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5-8 Weeks High School Community Service & Volunteering Programs

175 5-8 Weeks Community Service & Volunteering Programs for High School Students

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

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Top Animal Welfare Volunteer Programs & Internships Abroad

GoEco offers more than 60 wildlife and animal conservation volunteer opportunities and internships worldwide! Our programs focus on the welfare and conservation of various species, both wildlife and domestic animals. We offer volunteer opportunities and internships at wildlife rescue centers, wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife reserves and animal shelters. All of our programs are vetted and are in line with our ethical values - only ethical and supervised interactions are allowed. A few examples of our offers include working with rescued sloths in Costa Rica, rehabilitating vervet monkeys in Malawi, observing and collecting data on Africa's Big Five species and doing survey dives with whale sharks in Mozambique, just to name a few.

See All 107 Programs

International Medical Aid (IMA)

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Global Health & Pre-Medicine Internships Abroad | IMA

IMA offers an opportunity to enhance your medical and healthcare knowledge with International Medical Aid's Pre-Med and Health Fellowships. Crafted for pre-med undergraduates, medical students, and high school students, these fellowships offer a unique chance to engage deeply with global health care in East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Shadow doctors in underserved communities, and immerse yourself in diverse healthcare systems through our extensive network of public and private hospitals. IMA, a nonprofit organization, is deeply invested in the communities we serve, focusing on sustainable health solutions and ethical care practices. You'll be involved in community medical clinics, public health education, and first responder training, addressing the root causes of disease and illness alongside local community leaders. Beyond clinical experience, explore the beauty of your host country through cultural excursions and adventure programs during your free time. Join IMA's fellowships developed at Johns Hopkins University and step into a role that transcends traditional healthcare learning, blending clinical excellence with meaningful community service.

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Go Abroad China Ltd.

9.75

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High School Language & Cultural Immersion in China for Teens

Discover China Through Language & Culture. Founded in 2003, Go Abroad China (GAC) offers immersive Mandarin programs for international high school students. This program combines intensive classroom learning with real-world practice, cultural workshops, and social activities. Program Types: Short-Term (2-8 weeks): Summer/Winter camps. Long-Term (Semester/Year): Study at top Chinese schools. Customized Programs: Tailored to individual needs. What’s Included: Mandarin instruction at leading schools. Homestays, shared apartments, or dorms. One-on-one tutoring and language exchange. Cultural tours, networking, and excursions. 24/7 support for safety and guidance. Why Choose GAC? Achieve Mandarin fluency with certification. Gain cultural fluency and global exposure. Enhance college applications and career prospects. Build lifelong friendships and professional networks.

GVI

9.89

9

Sea Turtle & Cultural Immersion Teen Volunteering Thailand

This is an opportunity to collaborate with a team of volunteers aged between 15 and 17, to contribute toward local community projects in Southern Thailand, Phang Nga. Situated in a province known for its tropical beaches and surrounding islets lies an abundance of landmarks. Find yourself among the widely admired “James Bond island” or Khao Chang, a large mountain silhouetted in the shape of a crouched elephant. You’ll participate in a culturally immersive experience as you contribute toward the United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs), including: Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being Goal 4: Quality Education Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Goal 15: Life on Land Projects range from beach clean-ups, conservation support for the endangered green sea turtle, and renovation of surrounding schools. You’ll meet and make friends from around the world while learning ethical ways to volunteer and travel. You’ll also have the opportunity to earn certificates from the University of Richmond and GVI.

