Moving Forward in Debre Berhan - Research and Outreach Collaborations

Written by Dominic Hosack

There are a number of positive outcomes of our planning trip to Ethiopia.  We got some great pictures for Instagram, witnessed a beautiful procession celebrating Ethiopian Timkat (Epiphany), and ate delicious spicy tibs and shiro entirely with our hands.  

However, for a first year doctoral student, one of the most important parts of the trip for me was the opportunity to conduct community-based research. The various meetings and discussions we had during our trip with a variety of Debre Berhan University affiliates and community members led us collectively decide on conducting an intervention addressing child nutrition and food security using vegetable gardens at two primary schools in the community.

One school that we visited has an expansive garden run by students in an after school program. Students who work in the garden take produce home to their families, and many also use their knowledge to grow additional vegetables at home. Another school has a smaller garden and is excited to expand. Both schools welcome teacher training, parent engagement, and integrated nutrition education using the garden. 

The project, which will include curriculum and survey development, community engagement, and school capacity building, presents a broad range of opportunities for data collection, evaluation, and dissemination of new knowledge and best practices. Debre Berhan University stressed their desire to conduct research and publish with foreign university collaborators and expand their outreach to the community, and this unique opportunity fosters collaboration for such a purpose.  

As a doctoral student and graduate student mentor for PHWB, I plan to actively engage in the writing process and data management for the Ethiopia project. It is my hope that PHWB can begin a long commitment to collecting and disseminating evidence-based research to support each project being conducted.

Rapid Development in Ethiopia's Amhara District

Written by Jenni Young

One of the first things I noticed upon my arrival in Ethiopia was scaffolding. Scaffolding made of thin eucalyptus trunks wrapped precariously around enormous empty concrete structures. The blocks around our hotel in Bole were littered with half-constructed high rises and sidewalks covered with sand, dirt, and rocks. These signs of skyward movement were just one indicator of how quickly Ethiopia is developing…one of many that I observed. 

The city of Addis Ababa is building its’ first light rail which is to run north to south and east to west, connecting the city’s sprawling population. One hot highland day we decided to take a trip to a beautiful lakeside resort and hired a van and driver to take us there as well as a few other touristy sites. On the way out of the capitol, we hit a crowd of standstill traffic. Hundreds of busses packed with people, double loaded semi-trucks, and family-sized economy cars alike were stuck in the dusty heat for over two hours. We later learned that this traffic jam was unusually long but was partially the result of detour around a giant highway construction project that was being undertaken by the Ethiopian government. The massive and empty four-lane highway was a stark contrast from the crowded dirt road that served as the temporary on-ramp. 

Other surprising sights included brand new tolls booths erected next to wooden huts on the side of the road, and a city comprised of almost completely finished apartment buildings that was completely, and eerily, uninhabited. Even the university campus that we visited in Debre Berhan was showed signs of rapid development. Debre Berhan University covers a sprawling area of hillside with brightly colored school buildings and cobblestone pathways. The university itself is only seven years old, but the number of students enrolled has soared to 18,000 individuals. I was pleased to see the spacious campus because its continued construction and bustling student life represented an optimistic outlook on the growth of the university and the emphasis on building a reputation as one of the best colleges in Ethiopia. 

Despite the modernity and rapid development that I witnessed in Ethiopia, there is a beautiful juxtaposition of old and new in all of the construction. The campus buildings still seemed to be made of a mixture of straw and cement, the cobblestones were hand cut by local students and workers, the construction of 10-story buildings still relied on eucalyptus tree truck scaffolding wrapped with twine and hand-mixed concrete. Rarely would I see a construction crane or cement mixing truck. The lesson I learned through these observations is that Ethiopia is definitely pushing forward structurally, economically, and societally, but it still retains many traditions and elements of its beautiful culture through the use of local products and ancient practices.

Community-Based Team Projects in Debre Berhan

Written by Jesse H. Wilson III

In Ethiopia, abundant development and cultural traditions and roots are mixing. Debre Berhan is an exceptional example, a rapidly growing city nestled among the mountains and  farmland that characterize its recent past. Since the founding of Debre Berhan University (DBU) just seven years ago, the once-small farm town is growing faster than ever. 

The growth in the city is perfectly reflected just through the gates of DBU, in its speedy construction and devotion to the quality of its education amidst rapid increases in student enrollment. The students and staff are as resilient and eager as any to learn and grow while working towards the development of their city and nation. What drives these individuals is the goal to one day contribute all they can to their families, communities, and Ethiopia as a whole. Many seek to become medical doctors to prevent disease and bring efficient and accessible healthcare to all Ethiopians. Others seek to strengthen the economy, infrastructure, or government. But all exhibit a national pride that rivals any other. 

The DBU administration and faculty we met place a high value on research and community service, making it a general requirement for all public health students and a core responsibility of faculty and staff. In brainstorming ways that UMD PHWB students and DBU students could work together, one specific DBU program expresses the most compatibility for collaboration. The Community Based Team Project (CBTP) in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences is a practicum course for 3rd year public health students that trains them to apply their knowledge of community health issues such as nutrition, disease prevention, and sanitation. The program incorporates research techniques, data collection, analysis of community strengths and needs, intervention development and implementation, and evaluation. This comprehensive program is everything that the PHWB team could wish for. 

When PHWB returns in the late spring, the students at DBU and UMD will work in tandem in the community of Debre Berhan to prevent malnutrition. Both the PHWB team and DBU are extremely excited to be working together on this project. But I believe that the team is most excited to contribute to the development of this flourishing community.

Visiting Debre Berhan and Debre Berhan University

Written by Anthony Slaton

Our trip to Ethiopia was not only a wonderful experience, but it also opened my eyes to the importance of public health at a global level. Thought my interactions with families, teachers, professors, and students, I witnessed how public health has the potential to make a difference in these communities. 

