Public Health Beyond Borders

Public Health Beyond Borders (PHBB) consists of a globally-minded group of students aiming to address health needs in partnering communities. The overall mission of the organization is to reduce health disparities around the world, increase awareness about good health practices, and expose undergraduate and graduate students to opportunities for responsible global development work through faculty-mentored international trips. We currently have three international partner communities in Peru, Sierra Leone, and India as well as a local project in Langley Park, Maryland.Compone, Peru was the first established PHBB international trip that started in January 2014. In the most recent trip, the team partnered with the UMBC dental school and introduced dental hygiene workshops, nutrition workshops, and adolescent development interventions on bullying to the community.Calaba Town, Sierra Leone was the second established international trip that started in June 2014. In the most recent trip, the team raised funds to train community health workers while introducing reproductive and menstrual health workshops.Varanasi, India was the third established international trip that started in July 2016. In the most recent trip, the team developed a partnership with Men’s Action for Stopping Violence Against Women (MASVAW) and focused on introducing nutrition, first aid, and oral rehydration therapy workshops to promote health literacy and practice.The most recently established Local Project was started in Fall 2018 and partners with the International High School at Langley Park, specifically with Soccer Without Borders and the Women's Empowerment Club, to introduce healthy relationships, communication, and various other pertinent health workshops beneficial to high school students.PHWB members have also sought to engage the UMD campus community through fundraisers and discussions of global health concerns by co-sponsoring screenings of documentaries.