupcake would cost. The students’ blog in Bogota says that upon arrival in Minneapolis, “the meeting with our Cristo Rey and Pathways to Children hosts was simply amazing. We were finally together and excited of all that this country has to show us, in addition to looking forward to the plans made for us while here in the U.S.”
Pathways To Children, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, sponsors field/research projects for graduate students. Our first project, a needs assessment of health priorities of parents and children served by Jan Seva School in Kolkata, India, developed by Colleen Longacre, won two PhD level awards in the School of Public Health Research Day competition held in April. Read further for details of awards and comments by Colleen.
Pathways and Grace receive Pope Francis Award & Catholic Spirit publishes article on Pathways
Grace Strangis and Pathways to Children were recently awarded the Pope Francis Award by Our Lady of Lourdes Church. In addition, Catholic Spirit publishes article on Cristo Rey student mission trip to Colombia
