Volunteer Tanzania

1- How were the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country? *

Volunteer Tanzania, The local ABV Coordinator was very helpful in assisting us to adjust to life in Tanzania. He was able to answer any questions that we had and provided us with directions and support when requested. We were given a tour of Arusha on the first day for us to get familiar with the city and to purchase anything we needed. We were also shown how to get to the hospital using the local public transport. We felt that we were well supported throughout the trip and that our ABV coordinator was reachable if we had any issues.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced? *

What I found most surprising was the resilience of the local people, especially patients and staff at the hospital. Everyone had a can-do attitude despite having very limited resources and facilities. Nobody was willing to give up on patients easily and they worked really hard to achieve what is best for the patients under the circumstances. I was also surprised by the sense of community among the people even in a town such as Arusha. I felt that people had a common bond and was supporting each other the best they could with what they had. Their attitude towards life and how they were content with what they had was truly inspirational.

3- What was most difficult to experience? *

What we found most difficult to deal with was the lack of resources and facilities in the hospital and some aspects of the workplace culture. Seeing patients becoming sick from easily preventable conditions and patients not being able to afford medications or get access to certain facilities was very difficult to experience. I also found that some aspects of workplace culture such as mistreatment of vulnerable patients in certain situations and the lack of informed consent from patients for medical procedures and treatments sometimes distressing. It was also difficult seeing certain procedures leading to poor outcomes for the patients due to the lack of resources and facilities compared with how they would be dealt with in my own country.

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (Clothing, travel, personal items, donations)  *

In terms of tips for future volunteers, I would recommend taking a lot of medical equipment for your own use if you are working at a hospital. It depends on your experience level and what you are wanting to get out of the experience. For us, because we took a lot of sterile gloves, non-sterile gloves, sterile gowns, masks, etc we were able to assist in a lot of procedures including delivering babies, inserting cannulas, drawing blood, inserting urinary catheters and even assisting in Caesarean sections. If we didn’t bring this equipment with us, we would not have been able to gain as much hands-on experience as we did. I would also recommend taking a lot of hand sanitizer with you as the hospital generally do not have hand sanitizer for us to use. Be sure to take some form of malaria prophylaxis and insect repellent. In terms of clothing, I would recommend taking scrubs to wear to the hospital and a lab coat to wear on top. Also, make sure to take your CV and some documentation to indicate that you are a student at a particular university/college. We did not take this with us and we had to go into a lot of trouble to get this documentation from home while we were there.

Volunteering Tanzania

5- Other things volunteers should know: *

Be prepared to experience the unexpected. Don’t expect for staff at the hospital to include you in anything or offer you to join in on anything. You have to take the initiative and ask if you want to do a certain thing. Generally, all staff are very friendly and will let you do anything if you ask them first. I always found it best to ask them to show you first how to do a certain thing, especially if it is something that you have not done before. Be careful with needles and sharp objects, a lot of the hospital staff are very casual about the use of sharps and make sure you dispose of them properly. Always make sure you have personal protective equipment when handling bodily fluids, even if other staff doesn’t seem to use them. Use hand sanitizer as much as possible. Don’t attempt anything that you feel is unsafe or seem very risky.

6- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial): *

Personally, I found this program to be very worthwhile as this trip turned out to be one the best experiences of my life. It was very eye-opening and gave me a boost of motivation to continue my studies and inspiration for my future career. As a fourth-year medical student, I was able to gain a lot of hands-on experience from this program and put a lot of things I had learned in my medical studies into practice. On a personal level, this trip made me re-evaluate my values and goals in life and I feel that I now have a much better understanding of who I am as a person and my role in society. This trip inspired me to continue to volunteer in the future and to understand to provide assistance in a way that is of most benefit to the people on the ground. I would certainly recommend ABV to anyone who is planning on volunteering as I believe that they provided me with the best support to get the most out of this experience.

7- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security (e: host family, on-site, shared) *

The accommodation at the Hostel was better than I expected. We were provided with a bedroom with a bunk bed and attached bathroom with a flushable toilet. The beds were comfortable and there were mosquito nets for us to use. There were a shared living space and an outdoor seating space including a pool. Apart from a few bugs in our room (don’t leave trash or food in the room), the whole house was clean and inviting. The hostel had high walls and two locked gates, to which we were given a key. We felt very secure inside and had no issues leaving our belonging in the hostel throughout the day when we were at the hospital. The food was also much better than expected. We had a lovely lady who came and cooked our meals. For breakfast, we usually had boiled eggs or an omelet with toast most days. For dinner, we had some form of casserole with meat and vegetable or beans with either rice or chapati. The food was tasty and clean and we had no problems with it.

