Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

This research aims to explore how international education programs can promote health in ways that are ethical, equitable, and mutually beneficial. It focuses on the Antigua Champions for Health (ACH) program, which brings together Canadian student-teachers and Antiguan educators to teach physical and health education through lessons on teamwork, leadership, and well-being. While such programs aim to strengthen health and global understanding, they can also unintentionally reinforce unequal power dynamics if they prioritize the learning of visiting students over the needs of local schools. This project investigates how both Canadian and Antiguan participants experience and understand these partnerships. Through interviews and reflective journals, it examines what ethical collaboration looks like in practice and how cross-cultural exchanges can support rather than burden local educators. It also reviews existing research on how international learning programs can move beyond one-sided "helping" models to become more sustainable and community-driven. By highlighting the voices of Antiguan teachers and Canadian student-teachers alike, this study aims to reimagine how global health promotion partnerships are built and sustained. The findings will help universities, educators, and global health organizations design programs that promote shared learning, respect local expertise, and build long-term relationships rooted in equity and reciprocity.