Expanish

9.2

5

Young Adults Summer Program in Barcelona

Discover the magic of Barcelona this summer with Expanish! Our Young Adults Spanish Immersion Program invites students aged 16-20 to one of Europe's most iconic cities for a unique blend of language learning, cultural exploration, and personal growth. Whether you choose to stay with a local host family or in a student residence, this program offers an unforgettable opportunity to improve your Spanish, make friends from around the world, and experience life like a local. Ages 16-20 | 1-4 Weeks | July Start Dates Choose Your Experience: Day Program Spanish classes + activities Ideal for locals or families in the city Overnight Homestay: Live with a local family Full cultural immersion Overnight Residence: Stay with fellow students Great for independence & community

Projects Abroad

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Global Leader In Meaningful Travel. Trusted By 130,000

At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose. Since being founded in 1992, more than 130,000 volunteers have traveled to over 20 destinations around the world. Our programs will make you step out of your comfort zone and engage with your new friends from around the world. These are long-term projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By taking part in our programs, even for a short time, you will be contributing towards a sustained effort to support the communities that host us! We believe no other provider offers the safety and security to their volunteers and interns that we do. You'll receive 24-hour staff support from our trained staff, alongside a gold standard of safety planning of your trip - so you don't have to worry about a thing. Choose a project you are passionate about from working with children to medical internship, conservation, and wildlife volunteering. We offer projects starting at one week in over 20 stunning destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America & The Caribbean, South Pacific & Europe. Ready to make a difference? Follow the link to visit our website!

See All 26 Programs

Where There Be Dragons

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Peru: Sacred Mountains (Summer)

Celebrate Peru’s unbelievable diversity: travel along tropical waterways, live with Quechua families in the high Andes, and explore the threads of past and present in the land of the Inca. Dragons Peru summer abroad program offers students the opportunity to dig into critical development issues by living with families in remote indigenous communities and exploring seldom-visited regions of the sacred Andes Mountains and lush Amazonian forests. Dragons Peru summer abroad course is a rugged and challenging journey through the folds of time, offering exposure to critical development issues of today through the lens of the cultures, communities, and stunning backdrops of the past. It is ideal for students who want to develop wilderness and leadership skills while engaging in hands-on service and in an inspection of the critical development issues facing Latin America. Expect to live closely with remote indigenous communities and trek through awe-inspiring terrain as you discover profound new relationships with yourself and the world around you. We have 4 and 6-week options available for this program.

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Kaya Responsible Travel

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Volunteer Project for Teenagers in India

Kaya Responsible Travel welcomes teen volunteers ages 16 and 17 to this unique program abroad. You will develop into a global citizen while spending time with peers from India and working within local communities. For 2 – 8 weeks or longer, you will genuinely gain an insight into Indian culture and contribute to the overall goals of your chosen project—Childcare, Women Empowerment, or Teaching. You will also participate in extra activities, apart from volunteer responsibilities. These may include sharing meals with a local family, a sari-dressing workshop, and yoga sessions. As a 16 or 17-year-old volunteer in India, you need to be ready to travel and meet new friends. You should be open to new ideas and situations, from eating local food to working in communities that are highly different from anything you have seen before. You should be self-motivated and able to work in a team.

Westcoast Connection

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Westcoast Connection | United States

Travel throughout the United States with Westcoast Connection, home of our first teen travel program 36 summers ago. We offer a wide range of 10-40 day summer programs on our teen tours, pre-college enrichment, baseball, Seventeen fashion, and community service. Our mission is to provide you with the summer of a lifetime. Travel the full stretch of California from San Francisco to San Diego, catch a foul ball on the ultimate baseball fantasy tour, featuring MLB baseball games in the Midwest, or get exclusive access to the top editors of Seventeen on our NYC fashion experience. Maybe you prefer to learn more about your favorite subjects at UCLA and visit world-renowned universities on a college preview week in Boston. Join the American Red Cross, hurricane relief efforts, or local communities on service projects as you influence the neighborhoods and environments you visit. Explore the U.S. with Westcoast Connection, and it just might change your life!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]

