Alternative Spring Break High School Community Service & Volunteering Programs

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.

My internship with International Medical Aid in Peru was life-changing and gave me deep insight into global health disparities and the cultural complexities of healthcare delivery. As I immersed myself in the tapestry of Peruvian life, I was consistently struck by the resilience of the health providers and the people they served. From learning about Incan history to seeing firsthand how healthcare can look very different between the United States and Peru, the experience was full of meaningful revelations. These moments expanded my worldview and helped cement my desire to pursue a career in healthcare with a focus on underserved populations. One of the most impactful aspects of my time in Peru was seeing how healthcare delivery contrasted with what I was used to in the United States. In many rural areas, the infrastructure for health care is still developing. Some clinics and hospitals lacked basic medical supplies and advanced diagnostic equipment that are often taken for granted in more developed settings. For instance, at Clinic Metropolitano, we frequently took blood pressure by hand because there were few automatic machines. In these circumstances, healthcare professionals demonstrated tremendous resourcefulness and creativity. Specialized care was often limited, especially in rural regions, and many patients had to travel long distances to receive basic healthcare, let alone see a specialist. During mental health clinics in a rural town, I saw how limited access to psychiatric care affected patients. Some women struggled to find support if they experienced sexual or physical violence, and young children did not always have the opportunity to speak openly with a psychologist about issues at home or school. At the same time, I was able to observe a public healthcare system that aimed to provide care to all who worked and contributed. For example, those eligible for EsSalud clinics could receive treatment, but they sometimes faced long waits for appointments, procedures, and medications that were occasionally out of stock. When I visited a hospital to observe an Achilles tendon repair, I learned the patient had waited a year for surgery—an experience that highlighted the realities of limited resources. I also noticed that patient privacy was handled differently in a busy public teaching hospital. Interns were often allowed to observe and sometimes participate in procedures in ways that would be approached more cautiously in the United States. These experiences helped me better understand the trade-offs, pressures, and ethical considerations that come with delivering care in resource-limited, high-demand settings. Navigating cultural differences was part of everyday life in Peru. The country’s rich cultural heritage—rooted in Indigenous, Spanish, and African histories—shapes both healthcare practices and health beliefs. One of the most important lessons I learned was the value of cultural competence in healthcare. When cultural differences are understood and respected, they can significantly improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. Traditional medicine and healers remain highly relevant in many Peruvian communities, especially in rural areas. During my internship, I often saw patients using leaves and other herbal remedies that had been passed down through generations. I observed healthcare providers who respectfully acknowledged these practices while also introducing modern medical interventions when needed, carefully balancing both approaches. I also saw patients who self-medicated with antibiotics and pain medications purchased from street vendors. Although this practice can be risky, physicians approached these conversations with patience and education, encouraging safer behaviors. This experience reinforced for me how essential it is to build trust and collaborate with local communities to provide holistic, culturally sensitive, and effective care. Language barriers were another meaningful part of the learning process. Even though I was conversational in Spanish, many patients spoke only Quechua, an Indigenous language common in the Andean region. This sometimes made verbal communication challenging, but it also underscored the universal nature of empathy in healthcare. One powerful moment occurred when I interacted with a 91-year-old woman who came to the clinic alone. Despite the language gap, we communicated through gestures and with the help of the physician’s limited Quechua. That encounter showed me how deeply kindness, patience, and compassionate presence can impact someone who rarely receives medical attention. I also encountered patients with chronic conditions whose health had been affected by a combination of access issues, lifestyle factors, and healthcare hesitancy. For example, one man in his fifties had uncontrolled diabetes that was leading to neuropathy and vision problems because he did not consistently renew his insulin. Due in part to diet and social norms, many patients lived with chronic hypertension. One patient, who had been taking his medications for three months, still presented with a blood pressure of 176/101. The doctor immediately referred him to the emergency room, knowing that such levels could lead to a stroke or heart attack. These cases were powerful reminders of the importance of preventive care, education, and easily accessible services in managing chronic disease. Another highlight of my internship was learning about Peru’s rich Incan history and how it continues to influence health beliefs and practices today. The Incas were known for their sophisticated knowledge of medicine and their holistic approach to healthcare. They used a wide variety of medicinal plants, many of which remain central to traditional Andean medicine. The Incan emphasis on the mind–body–spirit connection is still reflected in the beliefs of many Indigenous communities. As part of my internship, I visited several archaeological sites where we discussed the Incan approach to health and medicine. I learned about trepanation, the surgical removal of a piece of the skull to treat head injuries—a practice that revealed advanced knowledge of anatomy and surgical technique. These visits gave me a deep appreciation for Peru’s cultural heritage and the ways historical knowledge continues to shape modern health practices. During a tour of the city and surrounding ruins, we also learned about the arrival of the Spanish and the impact of colonization on the Incan people. We heard stories of the encomienda system and the attempted rebellion led by Tupac Amaru, the last Incan leader, whose tragic fate is still remembered. The Plaza de Armas—also called the Plaza de Lágrimas—was the site of many of these events and remains a powerful symbol of resilience and history. Seeing Spanish-built cathedrals constructed with repurposed Incan stone was a vivid reminder of the layers of history present in modern-day Peru. Overall, the tour was an unforgettable experience that deepened my understanding of Incan and Spanish history and its lasting influence on the region. Comparing the healthcare systems of the United States and Peru was eye-opening and thought-provoking. In the United States, healthcare is often characterized by advanced technology, ready access to specialized care, and a strong emphasis on patient autonomy—though these benefits are intertwined with high costs and complex insurance systems. In Peru, particularly in rural areas, healthcare is shaped by limited resources, the continued relevance of traditional medicine, and strong family and community involvement in health decisions. I noticed that patients in the United States are often highly informed about their conditions and actively involved in decision-making. In Peru’s rural communities, there tended to be more deference to healthcare professionals and traditional healers. This difference seemed linked to varying levels of education, cultural beliefs, and access to medical information. I saw many instances where patients trusted and followed the advice of their providers wholeheartedly. Preventive care was another area of contrast. In the United States, routine screenings and vaccinations are widely promoted. In Peru, preventive services can be harder to access, and patients may seek care later in the course of their illness, when conditions are more advanced. This experience sharpened my awareness of the importance of public health initiatives and the need to improve access to preventive care worldwide. Ultimately, this internship was not just an academic experience—it was a journey of personal growth. Living and working within another cultural and healthcare system pushed me beyond my comfort zone and taught me to adapt quickly. I learned to navigate communication barriers, build rapport with patients from diverse backgrounds, and develop a deep respect for cultural practices that differ from my own. These experiences have made me more flexible, empathetic, and culturally sensitive. Some of the most rewarding moments came from bonding with local healthcare providers and community members. Their dedication, perseverance, and compassion were incredibly inspiring. Despite the challenges and resource limitations they faced, they were unwavering in their commitment to providing the best possible care. Their example strengthened my own resolve to pursue a health-related career focused on service and equity. Now, more than ever, I am committed to working in healthcare—particularly in global health and healthcare equity. After completing my undergraduate studies and medical school, I envision myself serving underserved populations in international settings, working to increase access to and improve the quality of care. I am also deeply interested in public health initiatives that address social determinants of health and emphasize preventive care. My time in Peru sparked a fascination with medical anthropology and the ways cultural beliefs and practices influence health behaviors. I believe that understanding these factors on a deeper level will help create more effective interventions and better health outcomes. My internship with International Medical Aid in Peru changed my life and provided invaluable insight into global healthcare disparities and cultural competence. From the ingenuity of healthcare providers working in resource-limited settings to the richness of cultural heritage preserved since the Incan civilization, every day offered something meaningful to learn. The differences between the healthcare systems of the United States and Peru were both surprising and illuminating, reinforcing the need to work toward more equitable global systems. This experience solidified my commitment to a career in medicine, with a focus on global health and healthcare equity. It taught me the importance of empathy, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity in delivering compassionate, effective care. As I continue on my path toward becoming a physician, I am motivated to apply what I learned in Peru to advocate for improved access to quality healthcare for all, regardless of socioeconomic background.