8- What was your favorite memory of this trip? *

I have many fond memories of this trip. One of the highlights would be when I assisted deliver my first baby. I was quite stressful at the time but reflecting back it was one of the most treasured memories that I have from the trip. I still remember the smile and the sign of relief on the mother’s face when she saw her child for the first time. Both the baby and the mother had no complications from the delivery and was able to go home the next day. This was such a pleasant experience and I will never forget it. Other fond memories including going on safari and seeing lions, cheetahs, and giraffes in wild for the first time and seeing mount Kilimanjaro up close.

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling? *

ABV USA support was very good prior to travel. They provided us with adequate information on what to take and what we should be prepared for. They provided specific information regarding what to do in the event of an emergency and who we should contact. They were easily contactable through email and quickly responded to any questions we had throughout the planning stage.

10– Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers? *

Yes, I am happy to speak with other potential ABV that want to volunteer Tanzania and answer any questions they might have regarding the program.

Volunteer Honduras

1.-How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

He was fantastic. He provided us with everything we could have needed and more, and supported us through the entire month long process.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

At the program:

The difference in medical care practices i.e. Less of a focus on sterility for patients and providers, and less ‘PFA’ or compassionate communication with the patients from the healthcare providers. Both are things that are heavily stressed in the US health care system, and we have developed habits in our work at home that were harder to achieve while here (such as wearing gloves and using sterile techniques). Honestly, I was expecting somewhat of a systemless form of healthcare, but La Ceiba does have a system, it is just very different from what we are used to in the United States.

At the accommodation:

The most surprising thing about the accommodations was that they were much complete than had been expected. We set our expectations to be packed into a bedroom with maybe a shared bathroom, but the house we stayed at (Rafael’s home) was more than enough for us during the four week stay. Rafael has a very large extended family that was very good to us and helped us with everything from cooking to getting to know the city.

About the country:

We traveled from the U.S., and the expectations we had about Honduras were from our “state department sites” and word of mouth from other friends and family. When we arrived and got to know the country, or at least the city of La Ceiba, we realized how different the country and the people here are from the way they are depicted by our country. I was most surprised, very happily, by the welcoming nature and generosity that was displayed by the citizens of La Ceiba. Our first week here we helped the Secretary of Health with a vaccination campaign that required us to go door to door in the outlying neighborhoods of the city to ensure that all at risk populations were vaccinated. During this process we truly saw the incredibly kind and genuinely thankful aspect of the Honduran people. While some people have a somewhat negative perception of western, specifically U.S. culture, the majority of people just want to offer you a bottle of soda.

3- What was most difficult to experience?

At the program:

From a medical standpoint, there is obviously a huge lack of funding, supplies, training, and manpower that inhibits the ability for the medical system in place here to function at an adequate capacity. Witnessing the unavoidable decrease in the quality of care due to these things was very difficult. For just one example, the ‘Hospital Viejo’ – the public hospital in the center of La Ceiba – truly has no money or supplies. Because of this, patients who come to the hospital for treatments of their infections or removal of their stitches are often required to bring their own medical supplies for the doctors and nurses to provide care. Antibiotic cream as well is only available if the patient can afford it and bring it with them for application by medical professionals. It was definitely hard to be unable to provide the care that we are accustomed to, but the knowledge that our being there could improve the quality of care, both by bringing donations and fresh hands, was enough to balance the difficulty.

At the accommodation:

The accommodations were truly very comfortable and enjoyable. The most difficult thing, which is consistent with everywhere in Honduras and not only the homestay, was the heat. Our trip was four weeks in length, and by the end of the second week we felt as though we had acclimated and found ways to avoid being overcome by the heat, but anyone planning a trip should prepare to be very hot when in the home. Luckily, there are many fans and a gentle breeze goes a very long way to cool down the body.

The country:

La Ceiba is absolutely beautiful, but the standards of cleanliness in terms of water quality and food sources (out of our host family)  are not the same as in many other more developed countries. All five of us were the patients at one point or another during the trip when a quick bug crippled our ranks temporarily (after doing a tour on a weekend). The officials in the city have, in the time that we’ve been here, determined that there was some kind of big – a virus or bacteria – that spread across much of the city, affecting not only us volunteers but also the local Honduran people. It was very difficult to deal with the symptoms of this 20 hour bug, so come prepared with a refillable water bottle, and some diarrhea, nausea/vomiting drugs, maybe antibiotics and a multivitamin just in case.

Volunteer in Honduras

4- Any tips for future volunteers…

Clothing:

Lots of socks and underwear/other things that you don’t feel comfortable wearing more than once. If you’re staying for more than a week then you’ll probably need to do laundry, which is done by hand or at a next-day dry cleaner down the road. In the home, it’s acceptable to wear whatever is comfortable. Tank tops and shorts were what I wore around the house to avoid the heat and sweating through everything. Because it is HOT here, sweating is very common and acceptable, so after a week we got used to not caring about how soaked our shirts/scrubs were. Footwear: Sneakers, sandals (flip flops are good but I brought sandals with secure straps and didn’t regret it), and another pair of comfortable shoes.

