Elif Ozturk's GSIF Blog

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rFifxWK9c8qSGrIkyUMc_qH_Qh1uZCACqCSbflIcAjM/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Bl3Y0eQv_slgq10SettN5D4JWBmxE3U3jwO91vaewMA/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qISU1qbNt_WKNBIZg2ZyobBgf9r7PQG8Ql_fET1N-Nc/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bfaDq7zqY4DfXMEQ6TyTqGn9idRuhzvuJ84imoDrQtI/edit?usp=sharin

1. Need to include more business aspect of the venture. 

2. Explain the use cases better, maybe with how we showed it in fieldwork.

3. More visuals.

4. Delegate questions better.

5. Discuss privacy briefly during the presentation so questions about it will not arise.

6. State and emphasize that we are not a diagnostic tool, but an educational one.

7. Prepare and practice more before the presentation and allocate/dedicate more time to it.

8. Include the timeline of the venture and future possibilities that we would like to explore.

9. Show an actual demonstration.

10. Include more metrics of success.

Part 1: Ethical Decision-Making

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation and clearly state the ethical issue.

The situation in East Africa involves the nutritional status of children, traditional feeding practices, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and the introduction of a new nutritious porridge. The ethical issue is how to address the ethical health concerns associated with prolonged breastfeeding in an area with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, early introduction of supplemental foods to infants, and the possibility of pesticide residues in infant foods.

Step 2: Define the Stakeholders.

Stakeholders include:

1. The children affected by poor nutrition.
2. Mothers who are the primary caregivers and have a vested interest in their children’s well-being.
3. The women from three contiguous sub-locations who are part of the cooperative.
4. Donors who have provided funds for the women’s cooperative.
5. The community members, including men and elders.
6. Health organizations and researchers.
7. Local farmers who grow crops, some of which may contain pesticides.
8. The cooperative’s leadership committee.

Step 3: Assess the motivations of the Stakeholders.

Each stakeholder group has its motivations and concerns. For example, mothers want their children to be healthy, while donors want to see both improved child nutrition and livelihoods. The women in the cooperative want to earn a living and improve their financial situation. The community may be concerned about cultural practices and traditions.

Step 4: Formulate alternative solutions based on ethical core values.

Approach 1: Promote the Nutritious Porridge

• Potential solution: Educate mothers and the community about the benefits of the nutritious porridge, including its nutritional value and safety.
• Ethical Principle or code: Promote child well-being and informed choice.
• Pros: Improves child nutrition, aligns with WHO recommendations, empowers mothers with information.
• Cons: May face resistance due to cultural beliefs, may require significant education efforts.

Approach 2: HIV/AIDS Awareness and Testing

• Potential solution: Raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and encourage HIV testing among pregnant women and their partners.
• Ethical Principle or code: Promote health and safety, informed decision-making.
• Pros: Reduces transmission risk, supports maternal and child health.
• Cons: May face stigma, require community buy-in.

Approach 3: Promote Organic Farming Practices

• Potential solution: Encourage farmers to adopt organic farming practices to minimize pesticide use in crops.
• Ethical Principle or code: Promote environmental sustainability and child health.
• Pros: Reduces pesticide exposure for infants, aligns with health and sustainability goals.
• Cons: May require education and resources for farmers, could impact crop yields.

Step 5: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate.

Engage with local health organizations, experts in child nutrition, and community leaders to gather more information and support for the chosen approach.

Step 6: Select the best course of action.

The best course of action is likely a combination of Approach 1, 2, and 3. This would involve education and awareness campaigns about the nutritious porridge, encouraging HIV/AIDS testing, and promoting organic farming practices. This approach would address the ethical health issues comprehensively.

Step 7: Implications of the solution on the venture.

Implementing these solutions may lead to improved child nutrition, reduced HIV transmission risk, and safer food for infants. However, it may also require significant community engagement and education efforts to change cultural practices and farming methods.

Part 2: Grassroots Diplomacy

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation – obtain all of the unbiased facts possible. Clearly state the ethical issue.