I truly had such a great experience. All the staff were incredibly kind and willing to help us 24/7. The food was amazing, and I still miss it. Overall, my favorite part of the three weeks was the community we built together. We all became so close in such a short time, and everyone was truly inspiring. I am so grateful to International Medical Aid for giving me this experience and introducing me to people who I know will continue to be a part of my life.

IMA was one of the best experiences of my life and will definitely always stay that way. The in-country support was consistently top-notch in terms of comfort, organization, and punctuality. I greatly appreciated the 24-hour security and the guarded gate at the residence, which gave both my parents and me peace of mind and allowed us to rest easier at night. The guards’ system of having us report our whereabouts for safety reasons made us feel protected while still giving us freedom with our outings and how we spent our time outside the residence. The accommodations within the residence are something I am incredibly grateful for. Having our beds made while we were away and our laundry done for us meant I could focus fully on the hospital and the program rather than day-to-day chores. The food was outstanding. On my first day, I mentioned to the chef that I do not eat beef, and every single day afterward there was always an alternative option prepared for me. I especially want to thank Grace for the friendship we built and how she was always looking out for me—whether it was after a shift or just seeing her around the residence. I remember one evening when the main course was beef burgers and she quietly brought me a plate of chicken that the kitchen had prepared just for me. Every buffet was thorough, generous, and thoughtfully prepared, with more options than I could have hoped for. The kitchen staff is spectacular and truly among the people I was most grateful for during my internship. The outreach and community impact that IMA emphasizes are done exceptionally well. From the weekly clinics to the specific lessons we taught in schools, these moments have stayed with me the most and prompted the deepest introspection and reflection. Being welcomed into under-resourced communities and seeing how we, even as students, could contribute to screenings, education, and basic services was incredibly humbling. Seeing how we were treated as interns in underserved areas was eye-opening and only fueled my passion for medicine as I witnessed how deeply doctors are valued and needed to better society. Even as a high school student, I was allowed to help perform eye tests and participate in the nutritional aspect of medical reviews—experiences I feel privileged to have had so early in my life and prospective career. The multiple avenues that IMA provides for interns—from rotating through different hospital departments to engaging in real-world scenarios where we apply our knowledge to help others—have shaped me in ways I am still processing. I can confidently say this experience has made me a more empathetic, gentle, observant, and benevolent individual. I listen more now and think more carefully before I speak, because I have seen how unforgiving yet how generous life can be depending on where and how people are born. I want to remain mindful of that and truly serve my community to make it a better place. I could not thank IMA more for this opportunity and carry immense gratitude in my heart. It was my first night shift at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. I had barely been in Mombasa for a week and, despite advice to rest, I was too energized to stay in bed. Around 8:00 p.m., I arrived in the ICU not knowing what to expect. I had never been in such an unfiltered clinical environment before. My grandmother had spent her final days in an ICU in America, but even within my first week at Coast General, I knew the two settings were impossible to compare. The ICU was housed in a separate, guarded unit. We covered our shoes and hair before entering. The hospital overall felt like a black-and-white system, with each department having clear responsibilities and routines: surgery with its log sheets, maternity with its different stages of labor and dedicated C-section rooms, the Newborn Unit warm and carefully set up to mirror the womb for fragile infants. The ICU felt like the space in between—the grey zone between life and death—where nothing was sharply defined and every outcome felt precarious. At around 2:30 a.m., Dr. Hassan Ali walked into the doctors’ office and casually asked how we were doing. Still half-asleep, we answered that we were fine. Then he said, plainly, “We just lost a patient a few minutes ago.” There was no padding, no gentle buildup—just the truth. The shock to my mind did not beat the sinking feeling in my heart. Earlier that night, we had gone bed to bed, learning about each patient’s case. A pregnant mother with seizures and pneumonia, eyes rolling back then resetting, body jerking uncontrollably. A patient with a hole in her heart and pneumonia on top of her condition. A 16-year-old mother whose baby was upstairs in the Newborn Unit, while she lay jaundiced and frail from pneumonia. She was the only one strong enough to smile, and I smiled back through my mask with my eyes. Back in the doctors’ room, we reviewed patient files for the first time: names, ages, marital status, medical histories, admission dates—entire lives compressed into a few pages of ink. Around 2:31 a.m., we tried to process what had just happened. When we asked what the patient who passed had been suffering from, Dr. Ali explained it was due to diabetic complications. Her blood pressure had suddenly spiked and then crashed. Resuscitation failed. When