Santé

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Santé


In the world, in our community, within blocks from Centenary, people suffer from easily preventable diseases. Why does this happen? What can be done about it? More importantly, what are we going to do about it?

Santé partners with the community to improve the health of some
 of the least advantaged people and produce students who are committed to overcoming poverty and prepared for careers of service, both nationally or internationally. See our four-part approach for more about how the program is designed to produce the effective, committed graduates sought after by employers.

 

Our Projects

We have partnerships with the Martin Luther King Health Center and Zanmi Lasante (Partners in Health in Haiti). We've worked to help the MLKHC establish a brand, understand their patients, compete in Give for Good, establish a community garden, and begin using culinary medicine. You never know what a non-profit will need. Students regularly volunteer on clinic days at the MLKHC. We’re promoting human rights in Haiti through Speak Out for Haiti.

Students can earn Career and Community credit working with Santé in Shreveport. Students who travel to Haiti may earn Culture credit.

If you'd like to be a friend of Santé then like our Facebook page (Santé@Centenary). You can join in the discussion and come to public events.

Aren't able to participate in the project but want to live in the community? Request a room near us on the first floor of James.

 

 

Santé's Approach

Students will:

  • complete core and a major at Centenary
  • create a culture of giving
    • students will work on campus and in the community to create a culture which sees the value of giving to the community both for themselves and the world, understand how to give effectively, and therefore supports effective charitable organizations both locally and internationally.
  • participate in two health initiatives, one local and one global
    • students will participate in all stages of implementing a health initiative: diagnose, design, fund, implement, assess
  • develop and live by a credo
    • students will reflect on, their character traits, skills, strengths, and values, and figure out how to live sustainably and meaningfully. These ideas will be developed while consulting our best traditions and social scientific information.

 

Santé is designed to help Centenary students partner with local and international groups to improve the health of the least advantaged now, and graduate students who are committed to global health and prepared for careers of service, both nationally an internationally. To be effective, we research the skills, knowledge, and character traits desired by global health organizations such a USAID, the Peace Corps, the CDC, and Partners in Health. We aim for more than employability. Students are expected to cultivate a strong understanding of the ethics of poverty and health care and a commitment to creating a culture of giving so they can live lives guided by their most deeply held values. Guided by these ideals, we developed our approach.

 

How we arrived at our approach:

Employers dedicated to fighting poverty and disease are looking for (taken verbatim from job ads):

  • demonstrated competence to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and to meet deadlines with strong attention to detail and quality.
  • demonstrated maturity, judgment, and ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
  • strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and juggle competing priorities
    strong writing skills.
  • computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet programs (Microsoft office applications preferred).
  • Experience with Raiser’s Edge and Outlook a plus.
  • interest in health care and social justice.
  • proficiency in languages other than English.
  • solid relationship-building skills; ability to interface with external constituents of all types, from students and community organizers to leading doctors, board members, and business executives.
  • experience in event planning and execution.
  • ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as in a collaborative environment.
  • demonstrated ability to interact professionally within culturally diverse settings.
  • experience in implementing research studies or public health program evaluations in a developing country setting.
    management and accounting skills.

From desired traits and a vision of a flourishing human life, we identified a set of character traits, skills, and knowledge that students should acquire: 

Character traits (From Seligman and Peterson's Character Strengths and Virtues):

  • Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, innovation
  • Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality
  • Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence
  • Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership
  • Temperance: forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self control
  • Transcendence: appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality

Skills:

  • Organization: planning, execution
  • Communication: written, oral
  • Culture: language, professional behavior in culturally diverse settings
  • Relationship building: tact, team building
    Knowledge (All students will gain minimal competency in these. Each student specialize in at least one area.):
  • Medical
  • Social Scientific
  • Cultural
  • Ethical

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Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy As To Students The insitution does not discriminate in its educational and employment policies against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or on any other basis proscribed by federal, state, or local law.