Scholar: Sayuri Fujita
Project: Promoting healthy habits and hand-washing in the pediatric population
Funding: JMSA-Shimomura Scholarship

October 27, 2009
I am writing to inform you about my progress on health promotion of healthy habits and teaching proper hand-washing techniques to children.  Over the summer, I conducted two lectures targeting children under the age of 12.  My approach included visual aids for the younger age groups, and more technical teachings for the older age groups.

The following report includes: a brief project description, the work that has been completed, my current work, and the work that I plan to do.  In the end, I will also give an overall assessment of how the project is going.

Project Description

Promoting healthy habits in children. The focus group includes children under the age of 12 who is Japanese or Japanese-American from the tri-state area.

Purpose

Many children are unaware of the benefits of hand-washing and practicing healthy habits on their own.  Children from different backgrounds may have different ideas and skills of health promotion taught by their parents.  The purpose of this project is to educate children about basic skills to uphold their health, especially hand-washing, and to develop healthy habits while they are young, so they will continue to have them as they grow up.

Work completed

As of now, I have conducted two sessions of lecture-style talks that were appropriate for the age groups.  At Greenwich Kokusai-Gakuen, which included age groups of 2-6 year-olds, I spoke to a group of about 40 children about the mechanics of catching a cold, what preventative measures can be taken, such as getting enough sleep, eating a balanced meal, and wearing weather appropriate clothes.  I instructed a proper hand-washing technique, in which everyone participated actively.  At Frost Valley summer camp, I spoke to a group of about 60 children, ages varying from 7 to 14 years.  I spoke about the importance of being a self-advocate in terms of health.  Again, I instructed a proper hand-washing technique, in which everyone participated.

Current work

I have no current work or planned lecture at this point.  I am looking for opportunities for health promotion in the Boston area.

Future work

I plan to work with my community and conduct teachings whenever possible.

Overall Assessment of the Report

The project on promoting healthy habits in children is going well.  I have received positive feedback from both participants and the organization, which included, “Now I know how to wash my hands properly,” and “The way you spoke was very easy for the kids to understand.”  I had no major obstacles during this project so far, and would be glad to continue my teachings to the community.

Sincerely,

Sayuri Fujita
Boston College '10