EcuaExperience: Pre-Medical and Volunteer Programs

I was very anxious the day before the trip, specifically wondering whether I would have a hard time making new friends or not. I soon realized that the social scene was the best aspect of this trip. I will keep in touch with many people and will try to visit them in the future. Although many activites were planned throughout the month, I had the best time during the free times. The reason for this was because I was able to interact with more people and learn/relate with them. This was the time that I was most able to make the best of friends. The best part of the trip for me was in the Galapagos and I truly encourage all students to go. I love all beach atmospheres. The scene that has most impacted my life was in Pujili, as I was able to see many young children less fortunate than I and was also able to help them. I bonded well with the children and was devastated leaving the community. The most difficult part of the trip for me is leaving all my friends and leaders. This has honestly been the best trip of my life and I will strongly encourage all students, whether interested into medicine or not, to apply.

This experience in Ecuador was even better than what I had expected. With Help, Learn and Discover, we got the chance to visit most of the interesting places in Ecuador in a very organized way. The volunteer portion of the trip in Pujili, where we had the chance to build homes for an Ecudorian community, was well structured and an experience I will never forget. The fact that we had the chance to build the homes alongside the community allowed us to get to know a little bit of how these people lived and how the houses we are building will impact their life. The medical rotations in the different hospitals in Quito allowed us to see different medical procedures that we never would have had a chance to see without this program as an university undergraduate student. These rotations are especially interesting for aspiring medical doctors. In short, this past month was one of the best months of my life and all the things I learned and saw will contiue to impact my life for a long time. Every single part of this trip was definitely worth it.

I had an incredible time on this program. Would definitely recommend. The people were fantastic, the activities fun and challenging, and you could really see the impact of the volunteer work. The tour allowed us to see so much of Ecuador, and have lots of fun in the process.

All the components of HLD were amazing!!! The volunteer experience was perfect because we really got to meet the community we were helping and we got to see the impact we had on their lifestyle and future. For the touring part of the trip, we really got to see every aspect of Ecuador and it was amazing to see the different sceneries we can find in Ecuador as well as doing many many insane activities. I also enjoyed the medical rotations because they show you the reality of a physician and you get to learn so much from the tutors, the medical case, and being in the hospital. That being said, the best part of this trip is doing all of those insane things with people that become your family!!!!!!!!!!!

This month has been incredible! Every activity that we did was extremly well organized, educational and fun. The welcome and goodbye celebrations were one of my favorate parts because it was great to see how much the community valued what we were doing. I also really enjoyed the horse back riding in cotopaxi as well as all the hikes. Honestly its dificult to pin point the highlights of the trip because every moment has been amazing. The friendships we formed will last a life time and I will never forget how important it is do your part to help the people around you. I am truly greatful to have been able to come on this fantastic adventure and im so thankful to Juan and Jose for making it unforgetable.

The program offered was an amazing experience. I did a lot of things that I thought I'd never have the courage to do. Thank you ecuaexperience!

Ecuaexperience is the best way for students to travel around South America, get hands-on experience in hospitals and truly make a difference in the lives of the people in the community who recieve the homes. Juan and Jose completely blow you away with all of their insight, connections, and dedication to ensuring you have the best experience possible. It is amazing how much they are able to fit into one day. We would travel from city to jungle,be greeted by monkeys on the shore, tube down a river to arrive to our hotel in the jungle, spend hours playing with the kids of the community after a hard day´s work and the list could continue forever. For me, the life-changing part of the trip came when we volunteered in the community. Jose took us to see the houses of the families that would be recieving the houses that we were building and I was blown away. It is one thing to watch the YouTube videos of the previous trips and one thing to actually be here and SEE for yourself. All I can say is that all of the hours that we spent building the foundations of the homes was the best time I have ever spent. At our goodbye dinner after our week of volunteering we walked through an aisle with people from the community on each side who looked at us as if we are heroes and wanted nothing but to shake our hands and thank us for our help. When you are at the building site and you feel exhausted from the few hours you put in a day and all around you the people of the community are working alongside you with no complaints it seems as if the work you are putting in is insignificant. But you have no idea how much of a difference you will make in HLD. You are not only building homes, but you are building futures. You are providing the opportunity for the children of the community to go to school and recieve an education, you are reducing a two and a half hour walk up a mountain from Pujili to the family´s homes to a half an hour walk on flat ground. There are so many volunteer programs offered all over the world, but there is only one that will push you beyond your limits in making a difference. Ecuaexperience is this program. You will travel all over Ecuador and be amazed by the happiness and beauty that surrounds you everyday, build futures in the community and learn so much about the health care system and needs of patients in the hospital. But most importantly, you will become a family with all of the members of your group and a better person as you realize your role in making a difference - in your community and the global community. As Jose always told us your most valuable asset is your time and you must determine how you spend it. I can assure you doing an Ecuaexperience program will be the best way you could ever spend your time!

Ecuaexperience is a great, very unique way to visit Ecuador. The trip involves visiting almost every geographic region of Ecuador, doing medical rotations during which you learn many things, and volunteering in a community that appreciates your help more than you can imagine. I would most definitely recommend going on this trip!