Surin 2014
In January 2014, Students HEAL was able to provide the Surin community with free health care clinics, health education and up-to-date medical supplies. In order to achieve these goals and successfully run multiple free clinics, we raised over $20,000! Along this journey we were able to learn about the Thai culture while also enhancing our abilities to grow as leaders.
Helping us in our endeavor was Starfish Volunteers, a non profit organization located in Surin, Thailand. Starfish Foundation is a registered charity supporting community-based projects. These projects share a single goal and that is to make a difference for people in need and in the environment in which they live.
When In Surin
Students HEAL had an amazing time in Thailand! We arrived in Bangkok on January 3rd and those who were not jet lagged from the 23-hour flight had the opportunity to tour Bangkok with Starfish. The following day we took a 9-hour bus ride to Surin where we would begin our medical services.
During our first week in Surin, we saw around 200 people each day! The population we cared for ranged from children to elderly adults and to monks. Due to the large numbers of people being seen each day, we split into four groups to provide the best care possible. The groups consisted of triage, assessment, physician visit & medication and education. During this first week, we were also given the opportunity to help build a latrine at one of the local temples. Each member would agree that this was a very hard but rewarding experience. We were happy to help the Thai community in another way aside from medicine.
Over the weekend, we traveled to the Surin Elephant Village with the Starfish crew. The Elephant Village is a wonderful place that cares for and raises elephants. In this village, elephants are truly part of the family! We had the opportunity to ride the elephants, harvest sugar cane (their favorite food), canoe down the local river and learn how to cook traditional Thai dishes.
During the second week of the brigade, we engaged in home visits and group educational lessons. We again split into four groups and went to different provinces within Surin in order to provide more individualized care. Education within the community was centered on important health topics such as diabetes, cancer and cardiac care with the most prevalent being diabetes.
Helping us in our endeavor was Starfish Volunteers, a non profit organization located in Surin, Thailand. Starfish Foundation is a registered charity supporting community-based projects. These projects share a single goal and that is to make a difference for people in need and in the environment in which they live.
When In Surin
Students HEAL had an amazing time in Thailand! We arrived in Bangkok on January 3rd and those who were not jet lagged from the 23-hour flight had the opportunity to tour Bangkok with Starfish. The following day we took a 9-hour bus ride to Surin where we would begin our medical services.
During our first week in Surin, we saw around 200 people each day! The population we cared for ranged from children to elderly adults and to monks. Due to the large numbers of people being seen each day, we split into four groups to provide the best care possible. The groups consisted of triage, assessment, physician visit & medication and education. During this first week, we were also given the opportunity to help build a latrine at one of the local temples. Each member would agree that this was a very hard but rewarding experience. We were happy to help the Thai community in another way aside from medicine.
Over the weekend, we traveled to the Surin Elephant Village with the Starfish crew. The Elephant Village is a wonderful place that cares for and raises elephants. In this village, elephants are truly part of the family! We had the opportunity to ride the elephants, harvest sugar cane (their favorite food), canoe down the local river and learn how to cook traditional Thai dishes.
During the second week of the brigade, we engaged in home visits and group educational lessons. We again split into four groups and went to different provinces within Surin in order to provide more individualized care. Education within the community was centered on important health topics such as diabetes, cancer and cardiac care with the most prevalent being diabetes.
"When your heart is humbled by those who are poor with finances but rich with love, you gain something greater than just a new perspective. Your heart grows with selflessness and the realization that you don't have to travel far distances to make an impact on those around you. often times people leave the country with the mindset to change the world, and they come home with a world view that instead,
c h a n g e d them"
- Loraine Santiago (2013-2014 heal member)
Brigade Gallery
