The final principle of Project HEALTH is reflection, as each week the volunteers on the different projects get together as a group to discuss their experiences.

According to Vogt, this is also an opportunity to "take on problems not only on a personal level, but also on a systemic level, making plans to change the forces underlying the causes of the problems."

This blend of direct community action and broader social consciousness has had broad appeal to the Harvard community.

Growing from that original group of 11 students, the group has roughly doubled each semester since its inception. This year, the program also includes 10 students at MIT and is looking to expand into other schools in the Boston area.

Eighty students applied for membership this fall, but only 40 were chosen, largely from the sophomore and junior classes. Spots were limited by numbers of mentors and the need to keep the group small enough for effective reflection groups.

Selection criteria is based on level of commitment, as the program demands a high level of enthusiasm and responsibility. Last summer 35 students stayed to work on their projects.

"All of these programs are projects that wouldn't otherwise be going on if it wasn't for the students's initiative and creativity," Vogt said. "This isn't the kind of service that we can just walk away from, because otherwise it wouldn't happen."

Still, for those students who do invest the time in the program, many say it is a good one.

Mike C.K. Maii '98, a program coordinator, calls the experience "really rewarding, the best thing I've done at Harvard."