Program Reviews

My experience in Belize was both professionally and personally impactful. Throughout the week, we worked in the Stella Maris Special Education School and pediatric outpatient clinic, where we observed and helped lead OT and speech therapy sessions for children with a wide variety of needs. This experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me grow tremendously in my confidence, adaptability, and clinical reasoning skills. I learned how meaningful occupational therapy can be even in low-resource settings and how important flexibility and creativity are when working in pediatrics. The children, therapists, and families were incredibly welcoming, and I left Belize with a much deeper appreciation for cultural humility and client-centered care!

This trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity to serve the children of Belize and work alongside AMAZING therapy volunteers! I gained a new perspective of the need for OT around the world and learned so much about the culture of Belize. This trip was well organized and truly a 10/10 experience. I would highly recommend that OT students take this opportunity if at all possible! The trip was an amazing learning opportunity and a great chance to gain clinical experience. Beyond that, we were able to build connections with Belizean people all along the way.

This trip was SO rewarding and fulfilling!!

The week in Belize is life changing in so many ways. There are so many opportunities to love and serve others in their community. There is a general plan for the daily schedule, but flexibility is key! We worked with the school and clinic each day. Stella Maris is the only school within Belize that provides services to children with Special Needs. Being immersed in the culture is an enlightening experience that allows you to provide hands-on therapy sessions with many students each day within a classroom setting and one-on-one student sessions. The students are so eager to learn. I loved seeing the culture within the school of teaching the older students life skills and encouraging a community of assisting with the younger students. The hands-on experience that we gained as a Level 1A fieldwork is unmatched I'm forever grateful for this experience!

From the second we touched down, everything was set for us to start our incredible experience in Belize! Our schedule was filled with quality time with the children both in school and in the clinic as well as enriching activities that highlighted the beauty of the local culture and landscape. It was eye-opening to learn how access to special education has developed in Belize and to be on the forefront of the push to make education more accessible for all children. Anyone coming to this location will surely have the all-around experience of a lifetime!

This experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not only was Belize absolutely beautiful, but Therapy Volunteers gave us the connections to see the true beauty behind the tourist attractions. Being connected to a school for children with special needs this early in my education was invaluable. Connecting with a different culture and education system was by far the highlight of our trip. I could not imagine a better place to have my first clinical rotation. I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone!

My experience in Belize was absolutely incredible. I was able to provide Occupational Therapy services for children that desperately needed the support and opportunities. Throughout my experience provided by this program I was enlightened culturally, economically, and socially. The children I worked alongside with gave me a different outlook on life and the way I live my day to day experiences. I also took away critical academic and life skills that I'll further implement in my graduate studies.

My fieldwork placement in Belize City was a very meaningful experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally. Most of my time was spent at Stella Maris School, where I worked closely with children and Maya the speech therapists.

One of the biggest takeaways was learning the importance of cultural humility, patience, and adaptability. Each day required flexibility, especially when plans changed or resources were limited, which pushed me to become more creative when developing intervention ideas and treatment plans. I also strengthened my pediatric OT skills, documentation abilities, and confidence in a clinical setting.

A highlight of the experience was working alongside Maya. She was extremely knowledgeable, supportive, and passionate about her work with the community. Observing her interactions and learning from her had a really positive impact on my experience.

Overall, this placement challenged me in many ways but also reminded me why I chose occupational therapy. I would highly recommend it to students who are open-minded, willing to learn, and ready to step outside of their comfort zone.

I had an amazing experience volunteering in Belize. I came for a school fieldwork experience. The program was incredibly hands-on, and I felt supported every step of the way. The mentorship and guidance we received from our faculty advisor and staff onsite made it possible to lead sessions, adapt quickly, and truly grow our skills. It was a meaningful, flexible, and rewarding experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to make an impact while learning. I loved getting to work with the kiddos and see them work on new skills.

Going to Belize for my Level 1B fieldwork was such an amazing opportunity. The work experience was incredible, and I gained so much knowledge working with all of the kids. Amrita, Maya, and Naomi are awesome and were always willing to help and give additional information. We went on 3 excursions while we were there, all of which were so much fun. We had the best tour guides filling us in on Belize's history while keeping us entertained. I will always remember my experience here and will carry what I learned to future workplaces. I am so grateful for this experience!

My Level I fieldwork experience in Belize was an incredibly meaningful and eye-opening opportunity that expanded both my clinical understanding and cultural awareness. Unlike many Level I placements where observation is the primary role, this experience allowed me to actively participate in therapy sessions rather than simply being a “fly on the wall.” Being involved in the therapeutic process helped me build confidence in my clinical reasoning skills and better understand how occupational therapy is applied in real-world settings.

Throughout the experience, I had the privilege of collaborating daily with an OTR/L as well as a speech-language pathologist (SLP). This interprofessional collaboration was one of the most valuable aspects of the fieldwork. Observing and contributing to treatment planning, as well as seeing how different disciplines work together to support client outcomes, gave me a deeper appreciation for a holistic, team-based approach to care. It reinforced the importance of communication, flexibility, and mutual respect among healthcare professionals.

Being in Belize provided a unique opportunity to engage with cultural diversity in a way that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting. I was able to observe how cultural values, resources, and community contexts influence both access to care and therapeutic interventions. This experience challenged me to think critically about adapting interventions to be culturally relevant and meaningful for each client. It also highlighted the importance of being culturally sensitive and open-minded as a future practitioner.

The hands-on nature of this placement, combined with the cultural immersion, made it a truly impactful learning experience. I developed a greater sense of independence, improved my communication skills, and gained a better understanding of client-centered care in diverse environments. Overall, my Level I fieldwork in Belize not only strengthened my foundational skills in occupational therapy but also deepened my commitment to providing inclusive, culturally competent care. I am grateful for the opportunity and will carry these lessons forward into my future practice.