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Norma Sarkar has been traveling to India for many years. During her visits, she noticed strong community health programs that involve health workers in rural areas, home visits and elderly care.

"I always thought our students can learn a lot by interacting with these health workers," said Sarkar, a clinical instructor who has taught community health for a decade at the University of Michigan School of Nursing.

Now the students will, thanks to an India Initiative award from the U-M Office of the President. The School of Nursing will take 12-15 students to India for three weeks in 2015 and 2016.

"(The) world is getting smaller and smaller," Sarkar said. "It's good to learn more about each other."

"I am excited to see the student learning opportunities that will come out of these initiatives," said President Mary Sue Coleman.

Graduate and undergraduate students are welcome. Applicants must be able to serve for three semesters. To apply, send a resume and letter of interest to [email protected] by Friday, March 21, 2014.

Using dance to make a big impact

Two years ago Joshua George, a University of Michigan student visited the red light area in Mumbai and worked with a non-profit that rescued and cared for women and children. Inspired, he came back and wanted to find a way to help them. After bouncing around ideas with his friends Guneet Ahluwalia and Surya Iyer, he decided to use his other passion - Bollywood dance – to make an impact.

His friends became co-founders and they launched Michigan Mazaa (mazaa means fun), a student organization that hosts an annual Bollywood dance competition in ann arbor where bollywood dance teams from universities in the US compete. The winning team gets an entry for Bollywood America national dance competition.  

The money raised through the ticket sales is donated to a non-profit. This year it is Love 146 that works to combat human trafficking.