Guilford College Public Health

About Guilford College Public Health

Short-form audio documentaries/scripted podcasts produced by the Global Health students at Guilford College. Each podcast has a transcript in the details.

Publisher

Guilford College Students

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Jan 2022

Latest episode

12 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

34 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Nov 2025

   Mali's infrastructure Crisis

   [Intro music] Interviewee Amina: A lack of infrastructure is not just an inconvenience but a huge barrier to the education system. [Music] Ciara: Mali is a country with many challenges, and one of the biggest is its infrastructure. We’re talking about things like roads, electricity, water systems, and buildings but mostly things like proper school facilities. Voice acted by Cynthia Wright, Amina, a teacher who’s been working in Mali for over 10 years has experienced this firsthand. Interviewee Amina: I’ve spent most of my life working in schools in rural Mali and I’ve seen the situation up close. Mali is a beautiful country but the infrastructure here is a huge challenge. And when it comes to education, that challenge becomes even more severe. I’ve worked in schools where there are no proper buildings, no access to clean water, and where students have to learn in classrooms that are barely more than open spaces under a tree. [Music/kid chattering] Ciara: Classrooms in Mali, especially in rural or underserved areas often face major challenges related to poor infrastructure which affects both the learning environment and the overall educational experience. Research shows that in 2022, 519,000 children were out of school across Mali due to school funding and armed group threats and attacks. In 2022, the number of children dropping out of school in the country has increased by 15 per cent, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Interviewee Amina: I’ve seen classrooms with broken walls, no desks, and no teaching materials. In some places, the roof of the classroom is missing entirely and the children still come to school every day hoping that they can still learn something. But it’s incredibly difficult to teach in those conditions. Ciara: Many schools in Mali have classrooms that are made with basic materials like mud bricks, clay, or bamboo. These buildings often lack proper ventilation and can get very hot during dry seasons which makes it difficult for both teachers and students to concentrate. There is also a shortage of textbooks and other learning materials. In some cases students share textbooks or may not have any at all. This shortage makes it difficult for students to fully engage with the curriculum and also limits their ability to learn independently. Interviewee Amina: The lack of basic facilities like a solid roof or proper walls means that the classrooms are often too hot in the dry season or too cold when the rains come. There’s no ventilation, and the classrooms can become unbearable, especially with large groups of students. I remember days when I would be teaching, and the children were so uncomfortable, they could hardly focus. And when it comes to basic things like textbooks and supplies. I often have to teach without textbooks because there are just not enough to go around. Students can’t take notes because they don’t have notebooks or pens. And as a teacher, you end up trying to make up for the lack of resources by using whatever you can find chalk, old paper, anything to try to make the lessons more engaging. But it’s not easy. Ciara: Having these poor conditions of school buildings and the lack of proper facilities can lead to inconsistent attendance within students. According to UNICEF, education in Mali has been improving over the last decade but more than two million children aged between 5 to 17 still do not go to school, and over half of Mali’s young people aged 15 to 24 are not literate. These students may end up staying home due to uncomfortable or unsafe learning environments or because they have to help with household chores or farming. Not to mention, the lack of basic sanitation facilities like clean water and functional toilets can lead to health issues, mostly to younger students. This can lead to absenteeism and negative affects on academic performance. And even teachers often have to work under difficult conditions with inadequate training, low salaries, and limited resources. They may also face challenges such as a lack of teaching aids and large class sizes which can mess with their ability to deliver effective lessons. Interviewee Amina: It’s truly heartbreaking, honestly. I’ve seen kids who have to walk for hours just to reach school, often in the scorching sun or through muddy roads during the rainy season. They’re already exhausted by the time they arrive and it’s difficult for them to focus. I remember one student, a little girl, who would walk over 10 kilometers each day to attend school. She would get there, exhausted and hungry and still do her best to learn. But when the classroom itself is not conducive to learning, and when you can’t hear the lesson properly because of the noise from the outside or the heat becomes unbearable then there's literally no surprise that some kids eventually drop out. Some children stay home all together because their parents see no point in sending them to school if the conditions are so poor. They would rather keep them at home to help with chores or farming. It’s a difficult situation because education is seen as the way out of poverty, but how can you succeed when the basic infrastructure isn’t there to support it? Ciara: Multiple international organizations are working in Mali to improve the education system by providing resources, building better classrooms, and offering teacher training. However the challenges of widespread poverty, political instability, and inadequate government funding make these interventions slow and pretty uneven. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, in 2020, the Malian state budget for education amounted to USD 637.3 million. There was a start but only 13% of the national budget was allocated to the construction of classrooms and 4.8% to the acquisition of teaching materials. [Music] Ciara: Some schools have embraced community based solutions where there's local families and communities that contribute to building and maintaining school infrastructure. This might involve using local materials, volunteer labor, or raising funds to improve the school's condition. In urban areas and more developed regions, there are schools that are better equipped with modern buildings, access to electricity, and more learning resources. However these are the exceptions rather than the rules and many children still attend schools with subpar conditions. Interviewee Amina: There are some efforts but the progress is slow. The government has tried to invest in education, and there are some international organizations like UNICEF for example, and they are working to improve infrastructure. I’ve seen new schools being built, but they are often few and far between and many of them are located in urban areas. For the rural schools, where most of the population lives, the improvements are minimal. One of the problems is funding. Even when new schools are built, there’s not enough money to maintain them properly. So while we might have a shiny new building, it’s often just a shell because there’s no furniture, no books, and no real resources to make it functional. And when we do get support, it’s often in the form of temporary solutions, like mobile schools or tents set up as classrooms. These help in the short term, but they don’t provide a permanent solution. We need proper, long-term infrastructure development. Ciara: Despite the challenges posed by poor infrastructure in Mali, the resilience and determination of the people in the educational sector have allowed them to keep pushing through. As the younger generation becomes more educated, they are increasingly advocating for better infrastructure and educational reforms. This awareness among youth and local leaders fuels hope for change by driving the belief that progress is possible despite these current challenges. Interviewee Amina: There are days when I feel like I’m fighting an uphill battle. But I always remind myself of the kids. Despite all the hardships, the children still show up every day, eager to learn. Their resilience is incredible. They have so much potential, and I see the spark in their eyes when they understand something I’ve taught them. What keeps me going is knowing that education is one of the few ways to break the cycle of poverty. Even though the infrastructure isn’t where it needs to be, I believe that the education we can provide, no matter how limited, can still make a difference in their lives. That’s why I continue to push forward, even when it’s hard. [Music] Ciara: The government and families in Mali play an important role in overcoming the challenges of the educational system. Community driven initiatives, financial contributions, and cultural values of education helps to keep these schools open and functioning despite the many obstacles. But the limitations of these efforts are due to poverty, inconsistent resources, and the pressures of other daily needs which mean that further systemic support from the government and international organizations is important to ensure sustainable improvements. The community’s resilience mixed with external support holds the key to overcoming the infrastructural challenges and improving education outcomes for all children in Mali. Interviewee Amina: On a larger scale, we need a comprehensive approach like one that addresses not only the buildings but the entire education system. We need better roads to connect rural areas to the cities, reliable electricity for schools, and proper facilities like clean water and sanitation. We need to ensure that teachers are properly trained, supported, and paid. And most importantly, there needs to be a long term commitment from both the Malian government and international organizations to fund education and infrastructure projects consistently. It’s not just about building ne8w schools, it’s also about ensuring that they are maintained, that resources are provided, and that the community is involved in the process. Ciara: To overall improve Mali's poor infrastructure then a comprehensive and sustained approach is needed, combining government action, community involvement, and international support. The government must prioritize education and infrastructure investment, allocating funds for building and maintaining schools, providing proper sanitation facilities, and ensuring reliable electricity and water access. Communities should also be empowered to take part in local decision making with resources directed towards sustainable solutions such as locally built classrooms and volunteer driven programs. [Music] International organizations can provide technical assistance, funding, and resources to complement national efforts. Plus investing in teacher training, distributing learning materials, and addressing gender disparities are needed to ensure that the infrastructure supports a high quality and inclusive education system that benefits all students. Interviewee Amina: Truly, if we can create the right environment for learning then these children can thrive. And not only that, but Mali as a whole can begin to move forward, break the cycle of poverty, and build a stronger future. Ciara: This podcast was produced by Ciara Mickens for the Spring 2025 Global Health Course at Guilford College. [Outro music]