Donations:

The public hospital needs just about everything, but most importantly is:

Sterile gauze (all kinds but rolls of gauze are great), soap, ALCHOL for cleaning instruments (Alcohol swabs for injections too), liquid Iodine, blood pressure cuffs/stethoscopes, GLOVES for nurses to wear when doing IVs/ exams, toothbrushes/toothpaste. Medications: Aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen.

Weather:

Bug Spray: DEET is not the healthiest thing for humans, but it definitely keeps the bugs away. Some pure DEET spray (99%) is great to spray on a backpack or clothing if you go anywhere on the weekends, but don’t go over 30% DEET on your skin. Other, natural forms of bug repellant is a good idea too.

Sun Screen: The sun here is different, and its strong, so bring some heavy duty sunscreen to protect yourself.

Temperatures are regularly in the 90s and super humid, so dress accordingly.

La Ceiba is a very developed city, and there are a couple of great stores where you can buy anything that you might forget in the states, or that you don’t want to pack in your luggage.

4.1-Other things volunteers should know:

a.- Honduran people in La Ceiba are great, kind, and welcoming.

b.- Safety should be a concern in the same way that it should be a concern in any major city of any country.

c.- Unless you’re central american of some kind, you will not blend in and everyone will notice your presence, but this does not mean you’re unsafe.

d.- Honduras is Hot! Prepare for the heat and the humidity.

5- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial), don’t leave blank:

We stayed with the ABV coordinator in La Ceiba, and it was truly a wonderful accommodation. We were not expecting much, but Rafael’s home and his large extended family were nothing but kind to us for the month long stay. There were five of us traveling and working together for the four weeks, and we were split among three rooms and three bathrooms. The terrace on the second floor has an incredible view and breeze that allows for somewhat of a cool down. All meals were provided for us three times a day, 7 days a week and Honduran food is very good (Baleada mondays every week in Rafael’s house were always the best). Rafael made sure that we were safe, and that we got as much out of this experience as we were able to give to the Honduran people of La Ceiba. I will forever have a more enlightened view of the world and global healthcare due to the experiences I have attained on this trip. I would suggest staying in country as long as you possibly can, because it takes a short while to acclimate socially and get used to the way things work down here. By week two, we had made great relationships with the doctors and nurses that continued to be strengthened over the following two weeks. The ABV program provided us with everything that we needed and more, and when we come back in the future we will be working with ABV again.

6- How would you describe your accommodation, meals and security:

The family and food were great. We got to learn how to make some traditional Honduran food, and we were never hungry here. In terms of security, we were apprehensive because of what we had heard about the country itself, but we very rarely felt uncomfortable in public situations, and never felt as though we were in any danger. That being said, we made it a point to keep a low profile and not attract too much negative attention to ourselves when in public. Overall, respectful foreigners will be safe in La Ceiba.

7- What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Program: Working with the children in the Hospital was incredible. Being able to communicate with the patients by the end of the four weeks and make their days a bit better was so rewarding. Because of the limited medical providers and overworked nurses and doctors, patient affect is something that often is not a focus, so a smile and a compassionate “Como esta?” can go a long way and make a patients day a bit better.

Country: We took a weekend trip to a river that flows through Pico Bonito National Park and hiked up to a few waterfalls. The trip ended with rock jumping and some food at a small, family run hostel along the river. This afternoon was a great break from the busy weeks in the hospitals.

 8.- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

The ABV staff was a huge help before our trip. The information that we had available to us was sufficient for planning the trip and we did not feel as though we were underprepared in any way for the work we were doing here. ABV was prompt and informative in answering any questions we had whether via email or phone calls. When returning to do more service in Honduras or abroad in other countries I will be contacting ABV to organize.

Website Information:

The Website was a great source for information and for organizing all of the trip information in one place.

9 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Yes, I’d love to talk and share anything with anyone.

10 – Can you tell us how did you find or know about A Broader View?

We were looking for a volunteering abroad experience and found the ABV program online. We chose the program because we felt as though we could use our training in the healthcare system here in La Ceiba.

Volunteer Honduras

1.-How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

Our ABV Coordinator in Honduras helped us with everything we needed during our trip. We were able to volunteer at multiple hospitals with his help. During the week he always made sure we knew where to go and would check in during the day to make sure everything was okay. After a few weeks our group felt comfortable finding our way though the hospitals and helping wherever we were needed.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

At the program: The most surprising thing was how patient and helpful the nurses and doctors were. I would have totally understood if they had been frustrated with my broken spanish and potentially slowing their work down, but in my experience the nurses and doctors were patient and kind and helpful.

At the accommodation: the house felt like home almost immediately. I was surprised by how comfortable and modern the house was. I had my own room and bathroom, and had a fan to use at night. There were some small surprises like not being able to flush the toilet paper (many countries in latinamerica do this) and not using the sink water to brush my teeth, but overall I felt totally comfortable and safe at the house. The food was amazing and there are a ton of places for snacks and other food within walking distance.

