Drs. Friese and Katapodi Immerse U-M Students in Volunteer Work in Greece
Participating in the Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU) Program, these students foster intercultural exchange.
Dr. Chris Friese and Dr. Maria Katapodi, both assistant professors in the School of Nursing, recently returned from Greece having escorted a group of 15 students for a volunteer immersion through the University of Michigan’s GIEU program. The group was featured on the front page of the Greek newspaper MAKEDONIA on July 16, 2011. Excerpts of that full-length news article follow:
The students’ trip started on June 23rd, with Athens as the first destination. There, they had the opportunity to visit the Academy of Athens, the University of Athens, and spend one day with Greek students from the University of Athens. Their next destination was Ormylia, Chalkidiki, where they stayed for ten days, and volunteered in the center of social assistance, research, and medical screening and early detection ‘’Panagia Philanthropini’’ of the Ormylia Foundation.
Within the new effort of the ‘"Panagia Philanthropini" to provide free of charge medical checkups to abused orphans and children victims of trafficking, the American students had the opportunity to meet those adolescents, listen to their personal stories, and play with them.
"I was impressed by the clinic in Ormylia, as people here have done a lot for their community. I won’t forget either, how resilient the children were who came for a checkup, despite the difficulties they have faced so far,’’ said U-M student John Brady.
The group of American students who came to Greece to offer volunteer work. They are: Staci Theresa Aubry, Michelle Marie Baumgart, John Edward Brady, Valerie Joy Godosian, Bei Yun He, Dalia Fadia Mammo, Estefania Rodriguez Tapias, David Isaac Rosenwein, Diana Elena Rusz, Romeissa Selmane, Kasey Jiangting Wang, Yiqing Xu, Jessica Rose Lapworth, Emily Yunfang Wang, and Mehan Cailtin Gutting. 
Above: Headline in the MAKEDONIA newspaper spotlighting
the U-M student group lead by Drs. Friese & Katapodi.
Student David Rosenwein has a similar opinion and explains, ‘’It’s remarkable how fearless these children are despite what they have been through so far. Namely, upon meeting them for the first time you won’t realize what they have gone through, what they have seen, the parents they have lost. What I am going to remember from my trip to Greece are the similarities as well as the differences in the health and education systems in Greece, compared to the ones in the U.S. Also, the chance that was given to us, to assist people who work in Ormylia, in achieving their goals.”
The students also had the opportunity to assist with breast and cervical cancer screening and early detection, reinforcing the ability of research in the relative center, and facilitating its communication with international institutions, through blogging, social networking, and pamphlets. Afterwards, the American students spent a few days in Thessaloniki, visiting the ‘’Papageorgiou’’ hospital and the University of Thessaloniki, and participated in programs of cancer prevention and early detection. Their final destination will be Mytilini, and they will be leaving from Greece on 22nd July. In regard to their experience as a whole, students said that they would like to come to Greece again, and that they would encourage other students at the University of Michigan to participate in the program.
"Tremendous energy in a period of uncertainty." This phrase is included in an assessment of Greece by Dr. Friese, of the University of Michigan, School of Nursing. His first contact with Ormylia Foundation was in 2005, in the framework of an organized mission to countries with an underdeveloped health system, like, Syria, Turkey and Egypt. This was the first contact, which was followed by a second mission to Kenya and Tanzania in 2008 and led to a long term friendship.
Dr. Friese states: "Our University is a state University, and funds have been significantly reduced. However, we are determined to reinforce collaborations with partners like the Ormylia Foundation. The University provided resources, so that students could travel to Greece, (the students paid only for their ticket), as we believe we have much to offer and much to learn at the same time. We feel very lucky to have started this collaboration, and we hope it will continue growing."
The objective of the Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU) program is to enhance students’ ability of acting as global citizens and take better advantage of their knowledge in contributing to the solutions of several issues of a country like Greece. The GIEU program in Greece includes visits to certain foundations and institutions, lectures and conferences with academics and health professionals, as well as contact with everyday people, in order to better conceptualize the issues that the country is facing. Maria Katapodi, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, School of Nursing explains that the GIEU program is competitive, as faculty from several departments at the University are submitting numerous project proposals. They received 90 student applications for this particular trip to Greece, but could only accommodate 15 students.
(Translation of the news article appearing in the MAKEDONIA courtesy of Katerina Katapodi.)