2. 

   12 Nov 2025

   Gaza's Maternal Healthcare Crisis

   Global Health Problem: How does the destruction of hospital infrastructure impact healthcare access for mothers giving birth and their newborn children in Gaza? *intro music* [Narration] Many women in Gaza go into labor with no hospitals or doctors nearby to safely deliver their baby. Without any access to proper prenatal care, their baby is at risk of being born prematurely. [Shatha Elnakib] These women are just under unimaginable, unfathomable stress because of the, you know, the impossible conditions they're living under. *music* [Narration] To understand why Gaza’s healthcare system is in ruins we need to go back seven decades. The roots of this problem date back to 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes during the Nakba with many seeking refuge in what is now known as the Gaza Strip. This mass displacement was recognized by the United Nations, which in its Resolution 194, called for the right of return for Palestinian refugees displaced during that time. The displacement of the Palestinians continued, along with continuous airstrikes over the next seven decades, leaving Gaza’s healthcare system in shambles. In 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza which severely restricted the movement of the people, goods and supplies which included medical supplies. This blockade has made it nearly impossible for hospitals to continue functioning as usual. This blockade on Gaza is still in place meaning limited medical supplies and other resources. [Shatha Elnakib] Israel decided to stop aid in Gaza with the end of the ceasefire. And so this is what we call weaponization of humanitarian aid using humanitarian aid, which is not supposed to be a weapon, but using it as a weapon against people. Telling people you have to acquiesce to our political demands in order for you to get your humanitarian aid. So this–we're seeing this play out. And of course this is not normal. It is not legal. It is very much a war crime to prevent civilians from having access to humanitarian aid. [Narration] That’s how Dr. Shatha Elnakib, an Assistant Scientist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, describes the situation with regards to aid in Gaza. Dr. Elnakib has researched the crisis in Gaza specifically how it affects pregnant women. In an article for The Lancet, she writes about the harsh conditions for pregnant women in Gaza and her research reveals the severe lack of maternal healthcare. *music* [Narration] With hospitals already struggling under years of blockade and bombardment, this weaponization of humanitarian aid only worsens the crisis. Medical facilities that once provided essential care are now barely functioning and nearly two thirds of them have shut down completely. Only 39% of hospitals in Gaza are still partially functioning. [Shatha Elnakib] Once they get to the facility, facilities tend to be overcrowded. They tend to also be understaffed because healthcare workers are unable to get to the facility the same way that these women can't get to the facilities because of, you know, the destroyed roads...And so the priority becomes to dealing with these mass casualties, these trauma injuries. Just you know, so you know, according to the latest estimates we have around 112,000 people who have reported injuries according to the WHO’s most recent situation or SitRep. And as you can imagine, these are people who have burns who have complex trauma injuries. These are not simple injuries. Right, because, you know, because of the nature of the war, because of the relentless bombardment, the use of weapons that are, you know, quite cruel, white phosphorus included. And so these people's needs are often so acute that they will take precedence over other things like routine pregnancy care, for example, or antenatal care. And so the needs of women, particularly pregnant women, then become deprioritized. [Narration] For pregnant women, this means barely any prenatal care, leading to more premature births, low birth weights, and higher risks of infant mortality. In overcrowded and makeshift maternity wards, doctors are forced to work with minimal resources. There are shortages in some of the most