Alumni Spotlight: Kelly Ongsueng

I chose this program because I have always wanted to visit Mexico and experience its rich culture. Whenever I spoke about my desire to go to Mexico, I was often times discouraged because of the negative stereotype that surrounds the country.

I wanted to be able to challenge myself and develop my knowledge of Spanish by visiting Merida, Mexico. I was lucky enough to be placed in a special needs program where I was able to implement what I have learned from my current program of study and also improve my language skills.

I organized the experience through IVHQ. The volunteer coordinator at IVHQ provided an extensive list of what needed to be completed prior to volunteering. It was really helpful that the volunteer coordinator kept an open line of communication.

The program fees included meals (breakfast, dinner), accommodation, and airport pickup. While in Merida I was responsible for organizing my transportation to/from the volunteer placement along with purchasing water for the duration of the experience. In addition, airport drop-off for departure was organized on my own.

Relish the experience! Get to know your fellow volunteers and the locals around town. Don't take for granted the time that you spend at your volunteer placement and remember just have fun.

The day usually starts early in order to get to the volunteer placement. The shift usually starts around 9 am and ends around 1 - 2 pm. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city, visit the beach, or to simply relax. It is not required to volunteer on the weekends, so it is a good time to visit some major landmarks.

My biggest fear going abroad was getting lost in an area that I am not familiar with. However, I found that a lot of the locals in Merida were extremely friendly and willing to help provide directions.

I was also nervous that I would not be able to effectively communicate with residents at the special needs facility. This was a struggle for me for the first few days but I found ways to non-verbally communicate with some of the residents.

Also being at the facility for two weeks and reflecting on the experience, I feel as though there is a universal language of caring and compassion that can be strongly reflected through non-verbal communication. I feel as though that was one of the major driving points that helped me develop a sense of trust with the residents at the facility.

As an occupational therapy student, I found that my placement at Pastoral de Amor was absolutely amazing. The main philosophy of occupational therapy is to promote individual independence through daily activities and I was glad that Pastoral de Amor used that as their philosophy as well.

I was bit nervous when the staff therapist asked me to provide therapy for the clients but I was so glad that I did not let my fear (not being able to communicate well and not knowing what to exactly do) get in the way of a wonderful opportunity.

Working one on one with the residents in a rehabilitative setting opened my eyes and will always be a valuable experience. The experience of meeting the wonderful individuals at Pastoral de Amor has truly shaped and created a positive impact in the way I would like to be in my professional career in the future.