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A professor in the Department of Nursing at Eastern
Michigan University, Betty Beard received a Fulbright
grant to conduct AIDS research with the Church
of Central Africa Presbyterian, Mzuzu, Malawi,
where she visited 54 programs, serving approximately
49,384 children.
Interacting with so many people confirmed what
Beard had always suspected about research in Africa:
She could learn more about what people think by
asking open-ended questions instead of using a
predetermined survey tool. "We asked them,
'What do you want me to know?' and then listened
as they replied," she said.
The objective was always clear to Beard. "We
were in Malawi to learn about HIV/AIDS and one
outcome of the disease: the children who are left
behind. We carried medical supplies, used clothing,
food and formula for distribution in the villages."
She offers advice to others on a similar journey.
"Bring local interpreters. Be willing to
pray, dance, sing, eat and drink with openness,
love and a sense of humor. Keep hand sanitizer
available. Bring paper towels to clean up the
mess that your 'gift' chicken will make in your
vehicle."
It's been six months since Beard left Malawi,
but every day she thinks about the people she
met and what she learned. Many were dying when
she met them; many of those people are now dead.
She always identified herself as a U.S. citizen
and shared how much the United States cares about
them. Over and over she heard the following sentiments
expressed spontaneously: "Thank you for coming
to visit us, for encouraging us, for giving us
hope."
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"International education
exchange is the most significant current project
designed to continue the process of humanizing
mankind to the point, we would hope, that
nations can learn to live in peace"
--J. William Fulbright |
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