From analysis to action in community-based health interventions
Period 3 marks the start of the final phase of the Global Health minor, with the course Community-based Health Interventions. In this course, students learn how health challenges can be addressed in close collaboration with communities, societal organisations, and multiple stakeholders. Rather than focusing solely on individual behaviour or clinical solutions, the course explores how health and wellbeing are shaped by social, cultural, and environmental contexts.
The central question guiding the course is how future health professionals can design interventions that are ethical, sustainable, and truly grounded in community needs. Through a combination of lectures, interactive sessions, and group work, students explore the theory and practice behind community-based approaches to health.
Building a foundation across multiple periods
Over the past two periods, students have worked closely with their community partners to develop a strong analytical foundation. They conducted literature and policy analyses, explored the context of their partner organisations, and carried out small-scale research to better understand the challenges at stake. These activities helped students move beyond abstract health concepts and engage with real-world complexity.
In Period 3, the focus shifts from understanding problems to developing concrete intervention ideas. Students translate their analyses into proposed solutions, while reflecting on ethical considerations, stakeholder participation, sustainability, and the challenges of implementation in dynamic community settings.
Working with community partners
This year, students collaborate with a diverse group of societal organisations, including @Ease, Access to Healthcare Committee, Together We Can, and Stichting KRAKTIE. Each partner brings in a different perspective on health and wellbeing, ranging from mental health support and healthcare access to empowerment and community resilience.
Joining in period 3 is the STRAATWIJS project, who focus on the theme of Safety and Youth Wellbeing in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. This theme emerged from a STREET-MAP developed together with Stadsreporters and local residents, highlighting concerns around youth behaviour, use of public space, and social isolation.
Learning beyond the classroom
For many students, this minor is their first experience working so closely with community partners over an extended period of time. It challenges them to navigate uncertainty, balance different perspectives, and adapt their ideas as new insights emerge. At the same time, it helps them develop practical skills in collaboration, reflection, and intervention design.
As the final course of the Global Health minor, Community-based Health Interventions offers students the opportunity to bring together everything they have learned so far. By working at the intersection of science and society, students not only deepen their understanding of public health, but also explore their own role as future professionals contributing to healthier and more inclusive communities.
The final event - Global Health Symposium
The minor wil conclude with an event to showcase everything the students have managed to achieve over the past semester. Everyone is invited to join! The Global Health Minor Symposium will be held on Monday January 26, between 09:00-11:00 at OZW-7B01 and is organized by the Athena Institute of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.
