Lessons From Grenada: Beyond the Plans and Into Practice
Peace Odiase
2nd Year MPH Health Behavior, Health Equity Student
I can confidently say that spending spring break week in Grenada with my PUBHLTH 616 classmates was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Even now, after we’ve arrived back in Michigan, I continue to reminisce about our time on the island. Grenada is such a vibrant place with a rich culture, incredible food, stunning beaches, and welcoming people.
I cannot express how much I loved every part of this experience, from the project itself to the wonderful interactions I had with community members. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to explore Grenada and engage in global public health practice alongside my classmates. This experience has only made me more eager to return to Grenada this summer for my internship.
I learned many lessons throughout the course and during our week in Grenada, but one takeaway that stands out is the importance of remaining flexible in public health work. Just weeks before our trip, my group’s partner organization and project shifted to the Grenada Child Protection Authority (CPA). Our new project focuses on conducting a systems-level assessment of Grenada’s child protection environment to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. These insights will inform the design of new child protection manuals aimed at standardizing procedures across the nation. During my summer internship, I will support the development and validation of these manuals.
Although I am excited to collaborate with this CPA on this new project, I was initially apprehensive about whether my team and I could deliver high-quality work, given that we had a month less than expected to prepare. Despite the expedited timeline, my team remained committed and supportive of one another, and the CPA staff generously ensured that we had the resources and guidance we needed before arriving in Grenada.
While on the island, my teammates and I conducted several focus groups and key informant interviews with stakeholders involved in child protection. These discussions reminded us that even the most meticulous plans might need to change. For example, even though we designed extensive question guides, we had to think on our feet and adapt to the moment as some sessions were much shorter than anticipated due to logistical constraints.
Despite these challenges, our team’s strong collaboration greatly contributed to the success of our work and our presentation to the Grenada community partners. This teamwork will continue to serve us as we develop our final report for the CPA.
My experiences on the Grenada trip and in the course have left lasting impressions that will guide how I approach my summer internship and professional public health journey. I carry forward not only new skills but a deeper understanding of how critical flexibility, humility, and community engagement are in public health practice.
