Health Care Volunteering in Mexico

After going on a trek in the Himalayas in January of 2024, I fell in love with the country and the people and wanted to return there to do some volunteer work. I found IVHQ on the internet and with the variety of programs they offer around the world I was able to return to Nepal and booked a trip to the Elephant Sanctuary in Chitwan. It was a magical experience. You learn such a lot about these wonderful animals and the hosts at the sanctuary were so gracious. It was a very rewarding experience.

Spending a month in Oaxaca was more than just a medical experience—it was an immersion into a healthcare system deeply intertwined with culture, resourcefulness, and community. Shadowing physicians in clinics and hospitals, I saw firsthand how providers balanced modern medicine with traditional healing, where resources were scarce but compassion was abundant. I witnessed systemic health challenges firsthand—patients traveling hours for medical attention, hospitals working with limited supplies, and families playing a crucial role in their loved ones’ care. This experience taught me that medicine is not just about treating illness but about understanding the patient’s beliefs, environment, and access to care. Outside of the clinical setting, Oaxaca’s rich culture embraced me—dancing in the streets during festivals, tasting mole in a bustling mercado, and connecting with local healthcare teams who welcomed me as one of their own. This experience reinforced that medicine is universal, but healing is deeply personal, shaped by history, tradition, and human connection.