About the country: The most surprising thing about the country was definitely the people. During our first week we helped with the vaccination campaign and were able to walk through different neighborhoods in the city giving vaccinations, vitamins, and parasite medications to the citizens of La Ceiba. It amazed me how amicable and generous the people were. People would frequently welcome us into their homes and offer cold drinks or fresh fruit from trees in their yard. Seeing the different places people lived and interacting with the community outside of the hospital was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

3- What was most difficult to experience?

At the program: The most difficult experience about the program was probably adjusting to the different working environment. All of us are Advanced EMT’s and work on an ambulance in Vermont so we’ve had training in wound care, IV establishment, CPR, medication administration, etc.. We are all so fortunate to have sterile supplies and all the resources we need to provide care to our patients, so it was difficult to adjust to minimal resources. It not only gave me a new appreciation for my own ambulance service, but also made me realize that there is still so much more our group can do to help here in the future.

At the accommodation: I didn’t have any major problems with the accommodation. The only minor setback for me was being sick for a few days after doing a weekend tour, so I would recommend bringing pepto bismol and an antibiotic incase you’re sick for more than a few days. It was definitely hot and sweaty most of the time, but we all acclimated pretty quickly.

The country: The most difficult thing about the country was seeing how little some people have. The hospitals have very few supplies, and patients are often responsible for bringing their own gauze or ointment to care for wounds. We were able to donate around $8,000 worth of medical supplies, but even still we felt there was so much more we should have brought. For the first time I encountered patients whom I knew how to care for, but didn’t have the means to provide care, and that was really tough for me.

4- Any tips for future volunteers…

Clothing: It’s hot so loose breathable clothing is ideal. Bring lots of scrubs because you need to change into clean scrubs if you want to watch a surgery. There are also opportunities to go on little trips to hike or swim or go to the islands, so be sure to bring good shoes and swim things too.

Donations:  Donations are definitely needed here. We were fortunate to find a non-profit organization that gave us medical supplies to donate to the hospitals here, so I would definitely recommend researching and/or fundraising to bring as much as you can. There is a huge need for basic medical supplies like gloves, gowns, facemasks, sterile gauze, antibacterial ointment, tournicates, alcohol pads, etc.. If there was anything I could have done differently it would have been to bring more donations. Even donations aside from medical supplies like clipboards, pens, staplers, whiteout, soap, hand sanitizer are needed. You can also buy locally all these items.

Weather: It’s hot and humid every day so be prepared to sweat. There are some areas of some of the hospitals that have air conditioning, and there are some local places with AC as well if you need to chill out for a bit. But overall be ready to sweat a lot, bring cooling towels.

4.1-Other things volunteers should know:

a. The doctors and nurses are very helpful and friendly so don’t be shy. Ask to help and don’t be afraid to make mistakes in Spanish as long as you’re trying. But also learn as much Spanish as you can before you come. I would recommend taking a Spanish class (or 3) if you can, and keeping a Spanish/English dictionary or medical dictionary on you.

b. Bring bugspray!! And lots of sunscreen

c. The city and country are beautiful and I would definitely recommend making the most of your down time, but still focusing on spending as much time in the hospital as possible.

5- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial), don’t leave blank:

Volunteering Honduras in the hospitals and walking through the neighborhoods vaccinating the community was one of the most unique and life changing experiences I’ve had. Being in EMS has allowed me to see a decent amount of medical emergencies, but observing the effects of poverty and lack of medical resources first hand truly altered my perception. I always felt comfortable and at home in my host house, and I made so many connections that I hope will last longer than my month here. This trip was everything I’d hoped it would be and so much more, and I can’t wait to return.

6- How would you describe your accommodation, meals and security:

The house was great, I always felt comfortable and at home. We had our meals cooked for us at the house, but we could always go out to eat if we let the family know beforehand. One night we also cooked for everyone in the house which was super fun. I always felt safe at home, and walking around felt to me like most other big cities in the U.S. We were pretty much always home before dark and stayed together as a group whenever we went anywhere. There are taxis all throughout the city too if we ever wanted to go somewhere we could get one, or the coordinator would call a taxi for us if we wanted to go somewhere together.

7- What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Program: My favorite program memory was being able to spend time with the new born babies after c-sections. The first c-section I saw I cried when the baby came out strong and healthy, the doctors made fun of me for a little bit after that. But it really is an incredible thing to be one of the first people to hold a new born baby.

Country: One afternoon we went to the waterfalls in the mountains and it was the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life.

8.- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

ABV answered all of the questions I had before coming. At one point I had to email them probably 3 times about my fundraising page and they were always very helpful.

Website Information:

I watched basically all of the videos from people who had done this service trip before and I found them to be so helpful and accurate.

9 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Yes definitely!!

10 – Can you tell us how did you find or know about A Broader View?

Marty, one of the people in our group, found ABV online.

