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 Guatemala

1. How were the local ABV coordinators and the support provided in-country?

She was great and I had all the support I needed. I could text/call at virtually any hour and she would respond. She also helped me set up trips and excursions, which was really helpful.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

It was surprising to see how much of American culture – movies, restaurants, bands – could be found in Guatemala.

3. What was most difficult to experience?

One of the children had a tooth that had an awful cavity. He was in a lot of pain, but his family couldn´t afford a dentist. Seeing him cry and not being able to help was awful.

ABV: if you can provide us with the name of the child, what classroom, we will send a donation to help him with that and donors can help us him here https://www.paypal.me/abroaderview

4.     Any tips for future volunteers? (clothing, travel, personal items, donations, etc. ?
Xela is rarely hot – bring more pants and long sleeves than t-shirts. If you wear glasses bring a backup pair.

5.     Other things volunteers should know?
a. The food is different than in America – expect meat with bones etc.

b. On average the people are very approachable

c. The sun is much stronger here than in North America

d.  You can barter for taxi fair.

6. Personal paragraph (ABV program testimonial):

I didn´t really know what to expect when I arrived, but I kept an open mind and had an amazing time. I learned so much Spanish, ate amazing food, and met some great people.

Volunteer in Guatemala

7. How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security

My host family was very nice. Our home was set up in 2 sections – one for the family, one for us visitors, but we ate all our meals together. The food was excellent, but was mostly meat and bread.

8. What was your favorite memory of this trip?

A local family hired me to teach English to their son, and had me over for dinner, where I met the entire extended family – it was an awesome experience.

9. How was the ABV USA support prior to traveling?

They were concise, clear and responsive. It definitely put me at ease and made me feel supported.

10.  Are you willing to speak to potential ABV volunteers?

Of course.

Volunteer Chile: Teaching Program

1. How was the local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country? Volunteer Chile: The local ABV Coordinator was amazing and incredibly helpful. My coordinator, Vilma, always was there if needed. She was always checking in with me to see how I was doing, and would contact me immediately if any issues or concerns arose.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced?
   1. Host Family: My host family was first of all amazing. Silvia and Obriel, along with their four kids, created some of my best memories of my trip. The most surprising thing I found out about my host family was their lifestyle, and the lack of heat in the house. At night, it got cold.
   2. Country: The most surprising thing I experienced in the country as a whole was how helpful everyone was, even though most people didn’t speak English.
3. What was the most challenging thing you experienced?
   1. Host Family: The language barrier was the most challenging thing I experienced with my host family. Chileans speak incredibly fast, and it is sometimes hard to understand simple words due to the cultural differences of the language.
   2. Program: The most challenging part of the program in total was not the teaching aspect, but actually the transportation here in Chile. I took a colectivo, or shared cab, everyday from my host family’s house to the school where I worked. My first week using the colectivo was hard for me, because only certain colectivos take you where you want to go. Then once you have the right colectivo, you then need to tell the driver where you would like to go. Many times, the driver would not know where I would want to go, and I would have to describe the area. It was during my second week, when I realized the best way was to ask the driver if they knew where your desired destination was, before you got into the car. This made things much easier. After learning how to use the colectivos, they became second nature. (Always take the same numbers on the top of each colectivo they have specific numbers for specific routes)
4. Any tips for future volunteers…( clothing, travel, personal items, donations)
   1. Bring layers if you are staying during the winter that you can travel in, as well as sleep in.
   2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, people in Chile are very friendly.
   3. Try your best to talk to locals, they provide great insight on the city and culture alike.
   4. Visit the Elqui Valley, I went with two other ABV volunteers and it was wonderful.
   5. Make friends here, they can help you experience more of the city.
5. Other things volunteers should know before coming here: (that’s not in the ABV orientation guide)
   1. It get very cold during the night, pack layers.
   2. Make sure to practice your basic Spanish phrases just to have a means of communication, but don’t worry if you are not fluent.

6. Personal paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

I absolutely loved my experience in La Serena as a whole and working at the Colegio (school). I experienced many different areas of the culture traveling all over the area with other ABV volunteers and friends that I made at the school. It was an incredible opportunity that I learned so much from. A Broader View was great, I will defiantly use them for any future trips.What was your favorite memory on this trip?

1. One night we had a barbeque where we all sat around the grill talking and eating amazing food.
2. Experiencing the city with my friends, and walking on the beach while sunset.

8. How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

They were great, I had no problems. Volunteer Chile

Teaching Program in Chile

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

Maria Elena was very helpful, super friendly and always professional. She has a lot of experience working with volunteers and it shows, she made everything go smoothly. I have wonderful memories with Maria Elena, we had serious conversations but also a lot of shared laughers. She is super!

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

Program: Monday start of the week event with the children singing the national anthem and of course having the honor to participate to the children traditional dance competition  Plaza de Armas and wear the beautiful Cuscuian costume.

Host Family: Even though Maria works full time she always spent time with us, spoke slowly and used a vocabulary we could understand. She really made me feel as if I were part of her family, it was a wonderful relationship from day one. Her young lady helper Sheyla was very friendly, she also took the time to talk to us and she is a fabulous cook.

Country: All the Peruvian we met were very friendly, we never encountered any rudeness or impatience when using our broken Spanish. Also the food is amazing, fresh, delicious.

3- What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

Program: Not knowing enough Spanish to communicate with the adorable children at the kindergarten.

Host Family: Our room had a huge window and directly faced a high traffic road. The cold bathroom and thin hot water shower spray was not so exciting either. We dealt with the situation but a little ceramic heater would have been very welcomed. People here are just used to it so it is ok for a short period of time.

Country: The taxis not being easily identifiable and the very peculiar driving style, quite scary at first.

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

1. Drink coca tea as soon as you arrive and rest the first two days to get accustomed to the altitude.

2. Bring warm clothes, especially a flannel pj and warm slippers.

3. Keep your passport and money safely tucked away.

4. Give away!

5.1-Other things volunteers should know before coming here:

a. Peruvian driving style can be quite frightening.

b. Do not attempt to drive, get a cab or a driver.

c. The water of the Hot Springs is not dirty, it is green because of the minerals.

d. Guinea pigs are not considered pets and taste really good.

6- Personal Paragraph about the experience:

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with ABV. Our coordinator Maria Elena, is absolutely wonderful, our host family, Maria del Carmen, kind and so welcoming and her young lady helper, Sheyla, so sweet and ready to help. All the other volunteers were friendly and motivated. I will miss Maria Elena, Maria del Carmen and Sheyla very much. I will definitely keep in touch with them, they are my friends.

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

Apart from the cold, noisy bedroom and cold bathroom everything was wonderful. Ask if you can be moved to another bedroom if possible.

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

Program: Participating to the school traditional dance competition. Everybody was so friendly and welcomed us so well, thanks to Maria Elena who is a master coordinator!

Host Family: Tons of pleasant talks with Maria del Carmen and Sheyla, learning about their lives and families.

Country: Visiting Machu Picchu, incredible experience!

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

My husband took care of it.

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

Absolutely! This is an experience not to be missed. ABV is a great non profit organization. I will definitely recommend.

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/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.