we asked why her abnormal vitals hadn’t appeared on the central monitor, we were told her monitor wasn’t connected to the main screen because there weren’t enough connections. They usually kept the more stable patients on that monitor. This time, it turned out differently. It was the first time I fully internalized how chance and limited resources could decide whether someone lives or dies. The following week, I was placed in the Newborn Unit. Here, babies in their first hours, days, and weeks of life were monitored, supported, and stabilized. Some struggled, some were abandoned, and many were under close observation along with their mothers. One of my first tasks was to help clean the cots: washing beds with soap, chlorine, and water, changing bedding, and carefully transferring each baby. Once the work was done, I was introduced to Baby Faith—the baby I would be responsible for feeding. I prepared formula specifically labeled for Faith, mixing sixty milliliters of hot water with two scoops of formula, and wondered how I was supposed to feed him with such a large cup. That’s when Nurse Cecelia handed me a brand-new syringe. I lifted Faith from his bed and carried him to a chair. He began to stir as I gently placed the tip of the syringe between his lips. He drew it in and drank with surprising coordination. He would suck firmly once, then create an air bubble inside the syringe that eased the flow of milk—an adjustment he seemed to discover instinctively. When he fell asleep in my lap, I read through his file. He had been born premature, recently strong enough to leave the incubator and no longer need oxygen support. Then I saw it at the top of the page: “Mother deceased June 10th.” His mother had died of cancer during her pregnancy. She was 25 years old, married, and Faith was her first child. Holding him, I realized he had likely never felt his mother’s touch. From birth, he had gone straight to intensive care. As he rested against my arm, my pulse was one of the only rhythms he had to mirror. The privilege I was given to care for him is something I still struggle to express in words. My time in the Maternity Department brought together everything I had seen about life, risk, and resilience. I helped a mother adjust her clothing, called a doctor when her IV had run dry, and watched as a team supported her through each contraction. I saw the final push—the point of absolute exhaustion where she somehow found the strength to finish bringing her baby into the world. That first cry felt like the end of a war: chaos collapsing into relief. I cried too, overwhelmed by the enormity of what I had just witnessed. Not long after, I scrubbed into a C-section. The gynecologists worked with calm precision, talking us through each step. When the baby was delivered, she did not cry. Under the radiant warmer, the nurses tried stimulation, suctioning, and then CPR—fifteen compressions to two breaths, in perfect rhythm. For a moment, her chest rose faintly, then stopped. After ten minutes, the team had to make the call. The baby had passed. The mother was in critical condition but expected to recover. The abrupt shift—from hope to loss—was devastating. These moments forced me to think deeply about the three stages of life: birth, life, and death. Birth is the first test, where so much can go wrong yet survival is celebrated as a victory of chance and strength. Life is the unpredictable stretch shaped by circumstances often beyond our control. Death is the conclusion of a completely unique story, even when the diagnosis is shared by millions. Doctors stand closest to all three stages, faced daily with sights and decisions most people will never encounter. Quotes I had once read took on new meaning. Neil deGrasse Tyson said, “You can only die if you were ever alive.” Richard Dawkins wrote that most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born, emphasizing how improbable our existence really is. In Mombasa, those ideas felt tangible. I saw people lining up at pharmacies to buy medications they could barely afford, families forced to choose between basic needs and treatment, and communities where clean water is not guaranteed—where 41% of people must risk unsafe options that can land them in the hospital. I realized how rarely I had questioned those guarantees at home: rapid imaging, readily available medications, preventive care taken for granted. And yet, in Mombasa, I never once doubted the humanity of the healthcare workers. I never saw a doctor who didn’t know a patient’s name, even when responsible for more than twenty patients. I never felt they were there for prestige or wealth. Their love for their patients, their collaboration, and their sincere desire to serve were evident in every interaction. The emotional warmth and integrity I witnessed at Coast General is something I will never forget. Leaving Mombasa, the small frustrations of daily life at home felt insignificant. My perspective on privilege, suffering, resilience, and responsibility had shifted. Healthcare, I realized, is a field that operates at the very edge of all three chapters of life, demanding scientific rigor and emotional strength in equal measure. My time with International Medical Aid and at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital confirmed my calling to pursue medicine—not just as a career, but as a way to honor the privilege of being alive and to serve others with humility and gratitude. My heart has been permanently imprinted with the benevolence, strength, and radiance of Kenya. The love, mentorship, and trust I received from International Medical Aid, the staff at Coast General, and the broader Mombasa community are gifts I will carry with me forever. Asante sana, Kenya. We will meet again.