basic medical supplies like gloves, gauze, and disinfectants which leads to many births taking place in unsanitary conditions risking infections for both the mother and the newborn. [Shatha Elnakib] There's, you know, scarcity in oxygen. And statements from health providers themselves have indicated that certain surgical procedures, including C-section, which is a very serious surgical procedure, are now being conducted without anesthesia or women are being cut open without any anesthetic. And at times, without even electricity, you must have read in the news how doctors were using their telephone flashlights because there was no electricity in hospitals and they were conducting these very advanced surgical procedures in the absence of electricity. *music* [Narration] But the crisis in Gaza’s hospitals doesn’t end after the mothers give birth. Even when babies survive birth, they face yet another challenge: a lack of electricity. Gaza has been in an ongoing electricity crisis since October of 2023. According to the World Health Organization, as of 2023, 130 premature infants in Gaza rely on incubators and 61% of those incubators need electricity to function. Without reliable electricity, life-saving equipment like these incubators are shut down and so according to the United Nations, during this past winter alone eight newborns have died of hypothermia. Infant mortality rates are one of the biggest indicators of a population’s overall health. They reflect not only access to medical care, but the stability of infrastructure, and access to other essential resources. But in Gaza, where hospitals are barely functioning, these numbers don’t just signal a health crisis, they represent lives lost to conditions that should be preventable. *music* [Narration] At first, it might seem like this is an issue happening far away, with no direct connection to the people in the United States. But in reality, U.S. taxpayer dollars directly fund the Israeli military–its weapons, its airstrikes, and the destruction of infrastructure including hospitals in Gaza. According to the U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Foreign Military Financing program, Israel has received some of the most advanced military equipment in the world. According to USA Spending, a website run by the U.S. Department of Treasury, this program is funded by U.S. federal revenue which is primarily taxpayer dollars meaning American citizens are directly financing the military operations in Gaza. The Department of State also reports that since Israel’s founding in 1948, the United States has provided Israel with over $130 billion in direct aid. This financial and military support makes the U.S. more than just a bystander. [Shatha Elnakib] I think international pressure is very important and we have just, we have seen big hegemons, big countries in the West failing to exert international pressure, you know, not just turning a blind eye to what's happening, but rather, you know, they're very much complicit materially. So they give the money, they give the weapons. [Narration] While there has been a lot of material support for Israel, efforts to aid Gaza have also been made, though they face more obstacles that make the aid delivery process more difficult. Humanitarian convoys, organized by international agencies like the United Nations and the Red Cross, have managed to deliver resources, such as food, medical supplies and other essential supplies despite the blockades and ongoing airstrikes. Temporary ceasefires including the most recent one have allowed for the aid from these convoys to reach Gaza safely. