Salud, esperanza y movilidad humana: aprendizajes comunitarios desde la universidad jesuita de frontera

Abstract

Abstract

Tijuana, Baja California, is one of the main points of transit, destination, and return for migration in Mexico, concentrating a high proportion of people in irregular situations. In this context, migrants face critical physical, nutritional, and psychosocial health needs, driven by food insecurity, overcrowding, and limited institutional coverage. In response to these challenges, the Department of Health and Wellness at Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, in coordination with shelters and local organizations, has developed a community-based and educational intervention program grounded in a service-learning approach. Through this strategy, students from Nursing, Medicine, Nutrition, and Psychology apply their knowledge in real-world settings, strengthening their ethical awareness, social commitment, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills. Implemented activities include participatory assessments, health fairs, immersion practices, and community health promotion initiatives. The program also incorporates “Circles of Hope,” reflective spaces where students critically analyze migration realities and the meaning of their engagement. This experience demonstrates that comprehensive health, university training, and shared solidarity can be integrated as key pillars to build transformative responses to the challenges of human mobility.