My experience with IMA was truly once in a lifetime. I’m endlessly grateful for the staff, including Hilda, Bella, Mitchel, Margaret, Joshua, Benson, Javan, Teddy, and the housekeeping staff who were incredibly hospitable. My laundry was done quickly, my stomach was always full of food, and my bed was always ready whenever I returned to the residence. I felt extremely safe living in the Program Residence; I could even run outside the residence without any issues. I couldn’t have asked for better hospitality. The program itself significantly impacted me. Through the cultural treks, such as the Mombasa Cultural Center and the Nguuni Nature Sanctuary, I felt immersed in Kenyan culture, which I had never learned about in the United States. The community outreach clinics also allowed me to see IMA’s positive influence on Mombasa’s community. Whether it was teaching women’s health or hygiene education, the tangible impact was incredibly fulfilling. In summary, these aspects of my internship made for an unforgettable trip.

I seriously had so much fun on this trip and I’ve learned so so much. I think it’s really helped me grow as a person and I’m so thankful. I made some close friends. My favorite activity was working with the kids to paint signs in their community. I was really touched and realized that we really were making an impact.

The Parismina 10 in Costa Rica excursion was so much fun! I had an amazing time meeting new people and learning about sea turtles and their environment! It made me feel so great to learn more about other cultures!

There was excellent flexibility to those of us with any food allergies or restrictions and they were so helpful to my vegan diet and always made sure i was well fed. Swimming in the ocean was memorable but my favorite activity in the program was the service day with the guanacaste water center when we went to the school garden

I would like to specifically give praise to to the Mentors for providing myself and the rest of my mentor group with a safe sharing space by forming a comfortable environment. We really got to know other students in our group on a level we would not have otherwise. I gained new perspectives that will shape my future decisions and relationships. As for the learning, through the Guanacaste Water Center I have learned the value of every living thing and how everything connects to create a whole. Really eye-opening!

I think I grew by becoming a better leader and taking initiative in group settings. I also think that I learned a lot about friendships and being more outgoing in social settings. We had a talent show at the end that was great, so cool to see everyone's performances and secret talents. I also loved the dance class we did.

I had the wonderful opportunity of traveling to Costa Rica with my best friend for the sea turtle initiative! During the trip I met some of the sweetest people which lead to long lasting friendships from all over the world! I saw so much wildlife and beautiful nature that I don't get to experience on a daily basis while living in the desert. Most importantly I was a a part of finding and acting to resolve a local issue, poaching of sea turtles and their eggs. We spent hours walking on the beaches at night making sure there were no poachers, to see if we could find tracks or spot a sea turtle laying eggs. We didn't see much for a few a days until the second to last night we saw a sea turtle laying her eggs right in front of the house we were staying at! we let her lay her eggs and one of the local guides put a tracker on the mom, we counter eggs and took them to a hatchery, where they were placed in an incubator overnight and buried into a fenced area where they can continue their hatching process safely without the worry of poachers. I would definitely go to Costa Rica again and will be going on other GLA trips!