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has set up field hospitals to provide medical care on the Gaza Strip. In addition, organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam have also played a key role in providing emergency medical care and essential services to the people in Gaza by also setting up field hospitals, supporting the few functioning hospitals remaining in Gaza, and operating mobile clinics. But beyond these humanitarian efforts, local governments and individual countries are also taking action to address the conflict. The Oxford City Council has recently voted to divest from Israel in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. South Africa has also been vocal in its support for Gaza, even taking legal steps against Israel by bringing a case to the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza. While these actions are different in terms of approach, they both reflect a growing global movement pushing for accountability and consequences. [Shatha Elnakib] Beyond rebuilding hospitals, we need to make sure we have long term strategies that ensure that healthcare remains protected and accessible. And we're not just talking about, you know, let's rebuild and reconstruct, but how do we prevent this from happening? [Narration] Despite the growing global movement for accountability and the humanitarian aid efforts, these alone cannot truly address the devastation in Gaza. International organizations such as UNICEF and the WHO must not only fund the rebuilding of hospitals and ensure people have access to medical supplies, but they must also support the training of local healthcare workers and equip them so that they can continue operating hospitals effectively in Gaza. Long-term unrestricted aid is crucial for rebuilding Gaza’s healthcare system, but true recovery won’t happen until a permanent ceasefire is reached. Many ceasefires in the past have been fragile. For example, the most recent ceasefire which took effect on January 19th of this year, was violated when Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza. According to Amnesty International, this was a “unilateral resumption” of the war meaning the attacks were one sided, and they resulted in the deaths of at least 414 Palestinans including 174 children. This was a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and this is only one example of many where Israel has failed to honor such agreements. Achieving a permanent ceasefire requires more than just a temporary pause in violence; it requires strong diplomatic efforts that address the root causes of the conflict. This includes pressing the international community to hold Israel accountable by ensuring that they honor the terms of a permanent ceasefire. A first step would be the lifting of the blockades on Gaza. Lifting the blockades would let aid reach Gaza without any obstacles. But for any peace agreement to hold, the international community also has to ensure accountability for war crimes and violations of the international law. While these are important steps towards a permanent ceasefire, they would only be the beginning of a very long process. [Shatha Elnakib] We need better humanitarian diplomacy. We need international pressure to prevent attacks on medical facilities everywhere, not just in Gaza. I mean we've seen in Syria, we've seen in Ukraine how health facilities, health infrastructure is very much targeted as part of war tactics, right? It’s part of the strategy of war. And that needs to stop...And it's not just obviously about, you know. Rules of war around healthcare, but also rules of war against, you know, not weaponizing food, not weaponizing water, not weaponizing aid. These are basic fundamentals. Like I said, that are part of a rules based order that we have been living under for the last how many years, 60 years more. And so we need to make sure that the rules based order, you know, is back. And it's not just an anarchy and a jungle. *music* [Narration] Gaza’s healthcare crisis is not just a humanitarian issue but also a moral and ethical one. Hospitals shouldn’t be battlegrounds or places for airstrikes. The lives of pregnant women and newborns shouldn’t be collateral damage during a so-called “war.” None of us choose the place of our birth, yet for many, the circumstances of where they're born dictate whether they will survive past their first year of life. As we continue to witness this ongoing crisis, we must ask ourselves: What steps are we, as the global community, willing to take to ensure a future where every life, regardless of the place of birth, has the opportunity to live without the constant threat of violence and destruction to their healthcare and basic human rights? *music* [Narration] This podcast was produced by Sarah Zaraf for the Spring 2025 Global Health Course at Guilford College.

