Reflection:

My experiential learning project was a Polio Documentary- a lofty goal that myself
and other students from around the area committed countless hours to throughout
the spring, summer and fall. We dreamed of having a film which would help
international health organizations finally put an end to all polio cases
internationally- but what we found was we become buried in the complexities of
global health problems. We collaborated with an award winning Film Company out
of Portland, connected with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation polio team, had
conference calls with Rotary International and leading documentary makers, spoke
in front of Seattle #4 Rotary but in the end the project was a flop.
As we learned more about the complexities of the polio epidemic we realized that a
world free of polio was not as simple as we originally hoped. Despite having a
vaccine for the disease available for over 30 years in the last corners of the world
where the disease still exists there are countless cases of political turmoil which
prevent distribution of the vaccine. In Pakistan after the government discovered that
CIA workers had been posing as health workers to distribute a hepatitis drug the
people have lost trust for health workers and it now many of the nurses and
physicians who are attempting to distribute the vaccine are being murdered by the
Taliban. We also struggled to get an initial investment for our project, $20,000, as
investors found it difficult to deem our project unique from other polio eradication
efforts and we could not adequately convince them that this film would make a
difference.
Aspiring to have a career in Global Health the experience of making this film has
taught me many critical lessons. First of all it has shown me to not underestimate
the multifaceted settings that surround all Global Health problems. For example,
access to clean water is not simple about installing wells its about creating entire
infrastructures of engineers and governments that believe in the cause just as polio
eradication is not just about distributing the vaccine. Secondly it has taught me that
I am not fond of asking for money, another critical aspect of Global Health work and
I hated the necessity of other peoples money to truly move our project forward.
Most importantly though- the project taught me that it is ok to dream and that it is
possible for anyone- even a group of students to make a difference. Margaret Mead
once said: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has. Throughout the whole
project, the late nights and long conversations, we kept working because the whole
team truly believed we could help end this disease. Although this project specifically
failed it succeeded in teaching us that we are capable of doing something huge for
the world, a mentality that will stick with me and encourage me to work harder as I
work towards my career goals of helping to tackle some of the worlds most critical
health issues.