1- How was the local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country?

I didn’t talk much to my local coordinator, solely because I had most of my things in place for this trip. The in- country coordinator was very helpful. German showed me around the fun places of Quito, told me which places I should visit on the weekends, and encouraged me to come to events held at the school.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced? Name 2

Program: How many doctors and medical students are actually at the hospital to help, and finding out my first patient on my internal medicine rotation has stage 4 cancer and nothing can be done to help him because of how fast it spread.

Host Family: How good the food is, and how open the family and nice the family is.

Country: How safe the country is compared to others (even the us), and how beautiful every part of the city is.

3- What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

Program: Not having much work to do because there are so many people at the hospital, and trying to understand the spanish (even with 6 years of lessons)

Host Family: I really can’t think of anything.

Country: sometimes the language barrier, and because you’re a tourist some people take advantage of your money.

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (clothing, travel, personal items, donations)

1.     You really don’t need as much as they say you will, 2-3 scrubs are fine, there is laundry.

2.     BRING A RAIN COAT, sunscreen, hat, and also buy your toothpaste/shampoo/face wash in the US, it’s way cheaper there.

3.     Go to otavalo, mitad del mundo, the coast, everything in the end is worth it, so if yourre questioning going somewhere, just do it.

4.     Have an open mind with everything, don’t eat the street food until your stomach is accustomed (2 weeks), try the ice cream (its great), and the empanadas.

5.1-Other things volunteers should know before coming here:

(thats not in the orientation guide)

a. know your money limits before you come, set limits per week, dont go crazy.

b. ask questions, dont be afraid, theyre here to help

c. 2weeks to a month is enough time to enjoy the place without getting homesick and such, set your time here with everything like that in mind.

d. the tap water isnt bad, bringing a filter water bottle will do.

6- Personal Paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

It took me 3.5 weeks out of my 4 to actually start falling in love with the country. I loved how cheap it was to travel around ecuador. The taxis are sooo much cheaper than ubers so I took advantage of that. I can tell that my spanish has gotten way better and I am more confident when I talk. And the hospital wasn’t what I thought it would be. I wanted more of a hands on place with patients and I didn’t necessarily get that here. I did learn a lot about different diseases/ conditions patients were admitted with, and how to communicate effectively with patients with the little spanish I speak.

Volunteer in Ecuador

7- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security, friendliness, quality others: 

meals, accommodation, saftey, friendliness, I would all rate a 10/10. The meals were great (way healthier than what I am used to), I felt very safe always around quito, whether I was with others or by myself, my host family made it seem like I was at my own house, and every one you see will say hello or good day.

8- What was your favorite memory of this trip?:

Program: seeing the patients get healthier

Host Family: feliz de ano was crazzzzy. but a good crazy.

Country: the beach was beautiful, 10/10 would go again.

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling? (who helped you, emails, phone calls, chat online, how fast did you got an answer, did you got all your answers)

I would rate it like a 5/10. there was an incident where my dates were changed and I was charged $120 more and I was not contacted at all about it. I only found out about it when I saw my itinerary 2 weeks. so communication could be a little better. I was also told I would work 8-12 then 2-6, and when I got to ecuador I was told I only work 7:30am to 12:30pm. I also did not need nearly as much things to bring like the emails said. I didn’t even use half of it.

9.1- Who did you find Abroaderview website (keywords, search engine, word mouth to mouth, recommended by .., other)

I googled ‘medical mission trip’ and found abroaderview.

10 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

yes.

Volunteer Nepal

1. How was the local Coordinator and the staff and the support provided in-country?

They were very thorough in explaining every aspect of my stay from the working condition, to commute, to things to do during weekend. They made me feel like I’m home and not feel home sick.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program?

The most surprising thing was the fact that I actually found friends of a lifetime. My colleagues actually got me gift and cake when I was leaving which showed me how close we got and also made me really sad to leave them

3. What was most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?

Probably the most difficult thing would be the language barrier since at the dental hospital patients would communicate in Nepali language and I did not know any Nepali. But on the bright side, I would ask dentists and they would translate for me so I did not have any difficulty understanding the situation. I would recommend having Nepali language immersion class.

4. Any tips for future volunteers….(clothing, travel information, packing, sightseeing, donations)

As for the recommendations, I would recommend volunteers to bring clothing especially during hot months and anyways they would be able to buy light, cheap cloths here. So I wouldn’t recommend bringing many suitcases.

4.1 Other things volunteers should know:

• Try to read on sightseeing locations in advance and know how long it would take to get there.
• Always negotiate with the cab.
• Don’t walk late at night …..

5. Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial):

I loved my stay with the coordinator and his family. They are very caring and helpful and like a second family to me. My work environment was great and people were really friendly. I would definitely come back to Nepal with my family and spend more time here.

