MAZE Peer-Powered Actions
by and for international students
Awareness & Education Peer Supporter Training Peer Support Groups Psycho-Educational Workshops |
Community Impact Student Chapters Bicultural Mental Health Professional Network |
Advocacy Campaigns for mental health awareness and culturally informed resources |
MAZE Program System
Peer Support GroupsGroups of students gather to share common concerns and experiences associated with a particular problem, condition, personal circumstance or community incident via online chatroom or distance conference tools. Learn more |
Peer Supporter TrainingStudents receive 8-week training on foundational mental health knowledge, basic support skills, issues formulation, group facilitation, and ethics to qualify for providing emotional, social, and informational assistance to their peers. Learn more |
Psychoeducational WorkshopsMental health professionals with cross-cultural background, a.k.a. near peers, facilitate workshops to impart knowledge and skills on topics pertaining to students needs such as cultural adjustment, stress management, and self-exploration. Learn more |
Peer Leadership
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Community-Based ResearchWith advice from practicing clinicians and academic scholars, students design and implement research projects for community needs assessments, program evaluation, and impact studies, leading to better serving of community needs. Learn more |
Peer EducationStudents share information and experience through e-magazine and social media. It captures the organically occurring impact of peers within their own networks to exert positive influence on students’ attitudes, knowledge, and behavior on well-being. Learn more |
Peer Support Groups
International students and alumni use their own experiences of study abroad to help each other in opportunities and challenges overseas.
Peer support groups aim to:
Peer support groups aim to:
- bring peers together with shared experiences
- provide a space where everyone feels accepted and understood
- regard everyone's experiences as being equally important
- involve both giving and receiving support
Current groups:
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First Phase
"Our concern for families and friends affected in China" starting 1/23 daily Announcement about each support group will be made in the WeChat group |
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Second Phase
"Study abroad when global pandemic is at our door" starting 3/13 weekly Announcement about each support group will be made in the WeChat group |
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Check out resources on managing emotional health during Coronavirus (Coming soon)
Peer Supporter Training
Professionalized Peer Support
IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE
Training covers grounds for basic counseling skills, ethics and boundaries, general mental health issues and concerns. Peer supporters are fully prepared |
CONSTANTLY EVOLVING
Program iterates and improves based on feedback from program designers, trainers, peer supporters in program evaluation and impact studies. |
PRACTICE BY EXPERIENCE
Peer supporters not only learn through instructions and role plays, but also master as they practice helping students on the shift. |
HIGHER STANDARDS
Peer supporters receive training, coaching, and consultation and are periodically evaluated with core competencies. |
PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS
Offered by licensed mental health professionals with cross-cultural experience and additional professional training in their area of expertise. |
CERTIFICTION
After completing the 8 modules, participants are issued a Certificate of Completion and receive the opportunity to further practice in internship. |
Psycho-Educational Workshops
Who are our psycho-educational workshops intended for?
Our psychoeducational workshops are intended for any international students and alumni interested in her/his own personal growth and development, in advancing her/his knowledge, in improving her/his skills and competencies, and generally improving her/his quality of life . If you are in cross-cultural professionals such as psychologists, therapists, teachers, social and health workers, etc., you may also find those workshops helpful. |
How are the psycho-educational workshops organized?
The basic level of psychoeducation across a wide range of topics relevant to life of college students studying abroad and traveling between cultures is offered throughout the year once a month. Each workshop could consist of 1-2 hour session for a large-size online group audience. If you are looking for more advanced psychoeducational learning opportunities, peer supporter training offer an organized and comprehensive series of topics and participation leads to certification. |
Current workshop topics:
Social Isolation |
Intimate Relationship |
Cultural Adjustment |
Stress Management |
Career Development |
Body Image |
Peer Education
MAZE X Pointer
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Safety is the most fundamental in the pyramid of living needs. MAZEPointer presents information on risk factors, how to prevent an accident, and how to face extreme situations in the US and in their local communities. Social support is the most significant predictor of optimal adjustment for those who study abroad. International students came to the US needing to establish emotional support network from scratch. MAZEPointer provides guidance through this difficult process of building meaningful bondings. International students learn from one’s own and others’ experience. Through MAZEPointer articles, we share insights and experience international students have and create a space for mutual support and a sense of community. Career is one of the top concerns among international students. MAZEPointer interviews international students who are successful in a wide array of professions and share their experience through articles. MAZEPointer collect information and perspectives about different cultures in the hope that international students gain in-depth understanding of their own guiding values and develop life paths that best realize their strengths and potential. The integration of mind, brain and body set the the foundation for a highly functional individual. MAZEPointer articles about nutrition, exercise, self-care are published as students’ information resource to help students adopt holistic wellbeing practices. The international student community is diverse and dynamic. Through sharing different voices from every sector of the community, MAZEPointer provides students with the broad perspectives to explore, analyze, and develop their views and understanding of self, others, and the world. |
Click the link below to download an introduction for MAZE Pointer E-Magazine
| maze_pointer_slides.pdf |
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