3. 

   12 Nov 2025

   Food insecurity in Somalia

   *Music Playing* Bronwyn: I don't think things can change in the midst of chaos because everyone's fighting for survival in that mode and it's understandable why. The people in Somalia are not the ones contributing a lot to climate change themselves, they're feeling the impacts of it from other countries. Narrator: Bronwyn Tucker is a professor of the Environmental and Sustainable studies department at Guilford College. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “climate risks are appearing faster and will become more severe sooner than previously expected”. This has led to a dramatic increase in extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. These impacts have left people in Somalia in a dire state with hundreds of thousands of people becoming displaced in search of food and water with over 4 million people currently facing acute food insecurity. This means every year over half of the population is left undernourished causing infant mortality rates and severe health problems such as malnutrition, malaria, and tuberculosis to skyrocket. Bronwyn: In Somalia specifically there's been such a positive feedback loop of okay conflict and then crisis so I don't have enough food and I'm fighting for food and then I'm degrading the environment because of how I'm trying to get food or burn down trees to make fuel and that creates more conflict and shortage and then greater environmental degradation so it's all kind of moving toward that same path of challenge where if there was a moment where they could feel like they had enough and didn't have to fight for it maybe there could be a moment for a discussion about what could be next. Narrator: The main concern is the ongoing malnutrition because it's such an immediate health concern nobody has the foresight to plan short term relief and long term sustainability to slowly reduce the problem all together. Data has consistently showcased Somalia’s extreme weather, facing major droughts and floods, but other issues such as their governmental system have created barriers to reduce food insecurity as well. According to the US government, Al-Shabaab is a terrorist clan militia that has violently fought for control over Somalia's federal government for decades. This has made it much harder for the government to implement long term infrastructure due to their lack of power and control. With the contagious outbreaks, droughts, food shortages, floods and other governmental safety issues it makes it nearly impossible to only tackle one issue at a time. Bronwyn: Well I think if you asked anybody hungry they'd say please feed me first before we make long-term plans but that only lasts so long right? And there's that phrase you can give a man a fish or you can teach a man a fish and I think it's not even necessarily about teaching because these people know how to farm they know how to do these things but the world is changing around them and there's also a lot of conflict. If a country is struggling so much that they just can't meet their people's immediate needs that's when aid comes in so that they can then have the space to think long term and that's what's tough. Narrator: Exactly these are everyday people who are clawing to meet their basic needs. They don't have time to be concerned with environmental impacts or long term effects. They're living one day at a time trying to support their families and themselves. And since 80% of the population is employed in agriculture and it's also 70% of its total GDP the lack of yield is extremely concerning for them. Somali people are forced to focus on themselves. The amount of food available is extremely limited and the food that is accessible in proximity is even more unattainable for them price wise. Evidence consistently shows that the changes needed to offset food insecurity are too large for the citizens to make themselves, it’s up to the government to make large-scale systemic reforms. Bronwyn: I don't blame a lot of people in the world who are doing things that are really causing negative consequences to our planet when they're just trying to survive. I would do the same thing if it meant taking care of my children. *Music Playing* Narrator: Programs from the European Commission and the United States have been supplying immediate relief for food and water but these programs won't help the country sustain itself long term because of the changing climate. And while the US provides aid, they contribute greatly to the issue of increased climate change as well. The aid they give can’t even compare to how much they influence the root problem. In 2020, China accounted for 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions and the US alone accounted for 13.5% globally as well. People don’t realize that it's not just huge corporations impacting climate change either. Their daily tasks like shopping, driving, and showering actually have an impact too. Not to mention the amount of food waste and overconsumption that accounts for 44% of the average household's yearly carbon emissions. There's multiple avenues of decreasing our personal carbon footprint, many of which have been successfully used in specific cities and even entire states. Bronwyn: Live simply so that others may simply live. I love that idea of you know what do I need versus what i want and how do my wants impact others needs. So rather than being self-serving or taking more than you need if you have that sense of community that you want to take care of and then you trust that community even if you're only impacting your immediate area and you're not affecting the whole world I think to be sustainable you have to trust other people to kind of be in on the plan long term because when you're thinking about your immediate needs and just surviving who cares about tomorrow and the environment right but if you can trust that you have a community of people that will work together towards something that will be long term good you can make short term sacrifices as long as you're meeting your basic needs. Narrator: A community of any size can work together to make change when there's trust and motivation within it. Despite China’s authoritative government many environmental activists have come together to protest their countries climate change impacts. We’ve also begun seeing examples of this in areas like Boston, Massachusetts as well where they've increased the use