Fact: Women working in the cooperative are not able to control their earnings, which are being taken by their husbands or male family members for non-essential expenses, leading to a failure to meet the twin social outcomes. Ethical Issue: Lack of women’s financial autonomy and the misuse of their earnings.

Step 2: Define the Stakeholders – those with a vested interest in the outcome.

Stakeholders:

1. Women working in the cooperative.
2. Husbands and male family members of the women.
3. Children in the community.
4. The community as a whole.
5. The cooperative’s leadership committee.
6. Local authorities.
7. The entrepreneur who initiated the cooperative.

Step 3: Assess the motivations of the Stakeholders.

• Women: Motivated to improve their families’ well-being and ensure their children are well-nourished.
• Husbands and male family members: May prioritize immediate consumption over savings or investments.
• Children: Beneficiaries of improved nutrition.
• Community: Interested in the overall well-being of its members.
• Leadership committee: Committed to the cooperative’s success.
• Local authorities: Interested in community development.
• Entrepreneur: Concerned about the cooperative’s social outcomes.

Step 4: Formulate (at least three) alternative solutions.

Approach 1: Financial Empowerment

• Potential solution: Implement a system where women have control over a portion of their earnings, and the rest is contributed to household expenses.
• Ethical Principle or code: Promote women’s financial autonomy.
• Pros: Women have more agency over their finances, improving child nutrition and livelihoods.
• Cons: May face resistance from husbands, require community acceptance.

Approach 2: Community Education

• Potential solution: Conduct community-wide workshops and awareness campaigns on the benefits of women’s financial empowerment and the positive impact on children’s nutrition.
• Ethical Principle or code: Promote education and gender equality.
• Pros: Encourages community understanding and support, reduces resistance.
• Cons: May take time to change entrenched beliefs.

Approach 3: Cooperative Initiatives

• Potential solution: Develop income-generating projects within the cooperative, ensuring that a portion of earnings is allocated directly to children’s nutrition.
• Ethical Principle or code: Promote child well-being and financial fairness.
• Pros: Directly addresses child nutrition, aligns with cooperative’s objectives.
• Cons: Requires additional efforts to develop and manage new projects.

Step 5: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate.

Consult with gender equality organizations, local community leaders, and experts in cooperative management to gather insights and best practices.

Step 6: Select the best course of action.

The best course of action is Approach 1 (Financial Empowerment) as it directly addresses the ethical issue of women’s financial autonomy. It aligns with the core ethical value of promoting gender equality and respects the agency of women. By allowing women to control a portion of their earnings, it can improve child nutrition and livelihoods.

Step 7: Implications of your solution on the venture.

• Technology: The cooperative’s operations may remain largely unchanged, but it may need a system for women to manage their earnings.
• Economic: The impact could be positive, as women’s financial empowerment may lead to increased investments in children’s nutrition and overall family well-being.
• Social: Improved financial autonomy for women may lead to greater gender equality within the community and strengthen the cooperative’s social impact.
• Environmental: The solution’s environmental impact is likely minimal but could indirectly improve as women have more control over resources for sustainable practices.

**chat GPT helped with this blog post.

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation – obtain all of the unbiased facts possible

• Jack is an American student living at a youth center in Kenya.
• The youth center received gifts from an international donor organization for children under 14 years old.
• Jack was asked to assist in handing out these gifts.
• Four children did not receive gifts.
• These four children were given black hats, but not ceremoniously like the others.
• The children who did not receive gifts seemed upset and blamed Jack.
• Jack discussed the issue with the staff, who did not acknowledge the problem and seemed concerned that Jack might become a “children’s rights activist.”

Step 2: Define the problem and the stakeholders – those with a vested interest in the outcome

Problem: Four children at the youth center did not receive gifts and were given hats in a less ceremonious manner, causing them to feel left out and upset. Jack’s involvement in this situation could potentially impact his relationship with the children and the staff, as well as the success of his social venture at the center.

