Ecuaexperience Services LTD

Ecuaexperience

Why choose Ecuaexperience?

Help, Learn and Discover is an innovative organization offering pre-health programs in Ecuador, South America. We strive to offer a fulfilling life experience which combines helping those less fortunate with learning about the medical system and traveling beautiful Ecuador . Our mission is to integrate student ideas and philosophies into many aspects of our programs and to provide the necessary resources for students to embark upon a rewarding, unique and unforgettable experience.

Founded
2006

Reviews

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shahrzad
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The BEST experience of my life!!!

Absolutely loooved this program! I went for 28 days last May. We spent two weeks in medical rotations, one week doing the volunteer portion (we helped build a school), and the final week doing nothing but having fun. Ecuador is such a diverse country and a must go travel destination. This is something I knew but never fully appreciated before going to the trip. It was my first long trip alone and I felt at home. We were accompanied by a driver and translator at all times and I personally never felt unsafe. As for the medical portion of the trip, I witnessed procedures (multiple surgeries) and learned skills that I wouldn't have until third year of medical school here in Canada.
I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone who's considering working in the medical field.

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Stephanie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable experience

This was an amazing opportunity to experience the hospital environments in Ecuador as well as volunteer to help those in need. The hospital rotations were interesting to see the differences and similarities between healthcare systems in Ecuador compared to back home. The volunteer opportunities to build an expansion to a school and provide a Mother's Day celebration to a community was so rewarding. The people there were so nice and so welcoming to all of us despite having a language barrier. There were also many days of travelling around to site see and do fun activities that I would never imagine doing. I also met so many amazing people that came onto the trip and made great memories together. I'm so glad I decided to spend a part of my summer with this program and would definitely recommend it to others!

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Pat
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best trip EVER!

I have no words to describe how amazing and how much fun this program was. The med rotations were really cool and such a great learning experience. Working alongside the community for the Help component of the trip was truly a fulfilling experience. The evenings we spent playing and dancing in the village were honestly unforgettable. The memories and friends I made along the way will most definitely last a lifetime. Everybody that I met in Ecuador, from the students to the Ecuaexperience staff to the strangers I crossed in the streets and bars, were just incredible! Ecuador truly is a gem and you get to experience it all with this one trip. I loved every single moment of my trip. Going there was without a doubt the best decision I ever made in my life!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have taken the 28 days program instead of the 18 days!
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Annie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience of my life!

For how much it costs I honestly did not expect to learn so much, either about the country itself or about the lifestyle and medical stuff! The med rotations we’re awesome, we didn’t just sit and watched we actually learned about anatomy like in a classroom. As for the traveling prt, we saw so much of ecuador and it’s popular places. The volunteering site and community was the best part of it all. You can feel and see how much you can impact the life of these people with so little actions from your part. 10/10 would recommend for sure! All the staff and leaders we’re awesome and reliable when I had a concern. They normally understand really well english in most place we went, so don’t worry to much about spanish, but if you have the time to learn it you should it sure helps alot!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Definitely get ready to get out of your comfort zone if you really want to enjoy the full experience. The lifestyle is very different from north america, but so much fun!
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Brittany
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

BEST TRIP of my life

The 18 day Ecuador trip had changed my perspective on life, I learned a lot as a pre-med student and as a person. I 100% recommend anyone who is adventurous and wants a glimpse of what being a medical professional looks like. The first week involved med rotations (LEARN portion) and observing surgeries while shadowing other med students and doctors through the different departments. The second week, we built the school in the village of Patate for the local children (HELP portion). The money fundraised was used to buy the materials and supplies. Despite the language barrier, the bond we developed with the families was heartwarming and touching. This trip showed me that we can be happy living with the bare necessities. On the weekends we explored waterfalls, the amazon forest, and beautiful volcanoes (DISCOVER portion). Activities included ziplining, water rappelling, horseback riding, and many more. Everywhere we went was BREATHTAKING, I made new friends and will never forget this experience.

What would you improve about this program?
Improve the communication methods prior to the trip

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because it met my expectations for what I wanted to achieve while being abroad. That is to say, it allowed me to share my strengths with the community, to work as a team, and to face challenges. Additionally, this course allowed me to visit another country and work in a hospital assisting doctors and nurses, something that I could not do in my home country.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

To get the money needed, I sold chocolate. I did a garage sale. I sold empty bottles. Several people supported me financially by giving me a small amount of money.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would say that nothing is more uplifting than visiting a new country and discovering their traditions. It’s a unique opportunity to spend time in another place as a student while learning and visiting the country.

It’s a great opportunity to travel abroad, to go and help a community and to discover their traditions.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Every day the routine and activities were different and fantastic, depending on the choices I made. Having chosen the "pre-med" option for the program, one day I might find myself in the hospital learning about medicine, the next day I could be volunteering in the community helping to build houses, or participating in activities either on the beach or in the jungle or near a volcano.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was to find myself in a foreign place with other students I didn't know. I felt far from home. The language barrier was also difficult but I got used to it and I saw it as a challenge to learn a new language.

What made your experience abroad special?

I appreciated this program because it allowed me to confirm what I really wanted to do later in life. The 2 weeks spent in a hospital with doctors and nurses allowed me to practice my medical knowledge and learn how to perform stitches, diagnose diseases, and evaluate patients in an emergency room.

Another great experience I had while I was on this program was helping to finish building homes in the community. Helping these people paint their homes gave me a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. I felt useful and appreciated for what I was doing. Moreover, the reaction of people when they receive the keys to their home is unexplainable.

What touched me most was an 80-year-old gentleman, who was the first individual in his family to receive a house. It is a moment of memorable and unforgettable joy. We forget our little problems and we see that in some countries people have almost nothing.

I want to have another experience of this kind. I want to travel and get to know other cultures and to help them. This is why I’m now working as a leader for the program this year. My taste for adventure will continue and I will meet other challenges.