The International People’s Health University (IPHU) of the People’s Health Movement (PHM) jointly with Human Action for Integrated Development in Senegal (AHDIS) and Forum des Alternatives Maroc (FMAS) announce "THE STRUGGLE FOR HEALTH" a short training course for young health activists from 31 January to 11 February 2011 in Dakar, Senegal - including participation in the World Social Forum (WSF), 6-11 Feb. 2011.

Objectives

The IPHU short courses are to enable younger health activists to make new connections, share experiences and study together. They aim at strengthening the growing activism of the People’s Health Movement.

Who is the course planned for?

• Young health activists and practitioners working on the issues of health, gender and human rights and particularly including those involved or wish to be involved in the People’s Health Movement (PHM).
• Applicants should have a university degree or equivalent.
• Priority, with respect to enrolment, will be given to
  • Younger people motivated to get involved in PHM and have endorsed the People’s Charter for Health;
  • Primary health care and public health practitioners;
  • People with a track record as health activists within the PHM, in particular, people who have been actively involved in organizations which are part of the PHM.
• A total of 50 participants is expected.
• The enrolment policy aims to achieve:
  • geographical mix
  • gender balance
  • diversity of involvements: community based organizations, health care agencies, NGOs, universities, government officials, etc; and
  • diversity of skills, records of activism, interests, experience, and educational backgrounds.

Announcement Brochure

Download Announcement Brochure in French and English and distribute widely.

Application and Deadline

• Application is closed
  
• All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application soon.

Language

The course will be taught in French and English. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Fees & Scholarships

• A limited number of scholarships for travel and/or accommodation will be available for qualified applicants.
• Priority will be given to qualified applicants from Senegal (as the host country), other West African French-speaking countries and Maghreb region.
• Travel scholarships for qualified Senegalese participants from outside Dakar is subjected to a fixed rate, estimated based on the average cost of travel by bus or train.
• In case of travel scholarships provided for qualified international participants, flight tickets will be booked by the PHM Global Secretariat upon a written confirmation and signed agreement by the participant on the itinerary provided. Most of flight tickets will be non-refundable; accordingly, participants will be asked to sign an agreement stating that they will pay back the cost of the tickets if they did not show up. This policy is only to ensure that we are using our limited resources efficiently.
• Registration fees are mandatory for all participants.
• Activists’ accommodation will be reserved in shared, basic facilities
• PHM-IPHU scholarships do not cover visa fees, airport tax & travel insurance (if applicable), personal living expenses, per diems, or local transportation in the home country.
• Applicants should seek such support from sponsors in their own countries in the first instance.
• Registration fees of the World Social Forum will be at your own cost. Click here for more details.

Venue

• The course will be convened at the School of Engineers, National School for Applied Economy (ENEA). Address: Ouakam Street, Dakar.
• From 6 to 10 February, additional activities will be planned within the framework of the World Social Forum.

Accommodation

• Activists’ accommodation in shared, basic facilities will be reserved from 30 January till the night of 11 February at the School of Engineers and College Guest House.
• Any change in the accommodation plans will be announced.

Curriculum

See the Draft Program Framework

The curriculum includes:

• the struggle for health and organized health activism: challenges, strategy and practice, achievements and new directions;
• working with communities and with grass roots people’s organizations;
• social determinants of health: poverty, oppression and hierarchy; alienation and exclusion; racism, sexism and materialism;
• comprehensive primary health care: achievements, challenges, lessons and new directions;
• the political economy of health: imperialism and globalisation, the international financial institutions and the UN system; local issues and global pressures;
• health system strengthening; the politics of health policy;
• the right to health: principles, achievements and new directions;
• people’s health and the environmental struggle;
• research: part of the problem and part of the solution.

Approach to learning

• Start with the struggle for health
• Teach and learn in partnership
• Knowledge is imbued with purpose
• New ideas must be used
• Activism is an ethical commitment
• Learn new ways of being (as well as new facts and theories)
• Refresh, enquire, research
• Nurture leadership: judgment which inspires confidence; integrity which creates trust and the courage to take risks
• Learn to listen to learn; learn to teach; teach to learn
• Steer our own learning; grow the skills and habits of life long learning
• Build our community of activists
• Stay with the struggle for health

The course will involve: pre-reading & exercises; lectures, small group discussions, debates, workshops and follow up study. Resource materials will take the form of soft/hard copy readings, lecture notes and websites.

Faculty

Faculty members will be a mix between high-profile academic personnel and health activists of a sound experience, in addition to a number of PHM resource persons, from the region as well as PHM-Global.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact the IPHU-Dakar Coordinating Group at: iphu[at]phmovement.org