I feel like I grew as a leader in taking action and working with my peers. I also feel as thought I grew in my passions to pursue a career in the medical field. I also feel I grew by stepping out of my comfort zone in a new place and learned a lot about culture, my values, and medicine while making lifelong friends. My favorite leadership activity was working with vida for the vaccines and surgeries and home visits. I felt really connected to the community there and like what we did made a difference.

Best trip of my life, so much thanks to everyone for EVERYTHING! Learned how to teamwork effectively and have fun with people I wouldn’t normally talk to, keep working when things seem pointless, work hard play hard :) Loved the talent show, and the catamaran activity.

I met the coolest people I’ve ever met that I’ll forever look up to and have changed my perspective on so many things. I’ve learned to work amazingly as a team and how important it is to take care of our environment, which I already knew but this made it so much more real and in perspective. The mentors were so sweet too, and I felt taken care of.

My experience with International Medical Aid in Kenya is one that I will never forget. The memories I made during this program will be cherished forever. During this internship as a high school student, everything I saw was new to me. My time at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital was transformative. The experience of rotating through different departments was eye-opening and profoundly educational. In the pediatric department, I witnessed the severe effects of poverty and disease. The sight of malnourished children and the struggle of their families was heart-wrenching. One of the most impactful moments was observing a lumbar puncture procedure on a child suspected of having meningitis. Despite the distressing nature of the procedure, it was a significant learning opportunity that deepened my understanding of medical practices. Beyond the hospital, engaging with local communities was an enriching aspect of the program. Participating in health clinics at local schools allowed me to interact with children and learn about their lives. Despite initial nervousness about public speaking, I grew more confident as I engaged with the children, providing advice and support on various health topics. The mental health clinics, in particular, were both challenging and rewarding. Addressing issues such as domestic abuse and food insecurity, although difficult, provided valuable insights into the socio-economic challenges faced by the local population. My outlook on life will forever be altered because of this program. This program was able to convert me into a very social person that I wasn't before. I will always remember the people that I met in Kenya and the memories I made with them. My safety in Kenya was never a concern for me because the mentors told us what to avoid and recommended better and safer options. The mentors were extremely supportive and helpful if I had any questions or concerns and made sure all the interns were having a great time. The food was great and it was always a highlight to come back from the hospital and sit down for a fulfilling meal with your friends. I will forever grateful for this experience, Kenya and IMA will always have a special place in my heart. I tried as best as I could to show no fear about this internship, I wanted to trick myself into thinking that I wasn’t scared. I was able to keep my composure until the 15-hour flight from New York to Nairobi, that's when it hit me. The fact that I wouldn’t see my family for four weeks on a continent I have never been on, with people I have never met. It was a lot, I just hoped that I could get through it. It wasn’t until I met a couple of other interns in the Nairobi airport that I knew I would be just fine. As soon as the wheels hit the tarmac in Mombasa I knew that this was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that would change my life forever. Despite being a high school student, I was fortunate enough to have access to Biomedical Science courses that my school which opened my eyes to the medical field. Having only ever shadowed a physician's assistant for a couple of hours before coming here, I had no idea what to expect especially in a foreign country. For four weeks I was constantly learning, my brain never relaxed, fascinated the whole time. Even the car ride from the airport to the residence was shocking, the ability to drive without stop signs, and traffic lights was something I had never seen. One of the biggest takeaways I have from this experience that I didn’t think about before arriving was the social aspect of this trip. I have never been the most social person when it comes to meeting new people but this trip changed that tremendously. I was truly surprised about how nice and talkative everyone was to all of the new interns, by the end of the night I think I said my name and where I am from over 20 times. I was super excited to get to know everyone and learn about them. I knew that most of the interns would be in college so I wanted to learn a lot from them about college and their advice for me at my age. My biggest fear before arriving was that I wasn’t going to find a group to hang out with but after the night I arrived I knew I had nothing to be worried about. This internship truly changed my entire perspective on people and my opinion of myself. I used to struggle with social anxiety and my ability to be myself around others that I didn’t know. I realized that I should be myself and not what I think others want me to be, if people don’t like me for being me then that is their issue. When I arrived the other interns made me feel like I belonged and that I was liked and appreciated. I knew that this was how I wanted to treat all of the new interns who would come in during my internship. The group of interns that I came in with were mostly high schoolers which made it very easy for us to become good friends during the trip. This experience let me know a lot about myself and the first impressions I gave to people. I was surprised to find that everyone thought I was a lot older than I was and they thought that I was very mature for my age. I appreciated this because I have always thought that I struggled with first impressions and meeting new people. After two weeks, a large amount of people left especially people who I was close with. This left me wondering about who I was going to hang out with for my last two weeks leaving me with only one choice. I need to find other interns and become really good friends with them, I thought that this was going to be a lot harder than it was. Making new friends is something that I have struggled with my whole life, once I get close to people it is hard for me to move on once they leave. I have always viewed myself as not enough for people to have me as their friend but this internship changed that. The newfound social skills that I was able to learn during this experience will forever impact me in the future. All conservations and interactions I have with people will now be changed because of this internship. Every time I think back to this unparalleled experience my mind will always go to one place, Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. The combination of knowledge, information, and lessons that I learned about there is something that I will never forget. Since I haven’t had a lot of experience in Western hospitals, everything I saw was truly fascinating. My first rotation was in the pediatric department, where I saw which diseases and illnesses were affecting the children of Kenya the most. I gathered so much knowledge during this week because it was the first time I was able to