EPES-Fundacion Educacion Popular en Salud
Santiago, Chile
Chile-009
Internship Description
About the Organization:EPES was founded in 1982 as a health training project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile. Inspired by a vision of quality and fairness in health care for the poor, it offered training, guidance, and support for community health groups. Over the past twenty years, EPES has grown from a small, emergency-response team to a leader of systematic community campaigns to improve health services and awareness. Although the EPES Foundation maintains close links with the Lutheran Church, as an independent foundation it can operate with more autonomy and grow in accordance with the needs of the community. A Board of Directors comprised of academics, representatives from the Lutheran Church, and activists on health, human rights, environmental, and women's issues now directs its activities.
EPES is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of shantytown inhabitants through the training and organized participation of the residents themselves. A staff of twenty health professionals and administrative personnel works in two centers, Santiago and Concepción. The EPES Center in Santiago is the headquarters for the organization, with a library, meeting rooms and a large conference room that can seat over one hundred people.
EPES trains local residents, mostly women, about illness and health; together, these community health promoters study their own communities' needs and advocate for improvements. The emphasis is on confronting local health problems and the underlying conditions that cause them. EPES' approach is unique in that the efforts of health professionals are combined with those of permanent teams of community health promoters. These teams diagnose and address the root causes of illness and fight for improved conditions and services. The health promoter training program lasts one year and includes three stages: motivation and selection; training; and organizational consolidation. Participants learn how to diagnose and prioritize a community's health needs and how to put their new public health knowledge to work in their own communities. Health teams develop their own work plans and operate autonomously. Through participation in a range of issue-based networks, EPES and its allies push for broad changes in social policy, especially at the local level.
Local Activities:
EPES is located in the capital city of Sangiago in a working class neighborhood. There are about 8 million people living in Santiago. It is a modern, urban environment with ease of transportation via the metro and buses. There are many activities in the area from museums and nightlife to shopping and extreme sports.
Job Description:
EPES creates an individualized program with appropriate assignments for each intern. The first week is considered an orientation period in order to get to know the organization and its work. During the internship with EPES, it is expected that each intern will get to know the other work areas of the organization in addition to his/her area and will also be able to participate in training activities and on-site projects in the communities. With the ability to accept 4 or 5 interns per year, EPES provides appropriate work space as needed by each volunteer and covers work-related transportation costs and other work-related expenses.
Each volunteer will have a supervisor to help guide them through the internship as well as provide monitoring and evaluations. It is asked that, at the end of the internship, each volunteer hands in a brief final report of his/her experiences of the internship, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and suggestions for the organization. Internship duties and activities could include:· Support the design and execution of educational activities with the community: seminars, workshops, campaigns for women and teens of little resources. · Participation in forming and consulting with Health Groups
· Development of the evaluation process and systemization of long-term educational activities. · Participation in the design and implementation of "Health Schools" at the local and international level. · Participation in the Fund for Small-scale Projects on Sexual and Reproductive Health directed at community organizations. · Involvement in the local community networks to tackle problems such as domestic violence, AIDS prevention, and sexual education for adolescents.
· Collaboration in the investigative process of the topics covered by EPES.
· Support in the creation, editing, production, and diffusion of materials pertaining to health education.
· Support in translation from English to Spanish or vice versa. Support in internal activities and diffusion of information of EPES' Educational Resource Center for Action.
Interns will be provided assistance in finding suitable and convenient lodging, in arranging intensive Spanish course, as appropriate, and receive a local orientation and backstopping.
Additional Information:
For more information on EPES see: http://www.epes.cl/
ARTICLE: EPES 25 years making a difference in people's lives (2007)
To read a report by Doug Ritenour (MPH student) and a report by Laura Syron
Read IE3 Blog - regional director's visit to Santiago de Chile
Start Date:
Any time
Duration:
12 weeks minimum, more preferred
Number of Positions:
1 intern at any time
Intern Qualifications
Academic Background:Public health, health education, social work or other majors with pertinent preparation/experience.
Skills/Experience:
Previous experience studying/working in Latin America highly preferred.
Language Requirement:
Must have completed 4th year Spanish or equivalent (including study abroad). Intensive Spanish refresher/upgrade course can be arranged in Santiago prior to internship (prices started at $125 per week for 20 hours/weeks). *This is highly recommended.
Other Requirements:
Applicants must be motivated and committed to work in poor neighborhoods and be willing to take on the difficult problems encountered in these areas. Must be open to learn from the community for reciprocal benefits.
Internship Costs
Program Fees:The program fee includes tuition, internship site development and placement, pre-departure orientation, international health insurance, internship monitoring and follow-up.
Click here for application information, including the program fee, for your school.
Note: The program fee does not include airfare, housing, living expenses or any other estimated costs noted below.
Note:
Any financial or in-kind support provided by the host organization is explicitly indicated.
Compensation:
EPES is not in a position to provide financial support to interns. The Foundation asks for a voluntary donation of $100 from internship participants to help offset logistical and administrative backstopping costs. For preliminary planning purposes, aside from the IE3 program fee (covers tuition, insurance, assignment development/assistance), interns will have following estimated costs:
Accommodation:
None provided but interns will receive assistance in locating suitable, safe and convenient housing. There are options to live with a homestay family, rent a room in a home or apartment or to rent a furnished apartment. Generally, rents run from about $190-$350 per month depending on the option, locale, etc. There is a one-time fee charged by a local agency to arrange housing and to assist with any issues that arise during your stay. The cost is $98 for interns staying for one term and $140 for two terms.
International Travel:
$1200-$1400;
Entry Visa Reciprocity fee to be paid at airport upon arrival $100
Cost of Living:
Room and board, local transportation, and miscellaneous expenses will run about $550-$650 per month.
Budget Note:
Applicants should use these estimates for preliminary budgeting purposes.
IE3 will issue an official budget after acceptance by the host organization.
Application Information
Academic Credit:
Up to 12 credits available as per arrangement with supervising department.
Application Materials:
IE3 is a program of the Oregon University System.
Students from participating
partner universities are also eligible to apply.
Click here for application
information and select your school from the list.