of public transportation by threefold, greatly reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by single family vehicles. Columbus, Ohio has also started initiatives to increase the amount of solar energy sources used creating 4000 jobs related to the projects as well. The United States and China must work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate global negative environmental impacts while Somalia must work to implement sustainable agriculture techniques so they can adapt to the damages that have already been done. Bronwyn: The children growing up in those places are learning a lot by doing with their parents and maybe the internet's not as valuable but as climate change affects things and they have to adapt and maybe it will be valuable to see what other crops can be more drought resistant or water catchment methods to be more resilient when floods come and capturing some of that rain when the droughts coming in so education and information about infrastructure to support those types of fluctuating events would be valuable but in general I think the cultural knowledge is what we need to preserve. Narrator: And agriculture is also very group effort based, one person isn’t maintaining an entire farm so community is vital. It’s important to recognize the impacts that individualism has when most of the agriculture in Somalia is maintained by family units. And agriculture knowledge is passed down informally through generations but the impacts of climate change make it a lot harder to adapt to the environmental changes. Utilizing sustainable farming techniques to bounce back the agriculture sector is the only thing that could truly reduce food insecurity rates as evidence shows increased rates of crop production in Africa when using them. The short term solutions have already been drained. Charitable aid just can’t continue at the rate Somalia needs it. Bronwyn: If it is sustainable ag it has to be good for the earth and then it's going to be inherently good for you because if you're taking care of the soil and having strategies that improve the land the land's going to be more productive for you. Specifically I think Somalia could plant more vegetation that's protected so that it was helping to stabilize soils during their floods and also this would allow them to regenerate more renewable resources for fuel since they're using a lot of biomass or wood for cooking and heating and then having the extra vegetation would also help retain water so that when they have they have the rains it can be more deeply soaked into the ground and held in the ground so that when droughts come it's not so easily lost or it's not run off of the soil surface it can actually penetrate and all these things would lead to enhanced food production because you're having healthier soils. Narrator: Utilizing the tree crops that are native to Somalia to protect other more sensitive crops is extremely helpful as it benefits multiple aspects of the land. According to the USDA, agroforestry protects other smaller crop species, helps reduce soil runoff, improves soil health, produces more food to harvest, and even reduces carbon and other greenhouse gases. This data has been consistent across the US and in other countries in Africa as well. Another option would be crop rotation which purposefully cycles specific crops that benefit each other one after the other. Bronwyn: Especially as climate change becomes more prominent, it's important to seek out different types of crops that can be adaptable. Narrator: Another humanitarian program that has been a huge success is the building of earth dams which store large amounts of the runoff water from the floods. Earth dams are one of the best infrastructures because they stop flooding in homes and farms and also store water for the drought seasons. Again, this can also prevent soil runoff too. While the capacity of these initiatives has been limited, with further donations even more of these are being built. The government must start implementing these programs if they want the possibility of recovering as a whole. *Music Playing* Bronwyn: They're not the ones who are going to mitigate the climate change, they're going to be the ones that have to adapt and other countries are going to be the ones that have to make major changes that can actually mitigate or reduce the impacts of climate change. Narrator: And that's exactly what we're seeing in countries like Somalia right now. Countries in the Global North like the United States and China need to seriously reconsider what federal regulations need to be put in place to mitigate climate change impacts so other countries stop feeling the damages. And like I mentioned before, people in both countries are pushing their governments to change with different initiatives and protests. Bronwyn: You can create a little microcosm of good things happening and then if things go really well maybe you're an example for other communities or maybe another community can trust your community and you can work together. Because we're not looking out for others we're generally looking out for ourselves when we're taking action that is negatively impacting them. I don't want to make people feel guilty for what they've already been doing but help them feel empowered to do some things that might make changes in a positive direction. Narrator: Because most people think that their individual actions can't have a ripple effect but one action can change a community which can change a town which can change a city and it just keeps expanding because change is achievable in any community. If people begin to realize the damage they are doing and strive to make change within their own community, we could have a healthier earth and that would help countries like Somalia achieve long term sustainability too. Maintaining earth dam infrastructures, kick starting community building initiatives, and helping farmers adapt to the weather are all things that can slowly build up the trust and wellbeing of the people in Somalia. Bronwyn: I'm hoping that it's a success story where maybe the country figures out we're going to have to figure this out on our own and this is not how we want to live and we want to make sure we have resources for our people and innovate to be creative to adapt to climate change *Music Playing Narrator: This podcast was produced by Isabella Maietta for the Spring 2025 Global Health Course at Guilford College.