AmeriCares Educates Upper School about Ebola
New Canaan Country School ninth grade students recently moderated a discussion among the entire Upper School about the ebola virus outbreak in an effort to unpack some of the misconceptions surrounding the virus. To aid their discussion, a representative from AmeriCares, a locally based international relief organization, shared first-hand information about the work that AmeriCares is doing to fight the spread of the ebola virus.
Ninth graders Gabriel Byan, Arianna Fleuriot, Sabrina Sotirhos and Brian Zaffino moderated the presentation. They asked their classmates to think critically about the media’s role in shaping the American public’s understanding about the ebola crisis. They also warned students about xenophobia resulting from ignorance about the disease.
Students posed direct questions to AmeriCares representative Yonette Joseph.“How do you get ebola?” “How do you treat ebola?” “Where is ebola a problem?”
Ms. Joseph explained the origins of the ebola virus, its symptoms and its rate of growth in West Africa – primarily in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. She shared with the students that healthcare workers and caretakers are most at risk of contacting the disease. She also explained in detail the work that non-profits organizations, including AmeriCares, and governments from around the world are doing to set up triage units for patients and provide emotional trauma assistance for disaster survivors.
Ms. Joseph stressed the importance of cultural sensitivity when dealing with this type of crisis. “A key factor in the cycle of response is partnering with local organizations on the ground in order to fully understand the needs of those being served. It’s critical to understand the customs and needs of the people being served.”
This moderated conversation is part of an ongoing service learning partnership between New Canaan Country School and AmeriCares.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
