Like many college campuses throughout the country, Princeton University has a growing commitment to global health. Students, several of whom earn certificates from the University’s Program in Global Health and Health Policy, are increasingly concerned with helping those in poor countries cope with problems of nutrition, maternal health, water sanitation, and communicable diseases, among other situations.

Princeton is among 55 colleges and universities that are part of GlobeMed, a national organization dedicated to empowering college students to pursue what is known as global health equity. On Monday, April 6 from 1-5 p.m., GlobeMed at Princeton will host a thrift shop at the Frist Campus Center to help support their work for the St. Jerome COVE Center hospital in Kapeeka, Uganda. Last year, the students raised $800. Their goal this year is $3,000.

But raising funds isn’t the only objective. “This is our second year, so we’re pretty young,” said Jihoon Kim, a sophomore who is a member of the Princeton chapter. “And one of our baby steps is getting to know our community a bit better. We really believe that awareness is half the battle. We want to engage the local community. So we’re partnering not only with local organizations, but with local businesses as well.”

Mr. Kim said that the Nearly New Shop in town is donating clothing to the event. There have also been donations, to be sold at marked-down prices, from undergraduate students and their families. Profits will go toward providing clean water for St. Jerome.

The Princeton chapter of GlobeMed has 50 members, many of whom have visited Kapeeka, the Uganda community with which they are partnering. As part of GlobeMed, each university-based chapter is paired with an organization that is already involved in improving the health of its community. Students receive training that helps them become advocates for global health.

The young participants learn on-site during summers, and plan projects for the following year. Princeton’s project in Uganda involves a health clinic that was established there in 2008. With the money they raise, the students plan to install sinks and water catchment systems at the clinic. This will help with hand sanitation, considered essential for the prevention of communicable diseases that affect the region.

All of the students are undergraduates. “We come from different backgrounds,” said Mr. Kim, who is majoring in molecular biology. “Some are involved in the Program in Global Health and Health Policy that we have here. In my case, I’m waiting to get in next year.”

The water sanitation project costs $10,000, $3,000 of which the Princeton chapter has pledged to contribute. “But even if we don’t raise that much money, it’s really important to get ourselves out into the community,” Mr. Kim said. “We’re hoping a lot of people will turn out for this event to learn about what we do.”

For more information, visit globemed.org/impact/princeton/