Public Health - Analyze

Now that you have assessed the needs of your local community, what do you want to do to make things better for those around you? Here are a few tools for you to begin to brainstorm possible action projects. Feel free to kick off your brainstorming session by checking out what GCC leaders are doing around the globe and having a look at some examples of possible action projects. Don’t forget to ask questions and share the ideas you brainstorm with your GCC peers!

1)    Brain Dump

This simple activity will help you to clear your mind, see all of your ideas, and put things in order of importance.

  1. Get out a piece of paper and pen/pencil 
  2.  Write down everything you have been thinking about. Some of the information may be related to your local needs assessment but some might be other important thinks you have been thinking about. This part of the process may take up to an hour, so focus and get everything out!
  3.  Sort out any information that is not related to global public health with regards to your previous assessment
  4. Prioritize the related information that is left by what ideas you think are most relevant.
  5. Explore how you could you can turn your ideas in to viable action projects.

2) Concept Mapping

At the surface level concept maps may look like a piece of paper filled with words, boxes, circles and labeled arrows serving to connect them. However, concept maps allow for you to visualize how various concepts are related. Now that you have completed your community needs assessment, analyze how the concepts you just gathered effect one another in this useful and visual method. The adjacent example is one way of concept mapping the issue of climate change.

Project ideas from around the world

www.globalcitizencorps.org/node/39/impact

Iraq: Smoking Awareness Project

The GCC youth in Sulimaniya, implemented an awareness event to inform community members about the negative side effects of smoking.

 

Palestine: Blood Drive

Global Citizen Corps youth in Gaza organized a blood drive taking donations to offset Thalassemia, a blood disorder which destroys red blood cells and leads to anemia.

 

 Host a film screening

 

Films with discussions are a great way to raise awareness about issues impacting the world today. Many times film companies are willing to allow free public screenings for educational purposes.

Instructions

  1. Select a movie that focuses on a public health issue
  2. Contact the film maker to verify their permission to host a public screening
  3. Publicize the event utilizing action tools listed in this packet
  4. Pass out facts and corresponding actions viewers can take after the film
  5. Facilitate a discussion about how your community can get involved

 Hold a Fundraiser

 

Through a variety of activities you can raise funds for local projects or connect with broader projects being implemented by Mercy Corps around the world. Here are some projects addressing public health.

Dialogue

Share your project ideas online. After completing your concept map or brain dump it will be helpful to share that information with your peers. This could include basic project ideas you thought of during your brain dump or a completed concept map.