Advancing Health Programs Collective – UCSD Refugee Health Unit

The Majdal Center along with other refugee community centers in San Diego is participating in the Advancing Health Programs Collaborative which is centered around developing the resources that will facilitate the engagement and representation of refugee communities as well as their rights and needs in future projects in San Diego. The common goal is to maximize the agency and representation of these communities, especially in terms of gaining access to health resources.

Critical Refugee Studies Collective: Investigating Health Issues Experienced by Syrian refugees in El Cajon

Funded by UCSD’s Critical Refugee Studies Collective, a two-part research project is being conducted in collaboration with the Majdal Center. The goals of the research project is to involve youth in the community in a photography project through which youth can express responses to mental health and safety related questions in the form of photos and reflections. At the end of the project, participants will exhibit their work at the Majdal Center. The second part of the research project involves a series of focus groups with women from the community where they can come together to discuss the issues they face with regards to healthcare and access to it over a meal. The findings of the focus group will be discussed in a research paper.

Preventative Medicine and Health Education – Pre-Meds Without Borders

In spring of 2018, a UCSD student organization called Pre-Meds Without Borders presented a smoking cessation seminar based on months of research and consultation with UCSD researchers and faculty. The seminar is intended to be the first of many future seminars that should provide health education specific to the Syrian community of El Cajon. This program provides Syrian youth with the opportunity to learn about preventable health issues and how to avoid them. The seminars are meant to be brief but comprehensive and also incorporate different learning modalities such as physical activities and competitions.

Advancing Health Programs Collective – UCSD Refugee Health Unit