Heart to Heart
The ICHA Blog
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Growing up in a small town in Wisconsin |
Believe it or not, growing up in a small town in Wisconsin has certain and often overlooked advantages, aside from an endless and cheap supply of cheese, football, and brats. Familiarity and comfort are obvious pluses, but the best thing about growing up in a small town is that once you step outside, you really come to appreciate the immensity of the world that surrounds you. The travel bug got me early and has taken me to places I never dreamed of seeing. While awe-inspiring sights will forever color my memory, the people I've met along the way are what make me wonder the most and make me want to know more. We have so much to learn from each other. Each trip, every experience, and every encounter with another way of life adds to my growing sense of the world and keeps my curiosity bubbling.
I would say that this curiosity, about the way people live and how humans struggle everywhere, has fueled a passion to make life a little easier for the next. Live simply so others may simply live, right? When public health flew over my radar, the lights went on and I was lucky enough to come across an organization like ICHA. I jumped on board a few months after it's inception in 2008, and since have had the wonderful privilege of working with some truly talented people on projects including community health awareness research, local and global networking, and currently, I'm part of a motivated team writing cardiovascular health and culture surveys for our pilot project in Elmina, Ghana.
I am very excited about our project in Ghana because it will grow and develop from within the community itself. All the community development research we've uncovered points in this direction, and I can't imagine going about it any other way really. It means starting small, keeping an open mind, learning about the culture, and taking time to build meaningful relationships with the community. Ultimately, we are investing in the people of Elmina, and on the empowerment of Elmina as a community battling cardiovascular disease. That to me is something worth fighting for.
Alongside the inspiring individuals that make ICHA run, I eagerly throw my energy, thoughts, and heart into what will be a very exciting and promising ICHA future.
About ICHA
The International Cardiovascular Health Alliance (ICHA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cardiovascular health in the developing world. ICHA works closely with local clinics and community organizations to provide knowledge and tools to prevent cardiovascular disease.
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Comments
Hi,
A very good morning from the land of gold and oil, i great you all for wonderful stay in ghana, once again a very thank you for making my community to benefit from the hart talk, always they are asking me when and how they can get you again for another talk, by the way how is fright and everything, i hope you are doing well by god grace, i miss you people a lot, and i can wait see you again in the year further. wish to have a very good partership and want to part of you project in ghana, hoping to hear from again please. have a nice day.
BY NANA ERIC
ELMINA PERSHIE
Hi, I been reading your paper and I think That is really Interesting. I would like to know more about your fieldtrip to Ghana. Im actually doing my senior project about this organizations, so I am much more than intersted.
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