Above all else, Braeden Cooper ’26 learned how to adapt during his three-week internship in Peru.

The rising junior with a Spanish major and chemistry minor hoped to improve his language skills and immerse himself in public health by working with the Wabash College Global Health Initiative’s (GHI) partners in Peru.

Through collaborations in university settings and local health organizations, Cooper, one of two GHI-Peru interns this summer, saw the realities of the Peruvian healthcare system and interacted with people working both on the frontlines with those in need to others in laboratories searching for cures for dengue and malaria.

As someone interested in a career in medicine, Cooper received just what he hoped for.

“I learned critical differences between the Peruvian and American health systems,” he said. “I was particularly excited to work with Creciendo Juntos because I dream of being a pediatrician. Working with kids to improve their lives and leadership skills and possibly establish future leaders in communities that need them was meaningful to me.”

GHI-Peru is a platform of educational service and intervention for Wabash students, national and foreign collaborators, and volunteers to work together with community health promotion and improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities.

These programs have flourished through the more than 13 years GHI Director Eric 皇冠足球比分_澳门皇冠体育-在线|平台@tzel has worked with Peruvian partners. Creciendo Juntos (“Growing Together”), one of three GHI-Peru offerings, focuses on improving primary health skills for children aged 6-13, like creating a healthy plate, proper waste management, and strong dental hygiene habits. Vida Sana (“Healthy Living”) provides scientific and health education to mothers in the Pamplona Alta region in Lima, while Corazones Excepcionales (“Exceptional Hearts”) works to aid individuals with Down syndrome through reading, writing, pronunciation, and more.

Cooper also worked and collaborated at three universities (Ricardo Palma University, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizan, and Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva) where he participated in cultural exchanges, received laboratory experience, and worked with a scientist attempting to create a probiotic using a waste product from the production of fermented beverages.

“The university settings allowed for more hands-on work,” he explained, “but seeing how the different health centers functioned allowed me to see the reality of the health system in Peru—everything from the lack of healthcare staff to the struggles with the national health system and insurance. I heard the concerns of people who had to deal with the struggles both as a caregiver and patient, which was really impactful.”