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6

Volunteer in Cambodia: The Heart of South East Asia

Discover the beauty and history of Cambodia while contributing to meaningful, community-driven initiatives through International Volunteer HQ. With projects based in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang, IVHQ’s Cambodia program gives volunteers the chance to experience the country’s rich culture while supporting impactful local causes. Volunteers can choose from six trusted project options year-round, including Teaching English, Childcare, Medical, Special Needs Care, and NGO Support. Whether you’re looking to gain hands-on experience, give back during your travels, or immerse yourself in a new way of life, IVHQ Cambodia offers something for everyone. Programs are available from 2 to 24 weeks and include everything you need for a fully-supported experience: airport pick-up, orientation, meals, accommodation in shared volunteer houses or local homestays, and 24/7 in-country assistance. You’ll also be supported before you depart by your IVHQ Program Manager and have access to pre-departure training tools. Explore ancient temples, vibrant markets, and Cambodia’s fascinating history while forming lasting connections with the local community.

Language Vacation

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German Summer Immersion for Teenagers in Berlin, Germany

Learn German in this bustling international metropolis, steeped in history, tradition and the arts. Berlin is a city of history and energy, full of excitement and forever evolving. For the past few decades, Berlin has been undergoing major rebuilding and planning efforts, which are visible in the new cityscape around Potsdamer Platz and the eastern city center. But there is also a rebuilding process taking place less visibly - in the hearts and minds of Berliners. The city is made up of 23 different districts, each with its own unique character. Mitte, Berlin's most central district which literally means the center, contains some of the city's oldest buildings, as well as many of Berlin's grandest buildings, strung out like pearls along the magnificent boulevard Unter den Linden. The school is located in the western part of Berlin (near Kurfuerstendammis) on a long boulevard close to the Fehrbelliner Platz Metro stop.

See All 17 Programs

Margret Charitable Organisation

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Volunteer at an Orphanage in Uganda

My name is Moses, the director of Margret charitable organisation supporting orphans, vulnerable and disadvantaged children. I run the center that was founded by my lovely mother Margret who unfortunately passed away in January 2020 (RIP)! Our mission is to see orphans, vulnerable and disadvantaged children live better lives and achieve their desired dreams through Education, Health, Sport, Life skills education and community development. We also aim to help empower local, young girls and mothers to ensure they can live a productive life styles so that they can live better and successful in life whilst providing for their families. Our objectives are as follows: 1- To provide schelter and give hope to children, youth and women. 2- To provide mentorship to orphans, vulnerable and disadvantaged children. 3- To provide and creating opportunities for All. 4- To provide, food and education to needy children 5- To provide financial support for girls and young mothers 6- To nature and develop sports and music talents among youths. Volunteer to help us achieve these objectives.

Volunteer International Adventures

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Animal Sanctuary Helper in South Africa

Get the chance to work with a variety of exotic and indigenous animals in this volunteer project in South Africa! Perfect for wildlife and nature enthusiasts, this program is based at an animal and bird sanctuary where you’ll provide hands-on assistance with the care of rescued and non-releasable animals. The sanctuary is large, so expect to get involved in different areas. As a volunteer, you’ll support the team in various activities – from preparing food according to each animal’s diet to maintaining the grounds. Some tasks are challenging yet highly rewarding as you get to spend a lot of time with the animals. You have 5 workdays and 2 days off each week, allowing you to explore the beautiful beaches of nearby Jeffreys Bay. You can also visit Big 5 wildlife reserves or hike the adjoining nature reserve to watch birds and wildlife in their natural habitat. This animal welfare project is available all year round, and you can join any day from Monday to Friday. Volunteers should be at least 16 years old if unaccompanied and 14 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian. The minimum length of stay is 2 weeks and longer periods are subject to visa requirements.

Amigos de las Américas

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Volunteering & Cultural Immersion in Paraguay - High School

Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS) is a non-profit organization that provides service and cultural immersion programs in Latin America and the U.S. for students ages 13–19. During our summer projects in Paraguay, volunteers immerse themselves in local culture by living with a host family, strengthening their Spanish, learning Guaraní, forming cross-cultural friendships, and contributing to meaningful community initiatives. Each volunteer works on a community service project alongside local peers and community partners. Our relationships with local and international organizations - built over 60 years - enable authentic engagement in communities across the region. Since our founding in 1965, more than 30,000 alumni have completed our programs with greater social awareness, stronger leadership skills, and a passion to make meaningful change! Get in touch with our team to learn more about AMIGOS!