see the effects of poverty and health issues in Kenya. I have always known that Kenya and other African countries are plagued with malaria, poverty, food insecurity, and lack of access to clean water. But to see the effects of the combination of those on a child was astonishing. The hardest thing for me was seeing how much malnutrition was in the wards with almost every child being diagnosed. It was hard seeing such young patients in so much pain and having to see mothers wonder if their child is going to survive. The most memorable moment in pediatrics was when a young boy was suspected of having meningitis and needed a lumbar puncture. In school, I learned a lot about meningitis and lumbar punctures but to see one in person was a full-circle moment. It was difficult to watch the boy having to be held down by a nurse as he was sobbing because there was no anesthesia used. The doctors and nurses struggled to extract the spinal fluid and it took them many tries to get the sample which caused the patient a lot of pain. Despite the pain that came with the test I was captivated by it. It was the first medical procedures/tests that I have ever seen and I just couldn’t stop watching. One of the interns who was also watching the lumbar puncture has had one before in a western hospital and it was cool to hear about how his experience was different. The doctor who had the biggest impact on me during my time in pediatrics was Dr. Ken. He was such a good teacher and I learned so much about the different illnesses as well as the most common symptoms that the patients come in with. The tuberculosis clinic with Dr. Ken was where I learned the most because TB is rare where I live and did not know much about it. After just a couple of hours in the TB clinic I gained so much knowledge about it and its effects on the people of Kenya. It was scary to learn about how TB can spread anywhere in the body besides a person’s nails or hair. During my time in pediatrics, I got my first taste of how patient care was in CGTRH and how different it was from the US. It was quite scary and infuriating at times to hear the doctors yelling at the nurses. The nurses would be scolded for not changing IVs, not administering antibiotics, and just negligence in general. Also, the lack of communication between the doctors and patients was stunning, many times the patients did not know why they were getting a certain test or treatment. Throughout my time at CGTRH, I was able to realize a lot about healthcare especially when it comes to having skilled and caring doctors and nurses. The biggest difference that leads to such a gap in healthcare between the Western world and developing countries is money. The employees at CGTRH do not get compensated for the amount of work they do which harms everybody. Just a couple of months before I came to Kenya there was a strike of Mar 14, 2024 where almost every doctor in public healthcare went on strike which led to many people dying (Raballa, 2024). The doctors wanted better welfare because they knew that they do a lot more work than what they get paid for. The patients suffer so much due to the negligence of the healthcare workers that they trust to help them. Despite some nurses caring less than others there were still a great deal of people who were amazing to the patients and who I wanted to be model myself after. Seeing the patients interact with doctors gave me a detailed insight into the dos and don’ts of how to treat a patient which I couldn’t get where I live. My main goal for this internship was to try and get a better understanding of what I want to specialize in as a doctor, in my second week I did just that. Coming into this internship I was most excited to see what surgery had to offer especially in a foreign country. I had never seen a surgery in-person before and I had no idea what to expect. As soon as I walked into the OR for the first time I immediately was mesmerized, I saw a surgeon with a mallet pounding away at the patient's tibia to put it back in place. Before my week in surgery, some interns were talking to me about surgery and how they almost passed out during their first time. This made me a little nervous but I was confident that I was going to be fine in surgery. Everything I saw in surgery was a first, the bones, tissue, the sheer amount of blood. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen, I couldn’t look away even for a second. I watched a newborn with hydrocephalus go into cardiac arrest on the operating table and get revived by the doctors. It was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that the patient was dead in front of me before he was resuscitated. The surgeons and nurses were extremely calm during the cardiac arrest, they just started CPR immediately and were able to save the child. The entire surgery process was incredible from start to finish. I found it especially interesting when the surgeons were suturing the patient back up and I could see the different types of sutures they used. The night shift I did in surgery is an unforgettable experience that I will always look back to when I think about this internship. Due to the protests occurring the night of my night shift the entire night was something out of a TV show. Throughout the night, my fellow interns and I saw four gunshot wounds over the course of around five hours. Being fortunate enough to be allowed to watch the surgeries of these patients is something that I will forever be grateful for. I never thought I would ever see a gunshot wound in person but seeing four in one night was shocking. The most memorable surgery during that night shift was the second one that I watched. The craziest part about it was that the patient was the same age as me, 17 years old. He wasn’t even a part of the protests, he was standing in his yard and then got shot in the hand by the police. The patient was braver than I could have ever been, after only being given a local anesthetic he was looking at his thumb that was falling off the rest of his hand. He was very interested in the mutilated hand especially once the doctor drilled a nail into his thumb to put it back in place. I was in awe, watching a kid my age get his thumb drilled back into place and he was fine, with no tears or signs of pain. After the second surgery, the other interns and I left to surprise another intern for their birthday, and on our way out we had an unforgettable moment. As we were leaving the 17-year-old’s Dad was outside and asked us if his son was going to be okay. We assured him that we were going to be fine and that the surgery went well. As soon as he heard that, his eyes lit up and he started thanking us saying, “God bless you”. Even though I knew we didn’t help with the surgery at all just being able to give the Dad peace of mind about his son is a feeling I will never forget. I knew that I wanted to chase that feeling for the rest of my life, being able to help people and just knowing how much it means to them. I thought about that moment every day for the next week and just remembered how happy it made me feel that I could help somebody who needed to hear some good news. This was my biggest takeaway from the entire 4-week experience because I realized how much I love helping people more than I ever did before. I also realized that I want to be a surgeon because of how interesting and how there's a lot of pressure but it is also very meticulous. I loved the atmosphere during surgery because it was fully dependent on the surgeon, some would listen to music during the surgery while others kept the room very tense and serious. There was another very memorable surgery that I watched during an afternoon shift that has also stuck with me. A man was attacked by another person who