Health Promotion and Voluntourism from Taiwan to Africa: A Reflexive Case Study of Love Binti

• Main Authors: Isabel Wang, 王品軒
• Other Authors: Lin, Yi Chieh
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/kqc2ms

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 國際傳播英語碩士學位學程(IMICS) === 104 === This study delves into a gender-specific health campaign in Kenya by Love Binti, a self-identified Taiwanese organized voluntary group. The campaign targets at transferring techniques of reusable sanitary pad making and teaching African women the correct knowledge about menstruation. Menstruation is a landmark event signifying the transition of young girls into womanhood; yet, the added complexity of the event occurring in a developing area remains understudied. Based on participant observation, this study is a qualitative analysis exploring the utilization of health promotion strategies and analyzes the role of volunteer tourism via Love Binti’s itineraries to its target audiences in the Kitale Province of Western Kenya. Besides participant observation, the researcher also utilizes field notes, and in-depth interviews with Love Binti’s stakeholders (e.g. volunteers, organizers, funders) performing humanitarian aids in Kenya. Three probed levels include different factors that affect health communication: personal level (e.g. values, attitudes), social structural (community, government), and cross-cultural levels. This study casts light on the process of empowering the underprivileged African population in community-based projects. While incorporating theories from volunteer tourism, the projects are established for the at-risk population of improving health, increasing life opportunities, and participating in the decision-making process.