One School At A Time

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Volunteer in India with OSAAT

OSAAT is seeking middle and high school students interested in utilizing their skills in art, leadership, public speaking, and digital technology to contribute to their initiatives during summer or winter breaks in India. This is a unique opportunity for students to make a meaningful impact while experiencing a culturally rich environment. By volunteering with OSAAT, students can actively assist in the organization's efforts to rebuild school infrastructure and empower children in rural areas. Whether through artistic endeavors, showcasing leadership abilities, delivering public speeches, or utilizing digital tools, students can play a vital role in supporting OSAAT's mission. This experience not only allows students to develop their skills but also fosters a deeper understanding of global issues and the transformative power of education. Join OSAAT in making a difference and create unforgettable memories in India during your summer or winter break.

Our Generation Voluntary Organisation

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Medical Internships for Groups of High School Students

Join our medical volunteering/internship in Ghana for teenagers and gain work experience by shadowing doctors in a clinical setting. You’ll get involved in health checks during outreach campaigns. You’ll encounter various diseases and conditions, and learn to diagnose and treat them. This is a valuable experience to add to your résumé, which could enhance your future career prospects. You’ll gain plenty of practical experience in Ghana. During outreach programs, you’ll treat minor wounds and measure blood sugar and blood pressure levels. You’ll also help raise awareness of specific diseases and their prevention methods. You’ll live and work in or outside Kumasi with a group of students your age and stay with a local host family. When you’re not working, we’ve organized plenty of social and cultural activities, including weekend trips, to keep you busy. Throughout your time in Ghana, OGVO staff will be available to assist you with any concerns. This volunteering/internship is perfect if you’re a young student considering a future career in medicine. You’ll get medical work experience by shadowing doctors on their rounds and other activities.

Propella Tours

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Propella Tours – Discover Costa Rica

Discover Costa Rica is a flexible, intensive short-term educational program designed for academic institutions, organized groups, and individual students. It combines thematic learning, cultural immersion, language development, and exploration of Costa Rica’s natural environment—all within a fully guided and adaptable format. Ideal for academic breaks, spring break, summer sessions, or custom-designed weeks, the program welcomes high school and university-level participants seeking impactful global experiences. Participants engage in a wide range of activities, including Spanish classes led by Propella instructors, optional social impact projects in local communities, and eco-friendly field experiences such as visits to sustainable farms, protected rainforests, and conservation initiatives. Hands-on learning and cultural connection are thoughtfully integrated to ensure each journey is both meaningful and memorable. Propella handles every aspect of the experience—from program design, accommodations, and guided activities to transportation, language support, and operational safety—delivering a seamless, enriching, and personalized educational journey from start to finish.

Outward Bound Costa Rica

9.5

30

Surf, Scuba, Raft & Hike in Costa Rica & Panama (Ages 14-18)

Choose any one of our four summer courses or combine them to craft your ideal two-week to eight-week summer adventure rainforest trekking, whitewater rafting, surfing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, volunteering, and more in Costa Rica and Panama! Our summer courses aren’t for vacationers. They’re for students who want to become more knowledgeable about themselves and the world around them – maybe even to build your résumé or material for your college essay application. All courses include opportunities to volunteer, build life and leadership skills, learn from local cultures, and gain a new level of self-awareness and appreciation for the world around you. Course Options: - Tropical Trek, Raft & Waves - Scuba, Sea Turtles, Spanish & Sloths - Pacific Surf & Saving Lives - Pacific Surf Extension * Please note that, for the health and safety of our participants, OBCR has made program adjustments to these courses. Please contact us to learn about our COVID-19 considerations.*

St. Miracle Works Educational Foundation

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High School Volunteer Abroad Program

