Abstract for:Improving AYUDA’s Efforts and Knowledge of Type 1 Diabetes in the Dominican Republic

AYUDA (American Understanding Diabetes Abroad) is a non-profit diabetes organization which sets up diabetes camps and outreach programs in resource poor countries and empowers youth to become leaders of social change in diabetes communities internationally. Additionally, AYUDA strives towards sustainable and self-sufficient diabetes communities. However, AYUDA is only in country for one month out of the year, currently in the Dominican Republic. As a result, learning and retention of key aspects of diabetes management are lower than desired. A systems dynamic approach is used to model AYUDA’s summer camp programs, Campo Amigo and Día de la Familia (Family Day – For New Campers), in the Dominican Republic to identify leverage points of intervention where change can be implemented throughout a six-year period.