Volunteer Reviews

6. How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security?

Everything was perfect. The meals were delicious and as little spicy since I can’t handle spicy food. Also they made me feel very comfortable at home and if I needed to go somewhere they made sure I know my way.

7. What was your memory of this trip?

Great and kind people at work and at home and beautiful nature outside Kathmandu.

8. How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers?

I received plenty of emails regarding my trip explaining every step of the way and the information. I needed to know about accommodation and condition of living so the emails were very thorough.

9. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience?

Yes.

Volunteer Peru Cusco Review

1) My coordinator and my host family and the hospital staff played a vital role in me having a great time in Peru. My host mother Ana Maria and her Boyfriend Dante provided me with information on what I should do and where I should go when I had free time. From restaurant recommendations to tour recommendations and teaching me Spanish, they made my stay unforgettable. My coordinator did her absolute best for me to get settled and never failed to reply to my constant emails and texts and for that I am so so so grateful.

2) For the program the only thing that surprised me was the fact that unless you asked what you could do, nobody really told you what to do or how you could help, so ask for tasks and hang on the main nurse.

The only surprising thing that I experienced with my host family was how quickly the line between host family and family disappeared and how quickly we got so close. The only surprising thing about Cusco was how HOT it can be in the morning/noon time.

3) Some challenging things that I experienced was how much I missed my family in the beginning and how uncomfortable the altitude was. there was nothing challenging with my host family! my host mother Ana Maria spoke english and so did her wonderful boyfriend, Dante! if anything they made my time in Peru very much less challenging!

4) my only tip for any volunteers coming would be, MAKE SURE YOUR US$ MONEY IS STRAIGHT AND WITHOUT ANY TEARS! and also pack proper hiking clothes! and bring cough drops if you’re afraid of catching a cold (it is expensive and not very accessible here) also bring extra make up and dry shampoo because that is also hard to find! if you want to donate anything to the clinic, donate gloves!

Volunteering in Peru Cusco

5) see above about my personal experience! overall, if I could do this trip all over again with the same host family in the same country with the same coordinator I would do it in a heart beat!! Best experience ever!

6) the meals that I was provided was different but amazing! the house was always equipped with everything I needed and after a very short while I really felt like it was my home!

7) program: there was a guy that due to his condition and his previous situation he had a gaping hole in his leg and we had to treat him with very little material but he always came back and I could personally see the progress! my favorite memory of my host family is literally every meal we’ve had together especially the ones after my roommate Damara came.

My favorite memory of Cusco was the June 24th celebration and my other favorite memories include me going and exploring the country with the other volunteers I made friends with.

8) ABV US were very responsive and available. I don’t have any complaints!

9) the website was great and very direct and informative!

Volunteer Reviews

1- How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?
Nelson was always very available, answered all questions, tried to make my stay as pleasant as possible. Nelson willingly drove us wherever we needed to go, had his helpers show us how to use the daladala. Nelson provided information and help in arranging weekend activities, such as going on safari

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?
How close I got to the people, the people at both the hospital and my co-volunteers. I didn’t think I could become such close intimate friends with people in just 3 short weeks. Also, the beauty of the country and people. I was expecting poverty, I have seen it in many other emerging nations, but this was beyond even that.

3- What was most difficult to experience?
Adjusting to the food, the type, quality, and amount. The work was exhausting, but very rewarding. Daladalas were an experience, and I actually felt they were part of the fun, but some people may have difficulty with them

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (Clothing, travel, personal items, donations)
Try to learn as much Swahili as possible before coming. It will help immeasurably, and the local people appreciate it so much that you have made the effort to learn their language. Be prepared for raw poverty. But also be prepared for the most beautiful friendly people in the world.

5- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial):
Bring flashlights (torches) mosquito repellant. Protein bars. The local groceries are extremely limited. Do a safari if at all possible! They are fantastic! Plan on leaving your heart here. Africa is addictive. The weather her is very temperate. Not really too cold or too hot. But girls, do bring clothes where you dress very modestly. Girls in jeans are rare. Bring more skirts, long pants, etc.

6- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security (e: host family, on-site, shared)
My experience in Arusha was life-changing. I am older, 64 years old, and a very savvy traveller, been all over the world, Viet Nam, Cambodia, South America, Mexico, Thailand, China. Nothing is like Africa. It will intoxicate you, it will enchant you, it will break your heart to see the poverty. The people in Arusha are the most friendly and kind people I have ever met.

7- What was your favorite memory of this trip?
The accommodation was minimal at best. I was not expecting much, and got even less. Nelson, the ABV coordinator, was very friendly, very helpful and accommodating, would do anything we asked. But the cleanliness level left a lot to be desired. The food also challenging. When we complained to ABV, that was quickly improved. Several of us lost quite a bit of weight in the beginning. There is no real kitchen available for preparing our own meals. The refrigerator at first did not keep things cold, and then froze everything solid. It was really unuseable. The only things we had that we could cook with was a toaster and a microwave.

8- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?
Working at the hospital. I loved working in the mother/baby ward and became very attached to the mothers, and the director of this ward, Alodia. Going on safari. Go to Ngorogoro crater. Laughing and crying, and sharing experiences with my co-volunteers The open heartedness of the people.

9 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?
Very helpful. When we did have problems in Arusha, they addressed the problems immediately. It was unclear before going that we were staying in a hostel. Many tourists also were in the home, coming and going at all times. I wish that had been more clear before leaving. ABV: all Arusha volunteers stay at a hostel.

10 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?
Absolutely. This was one of the best experiences in my long life. I would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I’m going to, I will return to Africa hopefully next year. I would love to share my experiences with anybody

1-How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

Our host family was amazing! Our coordinator, was extremely helpful in providing guidance and answering questions whenever needed. While staying with Rafael, my group also had the chance to travel around the city to different tourist destinations with the help of our guide, Henry. He was a huge support for when our group wanted to explore the country.

2-What was the most surprising thing you experienced? 

At the program: One of the most surprising things I experienced while working at the hospital was the difference in patient care, it seems that the Maternity Clinic and the Pre-Clinic function as “triaging” areas where a patient’s vital signs are taken and then the patient is sent to a certain doctor. Since these areas were mostly “triaging” areas, there was very little time for sitting down and talking to the patient. Instead, there was a big focus on taking vital signs quickly in order to move on to the next patient.

At the accommodation: I was very surprised that there were three bathrooms to share amongst five people. I was definitely not expecting my group to have that much room but it was a nice surprise! And the food that was provided was amazing. My group also was expecting to have to pay for a taxi to get to and from the hospital, but Rafael was nice enough to drive us most days. That was a huge surprise and we are very grateful he was able to do so.

ABV: transportation is not included, so a tip per person for the transportation is welcome if provided.

About the country: I honestly was surprised about how nice everyone was! Being in a different country can be nerve racking but if you keep a good head on your shoulders and stay safe like you would anywhere else, you will be fine.

3-What was the most difficult to experience? 

At the program: The first week of volunteering at Regional my group had the opportunity to go house to house with nurses and doctors vaccinating the people of La Ceiba. The very same nurses and doctors had been vaccinating for three weeks prior to our arrival and were finishing up their last week. Going door to door to vaccinate the people of La Ceiba has been the best method of prevention for the city. In doing so, I was exposed to the heart of the Honduran culture. Some homes were fairly wealthy with comfortable living spaces, while other homes just a few streets over were falling apart. One of the towns in the mountains was one of the poorest places I have ever been to. Most of the “houses” were built with metal siding or old street signs, and there was no clean water to be found anywhere. Trash was piled outside of the houses and just left to sit and rot. The saddest part about this area was that many of the people refused to be vaccinated.

At the accommodation: I personally did not have a difficult experience at the accommodation. I think my group and I transitioned very well and made the most of our four weeks in La Ceiba. The first few days of being in La Ceiba were definitely the most stressful because everything is so new, but we had no issues otherwise.

At the country: Seeing the extreme poverty of so many people was very difficult. I was expecting to see it but it still was overwhelming at times. The intensity of the poverty create a serious lack of resources and lack of education on properly taking care of one’s health.

4-Any tips for future volunteers?

Clothing: Bring lots of comfy clothes! Tank tops, shorts, etc. Also, bring lots of underwear and socks. There was a laundromat down the street from our host family but it is definitely nice to not have to do laundry every week. Bring a few nice outfits for the weekend and lots of scrubs for working in the hospital.

ABV: the host families also have washing machine and for US$8 a bucket you can do laundry in the house.

Donations: Sterile gauze (in any and all sizes) is desperately needed. Alcohol pads/ antibiotic gauze for cleaning wounds and for IV use. Quite often a cotton swab or gauze is soaked in water to clean a patient’s skin (such as when vaccinating) when alcohol pads should be used. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen (tablets), large blood pressure cuffs, lidocaine, and antibiotic ointments. Our group requested a supply list from the hospital and we will be posting it for other volunteers as well.

Weather: Prepare to be drenched in sweat for the first 2 weeks! My group volunteered for four weeks and we felt that we were fully adapted by the end of the first or second week. Bring a lot of sunscreen for walking around the city or for the weekends.

4. 1- Other things volunteers should know:

a- When working in the hospital, be prepared to see a huge difference in patient care and practice (as opposed to the methods used in the United States). With the lack of resources it is difficult for providers to give patients the best and safest treatment possible. That being said, even the local doctors and nurses who are educated would practice non-sterile procedures on patient’s when a sterile environment is necessary. It is absolutely necessary for any medical professional to work within their scope of practice, especially when traveling abroad and working in another country.

b- Bring snacks! My group of five brought 37 snack packs (sandwich bags) filled with power bars, slim jims, and twizzlers (thanks Mom!). Bring snacks that will not melt and it will be a huge life saver! The meals are amazing but snack foods are not the norm in Honduras and you may need a snack once in a while after a long day at the hospital.

c- Bring hand wipes, toilet wipes, lots of bug spray, Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen (for yourself!), Benadryl, Pepto Bismol, and multivitamins! All of these things seem pretty simple but are a life saver when someone is sick with traveler’s diarrhea, a virus, or anything else!

d- Be ready to sweat a ton!

