From Guatemala to Bangladesh: A World of Learning Opportunities at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
In focus: Modern Israel and Women's Health Issues in a Multicultural Society
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From Guatemala to Bangladesh, El Salvador to China, the Netherlands and Israel, the International Education Programs of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS) are venturing out into the world at large with a new series of study/travel international courses looking into issues ranging from micro-finances to women's health issues and practice. |
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"Our international programs provide experiential and multi-sensory learning opportunities for global learning and understanding how culture, values and history influence the way in which societies address social issues", says Dr. Deborah Jacobson, Director of the International Education Programs. "Each course provides a chance to meet with leading scholars, policy makers, health-care providers, practitioners, clients and students from another country." |
Participants learn about and encounter ISHA: Israel Health Advancement for Women
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Students are able to compare policies and services as a way to understand their own system better and to learn alternative approaches to address social issues. They are also able to experience a culture different from their own as a way to promote personal growth, enhance cultural sensitivity, and expand their world views.
One of the fascinating opportunities offered as part of this series takes place in Israel and focuses on Women's Health Issues in a Multicultural Society. Israel, which has often been referred to as a melting pot of different cultures, ethnicities and religions, is populated by an assorted mix of people including Jews, Arabs, Druze, Circassian, and Bedouin. Even within Israel’s Jewish population there are very diverse cultural and regional heritage differences as Jews originate from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Balkans and the Mediterranean, even China and India. Each of these cultures brings different women's issues and different medical concerns to the country.
This is why MSASS, Case Western Reserve University, the Israel Health Advancement for Women (ISHA) a program of The Jewish Community Federation (JCF) of Cleveland, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and Hebrew University have collaborated to provide a unique opportunity to view central issues of Women's Health through the prism of Israel's multi-cultural and diverse population.
"Israel is a multicultural country, and each social group has different concerns about women's health in the country", explains Lacey Roth, Assistant Director, International Operations, JCF of Cleveland. "This class is an opportunity to view Women's Health, through the lens of Israel's multi-cultural and diverse population."
The travel/study course will include guided tours of health care facilities, clinics, field-action project sites, social and educational institutions, government establishments and neighborhoods. There will be lectures by health care professionals, government officials, policy advocates, field workers, and eminent Israeli scholars and researchers.
Participants will also learn about and encounter ISHA: Israel Health Advancement for Women, an initiative launched in 2001 by the JCF of Cleveland and the Jewish Agency, as a dynamic model for change. It is a multi-organizational, international program which brings together and trains health care professionals, lay leaders and lay women volunteers, women health advocates, academics and researchers in partnership with major organizations to significantly advance women's health in all sectors of society in Israel.
For more information about ISHA
http://www.jewishcleveland.org/page.aspx?id=142238
For more information about MSASS International Study/travel courses: http://msass.case.edu/international/
