Getting Involved

Because a wide variety of factors impact global health, there are many different avenues for your involvement. Below are Rutgers student organizations, Rutgers chapters of national and international organizations, and noncredit experiential learning opportunities that offer ways to engage in global health issues.

Opportunities for Impact

Alternative Breaks (New Brunswick) – Undergraduates learn about a community issue (within the United States or abroad) and then go on a volunteer service excursion over a weekend or over a spring, winter, or summer break.

Amnesty International (New Brunswick) – Students take action on a variety of human rights issues, including equity in health and health care access.

Charity: Water Rutgers (New Brunswick) – Students raise funds to provide clean and safe drinking water in developing countries and build awareness of the importance of clean water.

Douglass Friends of UNFPA (New Brunswick) – This organization helps educate students on sexual and reproductive rights, family planning, and women’s health, and advocates for the services of UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund).

Engineers Without Borders (New Brunswick) – Engineering students work with faculty and partner with developing communities to design and implement sustainable projects that improve quality of life, both locally and around the world.

Global Health Alliance (Newark) – New Jersey Medical School students learn about global health topics through student panels, guest lecturers, and documentary discussions, and have opportunities to go abroad.

Global Surgery Student Alliance (New Brunswick) – Pre-medical students network, discuss, advocate for, and participate in research and educational opportunities in the field of global surgery.

GlobeMed (New Brunswick) – Students partner with grassroots organizations to mobilize resources for global health and achieve impact in communities around the world.

Habitat for Humanity (New Brunswick) – Rutgers students partner with Habitat for Humanity affiliates and homeowners to raise funds, educate campus and local communities about affordable housing issues, and build homes every Friday and Saturday.

Healthy Kids of New Brunswick (New Brunswick) – Students partner with the New Brunswick community to provide underserved youth a variety of free fitness workouts and nutrition presentations to the children and their families.

International Surgical Health Initiative Club (Newark) – This student chapter of the International Surgical Health Initiative (ISHI) runs a yearlong, non-credit elective, providing New Jersey Medical School students with an opportunity to learn about various aspects of international health and global surgery.

New Jersey Public Interest Research Group – (Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick) This organization’s three Rutgers chapters place students at the forefront of social change, giving them training, support, and resources to tackle environmental issues, protect public health, revitalize our democracy, feed the hungry, and more.

Oxfam Rutgers (New Brunswick) – Students advocate, fundraise, and volunteer to help create long-term solutions for global poverty and injustices related to poverty, including health, education, and crisis relief.

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (New Brunswick) – Students raise awareness of the complex problems facing children living in the Middle East and fundraise to provide humanitarian aid.

Red Cross Club (New Brunswick) – Students serve the community through youth service projects and partnering with other community groups that fall into five lines of service in the American Red Cross: Disaster Services, Preparedness and Health and Safety Services, International Services, Biomedical Services, and Service to the Armed Forces.

Red Cross Corps (Newark) – Through its affiliation with the American Red Cross of Metropolitan New Jersey Chapter, this organization upholds the mission of the American Red Cross—domestic disaster relief, community service to help the needy, support and comfort for military members, blood drives, and health and safety programs—through the meaningful engagement of student volunteers in the greater community.

Rutgers Engineers in Action (New Brunswick) – Engineering students help build sustainable bridges for isolated rural communities in developing countries by partnering with local construction managers, masons, and nongovernmental organizations.

Rutgers Sustainability Coalition (New Brunswick) – This coalition of student organizations works to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through education and promotion of a culture of sustainability at Rutgers.

Student-Organized Rutgers Against Hunger (New Brunswick) – Students address many hunger-related issues through education, outreach, and activism across the Rutgers community.

Thaakat Foundation (New Brunswick) – Students promote charitable giving and volunteerism to benefit Thaakat Foundation’s three global projects: the Dreams for Kachra Kundi school in Pakistan, the Basic Konadu School in Ghana, and the Fatmata Maternity Center in Sierra Leone.

Volunteer Opportunities in Community Engaged Services (Newark and New Brunswick) – School of Public Health students work with faculty and staff to plan and implement community service projects, locally and abroad.