5-Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimony):

The first day in La Ceiba was both exciting and overwhelming, and I am very happy I was here with my group for a total of four weeks. Each week offered new experiences in the hospitals that I would not have had anywhere else. Living in La Ceiba for four weeks allowed us to be fully immersed in the culture and to meet many amazing people. I will never forget the people I met in La Ceiba and the experiences I gained.

6-How would you describe your accommodation, meals and security: 

Everything was amazing! I felt very safe at our host family’s home and I felt comfortable walking through the city (in a group). As long as you keep a good head on your shoulders everything will be fine!

7-Favorite Memory: 

Program: Going house to house to vaccinate the citizens of La Ceiba and observing surgeries at the social security hospital!

Country: I loved traveling to the different islands on the weekends (Cayos Cuchinos and Utila). And I loved hiking part of Pico Bonito and seeing the beautiful waterfalls.

8-ABV USA support prior to traveling?

The support was amazing! The resources and information given prior to traveling is very accurate and straight forward. Honduras was the first country I traveled to internationally and I have had no issues! If you prepare using the resources ABV gives you, you will be all set for the trip!

9-Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

I would love to!

10-I find out about A Broader View from one of the members of my group who spear headed the trip! 

1- How was the local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country?

The coordinators and staff were wonderful, especially when aiding with excursions to the Amazon and the Galapagos.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

The two most surprising things were the automatic inclusion by the family and the differences between Mexican Spanish and Ecuadorian Spanish.

3- What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

The most challenging part was the learning the language. I did not know any Spanish before coming here. As I was learning it, the other languages I knew seemed to blend, especially with vocabulary. The most difficult part was separating them.

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (clothing, travel, personal items, donations)

1. Try to learn as much Spanish as possible before coming. It will help with faster immersion.
2. Bring any medication you think you will need. It’s always nice to already have it, especially if you wake up in the middle of the night needing something.
3. Make sure you have packed an umbrella, raincoat, sweater, and a bag to put them all in. The weather can change drastically throughout the day, especially in the Spring. It normalizes in the summer.
4. Always walk with your bag in front of you to avoid your belongings from being stolen. The less friendly you look, the less you will be approached on the street when walking alone during the day.

5.1-Other things volunteers should know before coming here:

1. Do not come with any expectations. Instead come with an open mind and you will enjoy life here.
2. After 7pm, do not walk or use any public transportation. Use a taxi instead, this prevents you from being robbed. It’s worth the extra few dollars in order to keep your belongings, I didn’t have any problems but just in case.
3. Anything you pack, assume it’s possible that it could be stolen or ruined. Do not bring your favorite belongings but bring things that make you happy.
4. Have good bartering skills. At the local markets, you can barter for the price. Never take the first price offered. Keep your money hidden so when you go to “check” how much you have, say you only have xx amount on you. They typically accept that price.

6- Personal Paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

Volunteering abroad in Quito was the experience of a lifetime. I worked in the emergency room of the Hospital. I was able to learn and aid in procedures, something that I would never be able to do in America without attending or completing medical school. I would be excited every day to go to the hospital and would try to stay as long as possible. Afterwards, I would head back to the family’s house where you immediately felt loved and cared for. The family is so sweet and considerate. We talked, we laughed, we worried, we ate all together. I wouldn’t trade anything for this.

7- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security, friendliness, quality others:

My accommodations were wonderful. The family is so sweet. They cooked all of my meals for me and made sure that I was doing okay on a daily,sometimes hourly basis. I was immediately included to be part of their family from the second I entered the door. Security was fine, it is like living or visiting any big city. You need to be smart and careful with your belongings.

8- What was your favorite memory of this trip?:

I went to the Galapagos during one of the weekends I was here. You are allowed to take 2 days off to visit the islands. I was there for a total of 4 days and visited 6 of the islands. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I swam with penguins, seal lions, sharks, sea turtles. It was absolutely wonderful and I will always cherish those memories and the people I met.

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

Anytime I had a question, it was answered either in minutes online, or within a few hours if I sent an email. The response time from the organization was  quick.

9.1- What do you think about the reservation system online?

It’s a good system for the most part. It works better on Firefox than Google chrome. It unfortunately stopped showing my project summary on Google chrome.

9.2- Who did you find Abroaderview website

I honestly just googled volunteering abroad. I ended up finding this organization, which seemed to have everything I wanted. I continued to research the organization to ensure that it was a legitimate organization and not a scam.

10 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Absolutely. I will be happy to answer any questions that they have.