Are you a high school student, teacher, or team leader looking for a safe, affordable, and meaningful volunteer abroad program? Do you want your students to embark on a powerful journey that will inspire, challenge, and impact them deeply? The High School Volunteer Abroad Program by St. Miracle Works Educational Foundation (SMWEF) is the perfect fit for you. Since 2018, SMWEF has been offering safe, unique, and affordable volunteer opportunities in Ghana designed specifically for high school students. During the program, students stay with welcoming host families, allowing them to fully immerse in the local culture, understand key social issues, and engage in well-structured community development projects. In addition to volunteering, participants explore Ghana’s beautiful tourist destinations, combining cultural learning with adventure. This program helps students from around the world connect with underprivileged communities, empower others, share their passion for service, and return home with unforgettable memories and a broader world view.

Volunteering Journeys

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Sports Volunteering in India: Football Coaching

Sports coaching involves developing and nurturing the talent and personal development of children from disadvantaged communities through sports. Our Football volunteers will be training children in local schools and community centers. To join this program you don’t need to be a qualified coach, you just need bags of energy and to be passionate about playing sports with children. Our Sports Volunteering Program aims to impart sports training as well as life skills such as teamwork and endurance to students. Extensive research and studies have shown that participating in a sport can help in the development of a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Simple gestures, such as a high-five or a pat on the back, build confidence and improve bonding between children. Our sports coaching projects involve helping a local sports coach with football training in the mornings and evenings and joining our teaching program as well. Volunteers are expected to be knowledgeable about the sport they wish to train and work with local sports coaches to formulate an effective training plan. Coaching sessions are generally held in the mornings or early in the evenings.

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Latest Program Reviews

Shadowing Across Wards in Kenya: My Pre-Medicine Internship in Mombasa with International Medical Aid—Clinical Learning, Public Health Insight, and Personal Growth