Stakeholders:

1. Jack – The American student working on a social venture.
2. Children at the youth center – Specifically, the four children who did not receive gifts and may feel resentful.
3. Youth center staff – They are responsible for managing the center and may have concerns about Jack’s actions affecting their work.
4. International donor organization – The organization that sent the gifts may be interested in ensuring they are distributed fairly and effectively.

Step 3: Determine and distinguish between the personal and professional motivations of the stakeholders.

• Jack’s personal motivation is to maintain a positive relationship with the children and the staff while ensuring the well-being of the children he is working with. Professionally, he wants his social venture to succeed and make a positive impact.
• The children’s motivation is to be treated fairly and not feel left out or blamed for something beyond their control.
• The staff’s motivation may be to avoid unnecessary disruptions and maintain control over the center.
• The international donor organization’s motivation is likely to see their donations used effectively and positively impact the children.

Step 4: Formulate (at least three) alternative solutions – based on information available, to have a win-win situation for your relationship and your venture.

Approach 1: Mediation and Involvement of All Parties

• Potential Solution: Organize a meeting involving Jack, the upset children, and the staff to openly discuss the situation.
• How does it solve the problem?
  • Provides a platform for communication and understanding.
  • Allows the children to express their feelings and concerns.
  • Enables the staff to explain their perspective.
• Pros:
  • Promotes open dialogue and empathy.
  • Facilitates resolution and potentially mending relationships.
• Cons:
  • May require time and effort to organize and conduct the meeting.
  • Outcomes are not guaranteed, and some parties may remain dissatisfied.

Approach 2: Gift Redistribution and Ceremonial Hat Presentation

• Potential Solution: Redistribute the gifts to the four children who initially did not receive any in a special ceremony, ensuring they receive equal attention.
• How does it solve the problem?
  • Addresses the immediate issue of the four children feeling left out.
  • Restores a sense of fairness.
• Pros:
  • Immediate resolution of the problem.
  • Demonstrates fairness and inclusivity.
• Cons:
  • May be seen as favoritism towards the four children.
  • Could potentially create resentment among other children who received gifts initially.

Approach 3: Address the Issue Privately and Improve Future Procedures

• Potential Solution: Speak privately with the staff, expressing concerns about the incident and suggesting improvements in gift distribution procedures.
• How does it solve the problem?
  • Avoids potential public embarrassment for the children.
  • Focuses on preventing similar issues in the future.
• Pros:
  • Maintains a more positive public image.
  • Encourages the staff to consider improvements.
• Cons:
  • Does not directly address the current upset of the children.
  • May not immediately mend relationships.

Step 5: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate

Jack can seek advice from other experienced volunteers or mentors who have worked in similar environments or with youth centers to gain insights into how to handle such situations effectively.

Step 6: Select the best course of action

In this case, Approach 1 seems to be the most comprehensive and sensitive approach to address the issue. It allows for open communication and understanding among all parties involved. This approach aligns with Jack’s personal and professional motivations to maintain positive relationships with both the children and the staff while ensuring the well-being of the children. It also demonstrates his commitment to the children’s emotional well-being, which could positively impact his social venture in the long term.

Step 7: List the sequence of actions you will take to implement your solution.

1. Schedule a meeting with the upset children and the staff to discuss the incident.
2. During the meeting, encourage the children to express their feelings and concerns.
3. Allow the staff to explain their perspective and any challenges they faced during the gift distribution.
4. Facilitate open dialogue and empathy among all parties.
5. Seek common ground and identify possible solutions, such as a special ceremony for the four children or procedural improvements.
6. Work collaboratively to implement the agreed-upon solutions.
7. Monitor the situation and ensure that the children’s emotional well-being is supported.
8. Continuously communicate with the staff to maintain a positive working relationship and discuss improvements for future events.

**Chat GPT helped with this blog**

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation – obtain all of the unbiased facts possible. Clearly state the ethical issue.

