Project by: Olivia DeTraglia (10th Grade), Ely Silverman (10th Grade)
Project Advisor: Charlene Cruz-Cerdas
Student(s)’s Advisor(s): Kelly O’Shea and Shauna Finn

Description of Project:

Our project focuses on coronavirus (COVID-19), the xenophobia that has arisen from this outbreak, and the historical origins of xenophobia in other epidemics. We investigated this topic because of the many reports of xenophobia and racism that have occurred since this Coronavirus outbreak began. We learned more about the history of xenophobia surrounding other public health epidemics and its impact on specific communities.

Final Product (e.g., documents, images, video, audio, poster, display, etc.):

Final Reflection on Learning:

We have learned several things over the course of this honors project, including information from someone in Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health in the Office of Diversity, Culture, and Inclusion. One thing we learned that played an important role in our Honors Project was that Xenophobia is something that has been present in many other pandemics and is not new.

Update on Progress from Weeks 1-3 (include any photos or video if relevant):

We did more research surrounding different pandemics/epidemics that have brought xenophobia to different communities.

Update on Progress from Weeks 4-6 (include any photos or video if relevant):

We interviewed Raygine DiAquoi from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health’s Office of Diversity, Culture, and Inclusion. She helped us to understand why people find it so easy to blame something like this, COVID-19, on a group of people seen as different. She gave us examples of how this has happened with other epidemics and pandemics including the Spanish Flu and AIDS.

Update on Progress from Weeks 7-9 (include any photos or video if relevant):

We have made the posters that we want to hang up once we are allowed back in the building. They include valuable information about how to talk with someone being xenophobic and how to educate them.