Community Health Volunteer Project

Stock image of two volunteers behind a table with food (fruits, vegetables, and canned food items) and drinsk (milk and water) some of which are in a carboard box.

Community engagement from a health professional perspective 

Project description

The Community Health Volunteer Project provides students with the opportunity to integrate themselves in a community organization, where they will gain practical experience and strengthen their understanding of community engagement. Over the course of the project, students will work closely with local community-based organizations in a variety of settings and capacities and gain a deeper understanding of the unique needs of Buffalo and the surrounding region. Engaging directly with community members and local professionals will help students understand the nuances of local health challenges. This hands-on experience will allow students to see where theory meets practice and equip them with essential skills for their future careers. 

Project outcome

  • Students will volunteer with community organizations for at least 20 hours over 6 to 7 weeks during the semester. Students will pick one of the two prompts below and, in their own words, write a 1-to-2-page reflective paper at the end of their project based on their experiences:
    • Project Report: Students will create a report on their project activities and answer questions that explore the current and/or possible future implications of the work they were involved with
    • Reflection Paper: Students will explore their experiences working with local community-based organizations, focusing on how their theoretical knowledge was applied in practice, how their understanding of community engagement evolved, and/or reflect on any challenges they faced.
  • More detailed instructions will be provided to students that participate in the project.

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Less than a semester; 0-2 months
Start time Anytime 
In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-Person Project 
Level of collaboration Individual student project 
Benefits N/A
Who is eligible All undergraduate students 

Core partners

  • Friends of Night People
  • Providence Farm Collective
  • Rural Outreach Center
  • 211 WNY
  • Crisis Services
  • FeedMore WNY
  • Jewish Family Services 
  • UB Veggie Van Mobile Market
  • Farm Stand 

Project mentor

Ebehitale Imobhio

Assistant Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement

School of Public Health and Health Professions

Phone: (716) 829-3529

Email: ebehital@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Students interested in participating in this project will be required to fill out this application (https://forms.office.com/r/VcTEzB3ssV).

Students should also read the following to prepare them to work with community based organizations:
* Embracing Cultural Humility and Community Engagement (https://www.cdc.gov/global-health-equity/php/publications/cultural-humility.html)
* Community Engagement (https://aese.psu.edu/research/centers/cecd/engagement-toolbox/engagement)

Keywords

Community engagement, public health, health professions, community-based organizations, volunteer project, hands-on experience, professional exploration, community