• Research group doesn’t believe they should pay the community members for their efforts. 
  • Justification: They would show someone the location(s) of their water source(s) if asked. 
• Results of this study could lead to development of a life-saving water additive.
• Task requires commitment and significant assistance from the community members. 
• Lesotho is a small developing country contained within South Africa. 
• Spending 2 weeks total conducting research 
• Development of chemical additives to make the water safe to drink. – this is an assumption NOT a fact 
• At least one publication 

Step 2: Define the Stakeholders – those with a vested interest in the outcome

• Research team
• Lesotho communities
• Companies and other research teams looking to acquire the research to improve the water quality/develop chemical additives for the water
• Scientific community

Step 3: Assess the motivations of the Stakeholders

• Research team: 
  • WIll have publications based off of their research study and time spent in Lesotho
  • Have a vested interest in their results 
• Lesotho communities: 
  • Will have a water source without the disease-causing pathogens so it will be safe to drink 
• Companies & Other research teams: 
  • The ability to develop chemical additives to create safe drinking water that may be able to lead to other publications and other areas to implement the chemical additives
• Scientific community
  • Greater academic knowledge on a pathogen that is exclusive to a developing region and therefore may not be researched extensively

Step 4: Formulate (at least three) alternative solutions – based on information available, using basic ethical core values as guide

• Solution 1: Compensating community help 

• • Pay the members of the community for the work they will be adding to the team.
• Ethical Principle or code
  • It is ethical to compensate people for their work
  • Beneficence and justice 
• Pros
  • Community members will be more incentivized to help researchers
  • Community members have more information on the water source and any events that impacted quality in the past
• Cons
  • Fewer project funds

• Solution 2: Partner with Local Govt for approval for the research and discuss community benefits

• • Work in partnership with the local government entity to get approval for the research and discuss mutual benefits/support from community
• Ethical Principle or code
  • Beneficence and transparency 
• Pros
  • More people are on board with the research taking place 
  • Discussions can be had on how the community will also benefit from the research
• Cons
  • Going through a government entity may slow the progression of the project
  • The local government may ask for funds or other benefits that the research team is not able to give

• Solution 3: Work with students who will benefit from academic acknowledgement 

• Ethical Principle or code
  • Beneficence 
• Pros
  • More people are on board with the research taking place 
  • Students become more credible in the academic community which is beneficial in both their academic and professional careers
  • Would help locals address their questions about the researchers 
• Cons
  • May not be from around the water source 
  • Do they care to alleviate poverty in their own community/country?

Step 5: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate – engineering codes of ethics, previous cases, peers, reliance on personal experience, inner reflection

• Speak to the universities in Lesotho
• Reach out to people linked to the institution who have had previous experiences in the area or on similar research projects
• Make judgements using your personal past research experiences whether they are local or abroad
• Speak to the locals about what they want from their water sources
• Research into the government that has something to do with the water resource and if they have any initiatives currently for the water crisis 
• Research other groups and institutions that currently are or have been in the same space and their experiences/findings 
• Research into the negative aspects of the water crisis and the disease people get from drinking the water to understand the severity of the problem
• Climate and land research to identify where certain water bodies are located and if climatic conditions exacerbate poor water
• Research cultural characteristics of the group to understand who’s opinion has weight in the community and how to approach the community without seeming suspicious

Step 6: Select the best course of action – that which satisfies the highest core ethical values. Explain reasoning and justify. Discuss your stance vis-a-vis other approaches discussed in the class. **chat gpt helped with the answer below** 

After considering the facts and motivations of the stakeholders and evaluating alternative solutions based on ethical principles and values, I would recommend the following course of action:

Solution: Work with Students Who Will Benefit from Academic Acknowledgement

In this context, I recommend working with students from Lesotho who can benefit from academic acknowledgement. Engaging students from Lesotho in the research project offers them valuable academic opportunities. They can gain experience, knowledge, and potentially receive academic recognition, which can be beneficial for their academic and professional careers. Involving local students empowers the community by providing them with a stake in the research project. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration within the community. While not providing direct monetary compensation, this approach acknowledges and respects the value of local knowledge and contributions to the research. It aligns with the ethical principle of recognizing the efforts of those involved.

