Costa Rican Orphanage & Public Health Research

 "What you give ought to be in direct relationship to what you've received. If you have been blessed with a great deal, then you have a lot of giving to do."

Hello and welcome everyone! 

I am on the road towards my next adventure, care to take a ride?

 My objectives and goals...

I have been asked to start up a health education program in Jaco beach in Costa Rica. I am very excited about this amazing opportunity. I will also be working with an orphanage in San Jose. 

My goal of this trip to Costa Rica is to study the country's health delivery system, childcare procedures, and assist in any way I can with the Lighthouse Orphange. I will be bringing the orphanage essential multivitamins as many children there have some sort of nutritional deficiency. 

I will be taking detailed accounts of my observations while I am there. With great determination, I will be educating the children on a variety of topics.

Subjects will include: activities of daily living for those who require special needs, English, math, social skills, art, physical activites, games. 

I will also apply my experiences as an Occupational Therapist Aide by implementing programs that enrich the cognitive and motor skills of each child. 

I will not show up empty handed either! I am already creating an extensive file with educational materials (i.e. coloring sheets, games) in both Spanish and English in my efforts to provide the orphanage with materials at no cost to them.

Your donation will go towards school supplies, medical supplies, vitamins/medicines, toys, clothes.

A little bit about myself...

I cannot thank you enough for visiting my page. As many of you all know, I have recently graduated with a degree in Public Health from Armstrong Atlantic State University. As I look back on my life experiences, I have been involved in health in some way or another.

-I am the creator of the Facebook page, Generation Health, dedicated to delivering health news and current events.

www.facebook.com/GenHealth

- I have worked with the Coastal Health District under the regional Epidemiologist where I assisted in disease surveillance.

- Volunteer services with the Life is Good campaign & the Harvest Balloon Festival in Flowery Branch, GA

- Greater Atlanta Speech and Language Clinics where I worked along side pediatric Speech and Occupational Therapists

-Senior Citizens, Inc. in Savannah, GA where I helped with B-I-N-G-O nights for the residents and donated pet supplies for seniors with four-legged friends

-I worked as an Occupational Therapist summer aide where I took groups of young boys with disabilities (mainly Autism) on nature hikes to improve motor skills, critical thinking, and build a sense of independence. 

-Summer of 2004 and 2005, I worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. I fell in love with health education when I was able to teach children with Downs' syndrome how to swim.

-In 2008, my sister and I travelled to Belize where we brought school supplies & uniforms to a non-profit community high school, Ocean Academy, in Caye Caulker, Belize.

I am very passionate about volunteerism, health promotion, and education. I find that the field of public health suits my personality and my passion for human relationships. I look forward to applying my knowledge and skills to helping others in Costa Rica. Today I ask you for your graciousness and support. A little donation can be a big deal as I embark on this next big adventure.

My qualifications...

-FEMA certification by the Emergency Management Institute for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for completion of the course IS-00100.Hcb Introduction to Incident Command System for Healthcare/Hospitals

- Certificate of completion for Protecting Human Research Participants by the National Institute of Health

- CPR/First Aid certified by the American Red Cross

-Completion of Graduate level Honors Advanced Epidemiology at Armstrong Atlantic State University

-Completion of online certifcation for STD Education & Awareness by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

-Several projects on health topics including nutrition education for 6th graders and a thesis on the burden of the Hepatitis C Virus

Please contact me with any questions you may have.

Thank you again,

Maggie G. MacMillan