was armed with a machete and the man needed emergency surgery. It was the most hectic surgery that I watched because of how much was going on at once. The man was having the tendons in his hand sutured back together so he would be able to use his fingers as well as having brain surgery. The aspect that made this so memorable was when I could see a part of his brain pulsing which I thought was intriguing. One of my favorite things about International Medical Aid was doing clinics at local schools and being able to interact with all the kids and people there. The clinics were so fun and I would always be so happy when could greet all the kids and give them all high fives. The fact that they were so excited to see all of the interns was so heartwarming and I loved every minute of it. Once I learned about what terrible things a lot of the kids were going through at home it felt even better that I was able to brighten their day. It was also a great learning experience for me because I have always struggled with public speaking and I was quite nervous in my first clinic because there were so many kids. I was able to get a lot more comfortable with public speaking and with coming up with things to talk about on the spot. The mental health clinic was very memorable for me because I felt that the kids got a lot of good advice from everybody especially when they would ask questions. It was hard to answer a lot of the questions that kids would give to us because I had never done anything with mental health before. The questions were also about things I have never experienced such as domestic abuse and food insecurity. Even though I wasn’t able to answer a lot of the questions the other interns were still able to give good answers and I think helped the kids get a better understanding of what to do. After we finished the mental health part of the clinic all of the interns danced with all the kids which I had a lot of fun doing. It was great seeing so many people with different backgrounds and experiences be able come together and just dance. It was cool to be able to see how the education system works in Kenya versus how it is back in the US. The first thing I noticed when I first arrived at my first clinic was how the teachers and structure of the education were very strict. The teachers would carry around sticks and it made me wonder if this was more or less effective and getting the kids to stay on task. During the clinics, I learned a lot about how serious the students are about exams and getting good grades which I thought was good. Being able to have kids realize how important school is at a young age is crucial to them being successful. During my time in Kenya, I found that I very much enjoyed learning about the similarities and differences between the US and Kenya when it comes to health. The lectures and Dr. Shazim were very useful in helping me learn differences that I couldn’t see at the hospital. However, learning about Kenya’s healthcare also came with some appalling information about how they struggle with certain parts of healthcare. The statement that stuck out to me the most was, “This translates to an average of 21 doctors and 100 nurses per 100,000 people compared with the WHO-recommended minimum staffing levels of 36 doctors and 356 nurses per 100,000 people” (International Medical Aid 2024). I was shocked when I heard this because when I work I know what being understaffed feels like but I couldn’t even imagine what it is like being a healthcare worker in Kenya. The fact that nurses have to do 3 times the work that they should be doing. After hearing this information I realized that even though the nurses and doctors do a poor job sometimes they are doing so much more work than they should be doing. I remember during one of the debriefs or lectures I was told that the ratio of doctors to civilians in Kenya was 1:16000, this left me astounded. I couldn’t wrap my head around this statistic because of how unreal it sounded. Just seeing how long the time was outside of Coast General was so depressing that most of those people would not even get seen by a medical professional that day. During my third week of the program, I was placed in the Internal Medicine department of the hospital which helped me learn a lot of valuable lessons. Internal Medicine was a very sad and sorrowful place to be in because I knew that the wards had a high mortality rate. I would constantly be thinking about how many of the people in this ward were going to die soon and I couldn’t help them. Internal Medicine was a variety of cases ranging from cancer to heart failure and many things in between. After learning about how non-communicable diseases are plaguing Kenya I was able to see the real-time effects of them on people. I was able to see real people instead of just statistics such as the fact that non-communicable diseases cause 27% of the deaths in Kenya (International Medical Aid 2024). Being able to see humans instead of just numbers was eye-opening because I see a lot of crazy statistics but being able to see them in real-time is horrifying. One patient in particular that I saw was a woman who had her eye removed at another hospital but she didn’t know why and neither did the doctor at Coast General. This shed light on how bad things can get when a healthcare professional doesn’t communicate their decisions with a patient. The conditions of the wards in Internal Medicine were also quite shocking because of the difference between the male and female wards. The male wards had curtains that separated the patients and allowed them to have some privacy. The female wards and no curtains and had the patient's bed around 3 feet apart from one another. Also, both wards had beds that were outside in the heat which was something I never thought I would see especially in such a hot place. Birds were flying in and out of the windows as well as the patients constantly had flys landing on them, for the most part, it was the unconscious patients who would end up flys buzzing all around them. Since I am a high school student I was afraid that my age was going to be a disadvantage during the trip because I wouldn’t be as knowledgeable as the other interns. While I was not as educated as the other interns I was able to use my age and lack of experience as an advantage. I was able to learn so much because everything I saw was new to me and allowed me to get the most out of this program. The one drawback I discovered was that I couldn’t compare the Western hospitals to Coast General as much as the other interns could. But this meant that when I would hear them talk about the differences I was able to gain a better understanding of western hospitals. The coincidence of the protests occurring during the same time I was in Kenya was very tragic yet gave me an interesting perspective. After learning what the protesters were calling it was a surreal thing to think about because during school I learned about times in history where civilians have called for political change. I was able to experience Kenyan history happening in real-time and feel a part of it because I was able to see the tragic moments while in the hospital. I will forever be grateful for this unparalleled experience and how much I was able to take away from it. From the pages and pages of notes I took during my time in the hospital to the unforgettable nights with the other interns, I will always reminisce about this program. Interacting with the local children and being able to teach them about hygiene, mental health, and women's health was so much fun. Being able to see the coolest and most gruesome things I have ever seen in a hospital was incredible. Kenya and International Medical Aid will always have a special place in my heart.