December 21, 2025by: Avery Oppenheimer - United States

Program: Global Health & Pre-Medicine Internships Abroad | IMA

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I spent three weeks in Mombasa, Kenya completing a medical internship that combined hospital rotations with community outreach. I shadowed doctors in surgery, the labor ward, and pediatrics, gaining valuable insight into patient care and healthcare delivery in a new environment. The hands-on learning and exposure to different medical challenges broadened my perspective and strengthened my passion for medicine. Outside the hospital, our community outreach work showed me how education can make a lasting impact in the lives of others. The accommodations were comfortable, and I especially enjoyed the local food—like the chicken dishes and chapati quickly became my favorites. When I was young, the doctor’s office was one of my least favorite places to be. I hated the smell of antiseptic wipes, the crinkle of the exam table paper, and especially the sharp sting of shots. If someone had told my childhood self that eight years later I would spend my summer in an East African hospital, shadowing doctors, observing surgeries, and rushing from ward to ward, I would have laughed and run in the opposite direction. But my fear of healthcare did not last forever. As I grew older, the very things that once scared me began to fascinate me: how the body works, how diseases disrupt it, and how doctors step in to restore balance. That curiosity is what caused me to apply for an internship with International Medical Aid and board a plane alone to a very unfamiliar location: Mombasa, Kenya. After interning in a hospital in San Ramon, California for a year, I thought I knew what to expect from my experience with International Medical Aid. I would be rotating through obstetrics, surgery and pediatrics. Also, because I have traveled in a handful of developing counties, I thought I knew what to expect from the environment around me. However, nothing could have prepared me for the totality of the experience in Mombasa. The city was chaotic, with crowded streets, blaring horns, and a humid air with the lingering smell of cooking fires and burning trash. A constant reminder that life here moved quickly and under challenging conditions. I was initially overwhelmed. Looking back, this experience has profoundly changed me. It enabled me to make a real difference in another human being’s life. Beyond a single patient’s case, the experience ignited my interest in global public health because I witnessed firsthand the disparities in healthcare delivery in such a resource-limited setting. I will never forget the day I observed an emergency C-section. Although Kenya is not among the top 10 African countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, it continues to experience a high maternal mortality (OD AWE 2023). In 2015, Kenya’s maternal mortality rate was 510 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (Muthee R 2025). This is an exceedingly high number when compared, for instance, to the US maternal mortality rate of 17 per 100,000 live births in 2023 (WHO 2025). That day at Coast General, the mom was in distress, lying on her side in pain because she had been in labor for hours, and everyone in the room was tense. When the doctor finally delivered the baby, I felt such relief when I heard the first cry. But then, everything changed as the baby stopped crying and became limp, not showing any of the normal reflexes babies usually have. I kept waiting for someone to do something fast to address the situation, but the nurse did not seem worried at all. The seconds seem to drag on like minutes. The nurse moved slowly, cleaning the instruments like nothing was wrong. My heart raced. I knew the baby was not breathing, and I could not just stand there, so Dani and I gently but urgently tried to stimulate the baby’s body, which did not open the baby's airway. I spoke up and asked if they could suction the baby’s airway, and the nurse finally grabbed the bulb and cleared the mucus, and after what felt like forever, the baby gasped and started to cry again. I could finally breathe, too. That moment shook me. In a hospital back home, a whole team would have rushed in right away. But here, with fewer resources and a calmer attitude toward emergencies, things moved more slowly. The nurse was operating in an environment that was under-staffed and to her the baby’s status was not an emergency. In that moment, I felt I witnessed a situation that teetered on the edge of life and death. Responding to my perception of an emergency, I also learned that even as a student, I have a voice, and using it can make a difference. I believe it is crucial to act quickly when someone’s life is at risk, regardless of where the emergency takes place. As I reflect back on this moment, however, I can see that “less” does not necessarily mean “worse.” It means using the tools around you to the best of your abilities. In this case, for the busy nurse, that included relying on the two interns to try to revive the newborn. After that moment in the operating room, I started paying closer attention not only to individual cases, but to the entire healthcare system around me. Working at Coast General gave me an unfiltered view of what it means to practice medicine in a public hospital in Kenya. The wards were crowded, sometimes with 70 patients in one large room, and just a couple of nurses caring for everyone. Each morning, before even entering the wards, lines of patients waited in areas overflowing with people, and many of them had been waiting since dawn. It looked very different from hospitals at home, where there is privacy, access to technology, and a sufficient number of staff. Even though the doctors were working with so little, they were incredible. They cared about their patients and took time to explain things to us students. They were patient teachers, despite being clearly exhausted. When the doctor could not do well, it was not because they did not care, but rather because they lacked sufficient resources, staff, or equipment. Or the patient came in too late in the evolution of a disease process. Sometimes doctors had to make hard choices about which patients to treat first because there simply was not enough time or supplies for everyone. My experience in Kenya taught me that healthcare outcomes are not purely just about medicine and physician expertise, but also about systems, access, and resources. I saw how strong clinical skills mattered more without advanced technology to rely on. And I learned how important it is to speak up when something feels wrong, even as a student. My internship with International Medical Aid was more than just a learning experience, it was a life-changing journey. I came to Kenya eager to observe medicine in action and care for people, but I left with so much more: a deeper understanding of health inequities, a stronger sense of compassion and independence, and a clearer vision for my future career. In the developing world, healthcare, I learned, is not just about curing disease; the human being, who has come into the clinic for help, has a particular life story and background that is relevant to their reason for being there. Their treatment is embedded within a complex health care delivery system with its own limitations. In a developing country, what I witnessed is that delivering healthcare means working to create the best outcome possible for that patient. I will continue to carry the lessons of Mombasa with me into every classroom I sit in, every patient I meet, and every decision I will make as a future healthcare professional. Through this experience, I learned that fear can evolve into passion, challenges can lead to growth, and even the smallest acts of care can change or even save another person’s life. Most importantly, this journey showed me that medicine is not just a career, it is a calling to help people who need it most in the worst or hardest moments of their lives. And it has shown me how great the need is in other parts of the world.

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