Program Reviews

I loved the trip. It taught me a lot of information on dentistry. I liked how the dentists would have use check the patient before and report to them which teeth we thought were problematic. They would then go on to tell us all the problems we found or missed with the patient and what we needed to perform on the patient (extraction, scaling, or cleaning/flossing/fluoride). It was nice that the dentists were patient with us because we did not know much, if anything, about dentistry coming into the trip. It was wonderful working with and interacting with the patients. I enjoyed that we did the cleanings on our own but had the dentists to help us with the scalings if needed. The days we had off and could tour Nicaragua were also wonderful. The zip-lining, tour of Granada, boat trip though the islands, and shopping around the towns were very memorable.

Going to clinic days and playing with the kids during our lunch breaks or after we were done seeing patients was my highlight. We brought them toys and little things but every time they got something they were so unbelievably happy. They have so little in comparison to us and they were always so happy, and most of the kids were sick with something. It was a life changing experience. I met so many new people from other colleges that I will no doubt visit and helped so many people in serious need. I also got medical experience that I would never have gotten in the US.

I have never had such a wonderful experience as I did on my spring break trip to Nicaragua with VIDA. I learned SO much! Pre-vet people: this is seriously SUCH a good use of your time.
I don't want to ramble, but below is the link to my blog post about the trip where I list all of the hands-on stuff I got to do.
http://prismpuppies.com/vida-veterinary-volunteer-trip-to-n…

If you aren't good with slightly adverse conditions, don't go on the trip.This trip WILL put you outside of your comfort zone- but that's definitely a good thing!!

This trip was possibly the best foreign aid trip I have ever been on, and I have been on a few. No other trip provided me with the ability to provide such concrete help to such a large number of people. I felt as though I made a huge impact in the lives of the people of Masaya and Leon and had a blast doing it. The clinics were very hands on and incredibly informative and provided me with first hand clinical experience that I couldn't have gained in the US. Overall, I am extremely pleased with my experience and intend to participate in a VIDA adventure again next year.

VIDA was such an amazing experience that I cried at the end of my stay not wanting it to be over! I have never learned so much in 4 clinic days. The States has a lot of restrictions, but down in Nicaragua I got hands-on and visual education headed by a renowned local Veterinary on sterilization procedures, IV catheter placement, tracheal tube insertion, general intake, vaccinations, deworming, etc. We got to work with small and large animals, saving each life as we went for absolutely no cost to the community made this experience humbling and worthwhile. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND VIDA!

I loved every second of the trip. The volunteers were so much fun to hang out with, and I loved all of the staff so much. They were all so much fun and so great at what they did! I loved everything!

It is different for me because I've been a veterinarian for many years. I am older and not a member of the U of NC group so I felt very much like an outsider. The situation improved over time and the recreation was good fun. i do feel like I was useful at the clinics which was the main reason that I signed up.

Overall, the program is a great opportunity for students to gain medical experience and make a difference. The program does a great job integrating the country's culture throughout the whole program. I especially loved the experience of homestays. You really get to experience what it is like living in that country. The clinic days were wonderful opportunities to serve in the community. The doctors on the trip did a great job educating the volunteers. They really took an interest in teaching volunteers about common diseases and how to do a basic medical exam.

The days blended together so well - the staff did an amazing job with integrating our group into the local culture and helping along with our clinic activities. I would go as far as to say that every moment of my trip was a highlight, there really isn't anything that I would change about the week!

One minor difficulty that I could point out would be the lack of communication between us volunteers and our homestay families. As entertaining as it was to learn a new language, at times it was a little awkward and slightly frustrating to not be able to understand what our homestay family was trying to communicate with us.

I heard a lot about the trip from people who attended it before but it still managed to surpass all my expectations. The actual clinic days were great. Being able to interact with patients and understanding the kind of medical issues they face on a day to day basis helped me understand the different kind of problems faced by people around the world. Coming up with a hypothesis with other volunteers gave me a glimpse into the day to day life of a physician and has helped convince me that I am on the right track career-wise. The sort of patient interaction I faced is unique and I definitely won't be able to find such an experience here in Canada. The VIDA staff were phenomenal in keeping us safe, comfortable. They were all very approachable and easy to talk to making the trip feel like I was with friends the whole time. The organization was top notch and I can't imagine the trip going any better