My name is Shamus Davenport and I am a senior in high school currently. Every single high school summer I have participated in a GLA program. During the Summer of 2023 I chose to go on GLA’s Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Initiative program from July 7th through the 16th. One thing I want to highlight about this program and GLA as a whole is that there are ways to make it cheaper! If you put in some time and effort, there are available scholarships which I have done on all three of my programs! Focusing on the actual trip, this was life changing. I can talk endlessly about the people this organization attracts. Locals, counselors, and fellow campers alike every trip I’ve been on leads to lifelong friendships and connections. Fun fact, I have flown across the country to see friends from every single program I have been on! This time specifically I made close friends that I am still close with and go on more adventures with. Then, our home base manager, raft guide, local tour guide, and many more locals all showed such passion for their jobs, sharing the environment, culture, and traditions with everybody. Something I have learned through this program and really took to heart during this one was, there are endless opportunities to grow, learn, and broaden your perspective, whether you do this 10 day program or another one of GLA’s various programs. The main thing you need to know is to engage in every possible opportunity and to stay present! It will change your experience in the program and maybe, like it did for me, your life. This was a huge theme throughout this one specifically. Every GLA program restricts phone use to different extents, but with this one, being the most remote program even during times where we had our phones there was not a lot of service so we were, in a way, forced to engage more. I have always disliked phones, I feel like they take away from actually living life, but this trip really strengthened that value for me. I feel like since then I have applied that concept and seized moments more so than before which brings a lot more value to every experience. I am a very outdoorsy person which checks out seeing as I love these trips and there were so many fun adventures from rafting to checking out the small village close by. It’s so hard to pick a favorite one. I loved playing soccer with the local kids, but I think rafting was my favorite. Nothing could compare to the beauty we saw along the volcanic river. There were cool buildings and areas for people to stop at and explore and the nature was unreal, not to mention the rapids were large and very fun. Speaking of rapids, I can speak a lot for the wonderful balance between safety and fun this program provides. GLA always does a good job setting reasonable rules depending on where we are while also creating an environment that nurtures the spirit of adventure. While most programs have pretty strenuous service work, a really nice thing about this one is that it is just another adventure. The main chunk of service consists of doing turtle walks from 8-12 at night. Even though we were attentive and watching for turtles the entire time, something about walking on the beach at night with the moon and stars shining overhead just makes the work so much fun and leads to great conversations. Not to mention we saw over ten turtles consisting of different species. I would never do a GLA program twice because they offer so many more around the world, but if I did, it would definitely be this one.

When I first got there I had no doubt that I was going to have an amazing time. All the staff made it so fun and a safe environment. I had a good session with everyone there. The volunteering was incredibly rewarding and amazing because the got to see the smiles on peoples’ faces. The adventure days were so fun and exhilarating. Overall my trip through GLA was life changing and amazing I had a great time in Costa Rica and can’t wait for my next trip

I got to travel internationally without my parents and do something all on my own!! My favorite parts of the Costa Rica program were surfing in the rain and the sunset at the catamaran. Best memories :)

Amazing staff throughout each extremely supportive and great people! I grew to be more social and to understand what it meant to be a leader to peers. My favorite was the plastics documentary as it taught me about how recycling actually relates to real life and how disorganized anti plastic companies really are. The resume workshop felt brief and we were not able to make a resume, but still good info to get.

Chloe absolutely LOVED this experience in Costa Rica w/ Rustic Pathways. Even with her anxiety, the PL's created a nice balance of service, fun and grounded her well. We can't wait to hear about next years programs.