Program Reviews

We were able to gain an insight of the true lifestyle of local Nicaraguans in Masaya, by actually living with a host family for a portion of the trip. We were rewarded with a feeling of fulfillment after helping 203 animal patients at our veterinary clinics throughout the trip, and 365 human patients at our medical clinics. You learn so many valuable hands on skills by working side by side with local doctors. The trip was also filled with fun activities such as a zip-lining canopy tour, a boat tour of the Islands of Granada on Lake Nicaragua, a soccer game with local children, a visit to a local daycare, and a Latin dance class.

I thought this program was an amazing opportunity and I had a great experience. It was very eye-opening and I wouldn't trade the experience I had for anything. I learned an incredible amount with the hands on medical training. Just knowing you changed the lives of many of the local people by treating them was a great feeling. I would encourage any one to go on this trip. With the medical training in the clinics, learning about the culture in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and recreational days, it is truly a great opportunity for anyone.

VIDA is extremely organized. You have a group leader who makes sure everything runs smoothly and doctors and interpreters who travel with you and educate you on the countries' history, government systems, ecosystems, and anything else you want to know about the culture. They provide clean drinking water at all times and plenty of meals during clinic days.

A huge issue for me was feeling safe. I can honestly say that I felt safe 100% of the time. When we had free nights to explore the towns near our hotels, the interpreters were kind enough to come with us and help us communicate with the locals. I never felt like my suitcases were in danger, either. The hotels we stayed at were really nice.

The clinic was the best part of the trip. You don't need to have any prior medical experience. I personally did, and it felt great to be able to teach my peers what I already know. There is a crash medical course the first day, and the doctors walk you through every step of the way. You will learn a lot about patient-care: how to take a health history, vital signs, and determine if they are normal or not. After interacting with the patient, you get to come up with a diagnosis, which you will present to the doctor. The doctor will then walk through all of the symptoms with you and explain what the real diagnosis is and why. The doctors are amazing teachers! I learned so much. Its an amazing feeling when you can start relating things from your science classes to actual patient care. The doctors help you to connect the dots.

This trip was enlightening and I feel like I came back to the US with a whole different perspective on my life and what I want to do in the future. This experience made me want to continue volunteering abroad with VIDA. I will definitely recommend VIDA to everyone and anyone.

I've travelled a lot in my life but I've never travelled for the sole purpose of helping others, which I found to be extremely enriching in all aspects. What I loved about VIDA is that there were clinic days mixed in with down days so it wasn't all just hard work because to be honest, the clinic days wear you out and you need the break of recreational days. We began the trip in Costa Rica in San Jose for orientation and then travelled via bus to Liberia, Costa Rica for our first 2 clinic days. During clinics you have time to play with the local children, which was a lot of fun even though I did not know a word of spanish. On each of the first two clinic days the dental team, which I was a part of, saw 56 patients; so in total for Costa Rica we helped 132 people. Since the dental, vet, and medical teams all volunteered in the same building we were able to observe how the other teams worked. I personally really enjoyed watching the vet team work because it was hands-on just like the dental team. During clinics my eyes were opened to how serious the people needed our help. The first clinic day was a day to get adjusted to how things will work for the rest of the trip and to practice using the tools in doing cleanings as well as aiding in extractions. After the first two clinic days, we headed to La Cruz, Costa Rica to relax and enjoy the sun. And trust me, use sunscreen! I'm still peeling! At La Cruz we stayed at a resort where we were able to take a short boat ride to a near by island for a hike and snorkeling (although it was too rough for us to snorkel). Although the hike was pretty tough, it was very rewarding when you got the top to see a 360 view of the bay. After La Cruz we headed to Nicaragua for our 2nd two clinic days in Masaya where we stayed with a local family. To be honest, at first I was terrified of the homestays because I didn't know what to expect nor did I know any spanish, but VIDA did an excellent job with pairing volunteers with the families and I'd have to say it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. After the last clinic day we headed to Managua, Nicaragua to zip line, which was a blast! Before I knew it I was on my home and upset that the trip had ended so fast.

Even though the trip was semi-pricey, it was worth every cent and I'd do it again in a heart beat! It was very rewarding knowing you made a difference in so many peoples lives. I could literally go on and on for days about this experience but I'll keep it kind of short. At the end of the day, I would 100% do this again and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!!!!!

The trip was surprisingly organized. I felt safe the entire time. I can't explain how much I learned during the clinics, it was well worth every penny! The recreation activities were also very fun, there is something for everyone to appreciate.

Traveling with VIDA is one of the best decisions i've made it my entire life. I've met so many new people, expanded my interest in new cultures and languages, and received the most applicable skills through clinic days that I would never have had the opportunity to receive in the States. I love it so much!

From the people to the scenery, Nicaragua was incredible. The clinic days were truly eye-opening, and I felt like I made a difference. The patients seemed grateful, and were more than willing to interact with us. We overcame the language barrier with ease, and had a real, human connection. The home stay families were wonderful, and more hospitable than I could ever have imagined. From the endless meals, to constant entertainment, I never felt bored or uncomfortable living in my home stay family's house. All in all, the experience was unforgettable, and I plan to return to Nicaragua as soon as possible, not only to help the people but enjoy the beautiful culture and nature.

From the clinics to the free days this program was incredible. Clinics ran very smoothly because of the patience and willingness to teach of the Dentists, and the volunteers felt like we actually made a difference; considering we were actually assisting as opposed to only shadowing. We had the unique opportunity to interact with the locals, leaving memories that I will forever cherish and never forget. On free days, we did exciting things like horseback riding, tubing, and we even spent an entire day on the beach. All in all, it was an unforgettable adventure that I hope to repeat sometime in the near future!

After clinic set ups, the doctors would diagnose the patients and tell the volunteers what as needed to be set up for each procedure. We had the opportunity to watch several procedures such as extractions and bad scaling cases. We got to talk with our patients and helping and giving to the kids as a unique experience in and of itself because we for to directly give them gifts that they otherwise would never have been able to afford. Seeing their smiles after we served them was enough reason for me to come back on this trip.

My VIDA trip was without a doubt life changing. The hands on experience in clinics is unbeatable, and the opportunity to visit a Nicaraguan private and public hospital was eye opening. We also got to have lots of fun at Latin dance lessons and while ziplining through the jungle. The staff was fantastic including the team leaders, translators, and doctors. I would recommend this trip to everyone as it truly was a great experience.