[Health in Africa Series] Reaching the Hardest to Reach in Health & Employment

Register

Location
Zoom

Date(s)
Jan 29, 2025 from 8:30am (EST)

Category: Spotlight
Pillar: Network Learning & Development

Case Studies from Student-led Research

Join the University of Toronto and Reach Alliance to highlight critical findings into the challenges and possibilities of accessing health and employment in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach communities. Through case studies and personal stories, three emerging leaders will share their insights into barriers faced by underserved populations and the pathways they are uncovering to foster change and make a lasting impact.

Explore research into pressing global issues:

The “No Bed Syndrome” in Ghanaian Tertiary Hospitals: Investigating the systemic challenges and healthcare access disparities in tertiary hospitals.
Intersection of Technology and Trauma: Exploring barriers to implementing digital Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment for refugees in Canada.
Unconventional Paths: Examining employment strategies for South African youth deterred from completing high school.

What You Will Learn:

Key findings from student-led research into health and employment access.
Insights into the lived experiences of student researchers working on global challenges.
How to support and engage in rigorous student-led research

Guided by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, these changemakers—empowered by the Reach Alliance—are turning their academic investigations into insights that can inform meaningful action. Gain a deeper understanding of the barriers to health and employment access and learn how research can serve as a catalyst for addressing global inequities.

The Speakers

**Marin MacLeod** is the Executive Director of the Reach Alliance. Her work supports Reach’s three outcomes: equipping and empowering the next generation of leaders; convening and activating a global cross-sector network of experts on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals; and producing, amplifying and implementing actionable SDG research insights generated by the Reach community.

**Jemila Abdulai** is a Master’s student at the University of Toronto pursuing an MEng in Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on addressing barriers to digital mental health platforms for PTSD in refugee populations, enhancing access and equity in mental healthcare.

Sikelelwe Mtshizana is a Master’s student specializing in International Relations at the University of Cape Town. Her work explores innovative employment strategies for youth in South Africa who face barriers to completing high school.

**Jochebed Afua Basil** is a recent computer science graduate from Ashesi University and founder of M’ayaresa, a health-tech startup. Currently serving with UNICEF Ghana, she is researching solutions to the “No Bed Syndrome” and health system inefficiencies.

About Reach Alliance

The Reach Alliance is a network of top global universities and leading companies investing in an inclusive economy, a system intentionally designed to prioritize the flourishing of people and the planet.