Last week in Atlanta, Georgia USA, 150 student delegates spent four days at PTPI’s ninth annual Global Youth Forum (GYF). Global health was the topic this year. Impressive speakers, hands-on volunteer experience and group discussions gave students tools to help deal with health-related issues, in their communities and in the world. See below to find out what they did each day:
Day 1 – Wednesday, November 10
Delegates arrived throughout the day, met at the airport by PTPI staff. Orientation kicked off at 4:00pm. Prior to dinner, delegation groups had their first meeting an discussed “Making Global Health Connections.” After dinner, it was time for the Opening Ceremony, which featured a presentation by Salina Bakshi, a GYF Alumnus and current medical student who shared what she has learned from her years spent volunteering in Africa in the field of maternal health.
Salina Bakshi
Day 2 – Thursday, November 11
Following breakfast and a bit of shopping at the PTPI store, it was time for more delegation group meetings. Dr. Jesse Rohde, founder, president and CEO of The Rohde Foundation, an organization dedicated to social justice, health care and hope in rural Africa, spoke to the students after lunch. He stressed to students that despite their youth, their ideas matter and they can truly make a significant difference in the world.
In the afternoon, delegates watched a series of short videos covering issues such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Cholera and other waterborne illnesses, malnutrition, and maternal health and discussed them with their groups. Dr. Joia Mukherjee was the presenter for the evening. As Medical Director for Partners in Health, she is intimately familiar with a wide variety of global health concerns. She challenged the delegates to consider whether or not healthcare is a basic human right.
Day 3 – Friday, November 12
Volunteering at MedShare
The delegates took to the streets of Atlanta on Day 3, heading to MedShare for a day of volunteering. While there, they packed 450 boxes containing more than 5,000 lbs of medical supplies. Read more about their work on MedShare’s blog. The day also included a trip to The Varsity (the World’s Largest Drive-in Restaurant) and a lesson in the history of Atlanta on a city tour. Delegation groups met in the evening before heading to bed.
Lunch at The Varsity
Day 4 – Saturday, November 13
Today each delegation group presented their Extreme Health Makeover Public Service Announcements, which were the culmination of all they had learned, addressing the way to take action in the future. PTPI President and CEO Mary Jean Eisenhower held a Q&A after lunch which was immediately followed by the Ambassador Charles Hostler International Student Panel (ISP). Made possible by generous contributions from Amb. Charles and Chinyeh Hostler, the ISP is an opportunity for all delegates to learn firsthand about a variety of cultures and customs. Students asked questions of the international delegates, who represented Albania, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, Malaysia and Poland.
International Student Panel
No GYF would be complete without the Open Mic session, a time for all delegates to stand in front of their peers and share whatever is on their minds. Following the Closing, Southern Style, Dinner and Awards Ceremony, everyone took to the dance floor for the GYF Dance. After Final Reflections, the students headed to their rooms to prepare for their departures home the next morning.
View more photos from the GYF on PTPI’s Facebook Page!
GYF delegates