Public Health Without Borders is working in Debre Berhan, a town located 130km north of Addis Ababa. In Debre Berhan, stores that lined the streets were made of corrugated steel or simply pieces of plastic propped up on sticks. Our very modern hotel created a drastic juxtaposition with the homes that surrounded it. In the streets, donkeys and cows walked freely. Without traffic signals, the animals, Bajajes, and trucks flowed in all directions. With only one hotel and a few restaurants in the town, I decided that tourism must not be common in Debre Berhan. However, the town seemed to be thriving. The market areas had plenty of vendors selling goods to dozens of patrons at any given time. The university campus is dotted with fully and partially constructed buildings. Debre Berhan and Ethiopia as a whole seem to be developing at an extremely fast pace.

Debre Berhan University, located in the center of Debre Berhan, is our project partner. In a very short period of time, this university has been able to create a system able to educate 18,000 students and also conduct research at an impressive level. This has been possible because of their optimistic and dedicated faculty. We hope to collaborate with these students and faculty in the future to develop a public health intervention to tackle malnutrition in the surrounding community. In the planning of this intervention we were lucky enough to meet with 2nd and 3rd year public health students while visiting the university.

Meeting these students and visiting the university was the highlight of my trip. The perspective and enthusiasm they had for their education has changed the way I view my own education. When speaking with 2nd year students, we asked them why they wanted to go into public health. They all proceeded to tell us how they wanted to solve the problems that were facing their communities. In particular, one student responded by saying “for the love of my country and people.” When this same question was asked in my introduction to public health course at Maryland, most students responded by explaining what they wanted to do in the future. Whether it was becoming a doctor, getting a Master's, or just simply getting a job in public health, nobody responded by saying they wanted to use this education to address challenges in their communities as the students in Ethiopia had.

Working with these students helped my realize how lucky I am to be in a situation where I can get an education that will not only open doors for me in the future, but also give me the skills to make difference in the global community and in my own community. My perspective has been changed from viewing my undergraduate education as a stepping-stone into higher education to an opportunity to use my education to make a difference.

PHWB Ethiopia - Meet the January 2015 Travel Team

In the fall 2014 semester, Public Health without Borders launched a new project in Ethiopia. With the help of two mentors who are working to build a collaborative outreach project between the agriculture colleges at University of Maryland and Debre Berhan University, PHWB students began planning for a January trip to Ethiopia.

Prior to leaving, the new Ethiopia PHWB team planned a needs and strengths assessment centering on issues of child malnutrition in the Amhara region. While the team wasn't sure how their goals and plans would change once they met their Debre Berhan public health collaborators, they were prepared to interview public health faculty and students, community leaders and members, extension workers, health workers, and other key stakeholders.

A group of six traveled to Debre Berhan, Ethiopia in January to explore the possibility of collaborating with Debre Berhan University faculty, staff, and students on a community outreach project:

Dominic Hosack is a first year PhD student in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research interests center around nutrition, food security, and urban agriculture. He is currently a research assistant for the Community Health Awareness, Messages, & Prevention (CHAMP) lab.  In this role, Dominic is involved with various community-based participatory projects including a cancer screening program at African American churches in Prince George's County.  Dominic is also involved with Public Health Without Borders as a Graduate Mentor.  Lastly, Dominic is a member of the Maryland Community Research Advisory Board (MD-CRAB) and collaborates with community stakeholders to create evidence-driven and culturally appropriate interventions and research projects within Prince George's County.

Anthony Slaton is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park and serves as the Project Leader for PHWB Ethiopia.  He is majoring in Public Health Science with the aspirations of pursuing a medical degree once he graduates.  While he has always had a love for traveling, his first trip to Ethiopia has opened his eyes to the rewards of working in global health.  He cannot wait to return to Ethiopia to continue the work Public Health Without Borders is doing there.   

Jesse Wilson is a first year undergraduate studying biological science and Chinese. He plans to attend medical school after completing his Bachelor’s degrees. In the past, he has traveled around the United States and Spain. As he had only been to Africa once before on a day trip to Morocco, this trip was his first time to the Horn (of Africa), and he enjoyed every minute.

Jenni Young is a first year PhD student in the Department of Family Science and a Graduate Mentor for PHWB. She has previous lived abroad in Beijing, China and traveled to countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. Her research interests include interracial families, communication styles across cultures, and the development of family therapy interventions in international settings. She has completed a Masters of Art in Chinese language and culture, as well as a Masters of Science in Couples and Family Therapy. This trip to Ethiopia was her first time in visiting an African country (besides a day trip to Morocco) and she loved learning bits of Amharic, participating in coffee ceremonies, and watching donkeys walk themselves down crowded streets.

Hiwot Menbere is a retired University of Maryland Extension horticulturalist and consultant to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Women in Agriculture project in Ethiopia. Born and raised in Ethiopia, Hiwot came to Maryland with his young family in his early adulthood. He also runs the non-profit organization Good to Grow, which aims to provide school and community gardens and nutrition education as a means to improve nutrition in vulnerable Ethiopian communities. Hiwot is committed to supporting agricultural development and public health capacity-building programs in Ethiopia.

Dr. Stephanie Grutzmacher is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Science and the Faculty Advisor for the Ethiopia project. She previously worked on the Women in Agriculture project in Afghanistan, advised the PHWB Peru team, and has traveled with students to the Bahamas, Peru, and Ecuador as an Alternative Breaks advisor. Stephanie's research and outreach work focuses on innovative school and community strategies to improve dietary quality and food security in the United States and abroad.

Stay tuned for reflections from our trip!