Step 7: (If applicable) What are the implications of your solution on the venture. Explain the impact of your proposed solution on the venture’s technology, economic, social and environmental aspects. **chat gpt helped with the answer below** 

Implementing the chosen solution, which involves working with students who will benefit from academic acknowledgement, will have several implications on the venture’s technology, economic, social, and environmental aspects:

Technology: The venture’s technology-focused goals remain intact. Researchers will continue to gather valuable data on disease-causing pathogens in Lesotho’s water sources, contributing to the development of chemical additives for safe drinking water.

Social: This approach has positive social implications. It empowers local students, fosters collaboration between the research team and the community, and promotes the development of local expertise in the field.

Environmental: The environmental impact remains consistent with the original research goals, as the project aims to improve water quality in Lesotho, reducing the spread of waterborne diseases.

Story 1: “AISHA: Illuminating Healthcare Education in Sierra Leone”

In the heart of Sierra Leone, where healthcare resources were scarce, a quiet revolution was underway. Meet Isatu, a dedicated nurse working tirelessly at a rural health clinic. She had always aspired to provide better care for her community but lacked access to advanced medical education.

Then, AISHA arrived – the AI Strengthening Healthcare Access system. Isatu began using Amazon Alexa as her dedicated learning partner. With AISHA’s help, she accessed vital medical knowledge, from understanding disease prevention to mastering best practices in patient care. The simple voice commands made learning convenient even in her hectic schedule.

As Isatu’s knowledge grew, so did her confidence. She became a beacon of hope for her community, delivering more informed and effective care. AISHA was transforming Isatu from a minimally trained healthcare worker into a healthcare hero, all while bridging the education gap for healthcare workers across Sierra Leone. With each patient she treated, Isatu’s smile reflected the impact AISHA was having on her life and those she served.

Story 2: “AISHA: Transforming Healthcare Education, One Voice at a Time”

In the picturesque countryside of Sierra Leone, where healthcare was a lifeline for the community, Mary, a dedicated nurse, faced the challenge of keeping up with the rapidly evolving medical field. The lack of educational resources made her job even more daunting, but her determination to provide quality care remained unwavering.

Then, AISHA, the AI Strengthening Healthcare Access system, made its way to Mary’s clinic. With Amazon Alexa as her companion, Mary gained access to a treasure trove of healthcare knowledge and educational content. 

Mary’s newfound knowledge transformed her practice. Patients noticed the difference in her confidence and competence, and her clinic’s reputation grew. As Mary’s capabilities expanded, she became a source of inspiration for her fellow healthcare workers, igniting a passion for learning and improvement among her peers.

AISHA was quietly revolutionizing healthcare education, one voice command at a time. Mary’s story was a testament to the power of accessible education in strengthening healthcare in Sierra Leone. With AISHA’s support, healthcare workers across the region were gaining the skills and knowledge needed to provide better care, ultimately improving the health and well-being of their communities.

Story 3: “AISHA: Bridging the Healthcare Knowledge Gap”

In a remote village nestled in the lush landscapes of Sierra Leone, Fatmata, a community healthcare worker, was the lifeline for her people. She was dedicated but often felt overwhelmed by the challenges of her role. Medical knowledge was a precious commodity, and access to it was limited.

Then, AISHA entered Fatmata’s life, bringing with it a ray of hope. With her Amazon Alexa device, she could now access educational resources at any time. It wasn’t just about learning; it was about empowerment. Fatmata grew from strength to strength, confidently sharing health tips and knowledge with her community.

AISHA was bridging the healthcare knowledge gap, turning Fatmata into a beacon of healthcare education in her village. The once-isolated community now had access to quality health information, thanks to AISHA’s transformative power. The health and well-being of Sierra Leoneans were on the rise, and it was all thanks to the innovative system that was revolutionizing healthcare education – AISHA.

 

**This blog was made with the help of ChatGPT**