Program Reviews

This is my second time in Belize and it was such a special experience again! I learned so much about myself as a SLP and learned so much with my multi-disciplinary team (ST, OT, BCBA). This experience has been so inspiring and I had so much fun working amongst talented therapists and sweet children. These trips challenge me to go outside my comfort zone and conquering fears like heights while ziplining and new foods! The staff at the TEC are so friendly and knowledgeable about their community. I can’t wait to come back again!

This is a perfect opportunity for those who are interested in travel and would like to grow professionally. I liked how the itinerary was very organized and allowed a fair balance between volunteer work and fun excursions. The accommodations and transportation (driver) always made me feel safe and comfortable in Belize. The most rewarding part of this trip is the ability to make a strong impact on the lives of the local children and their families. This is truly a unique and rewarding opportunity so please join me in future trips with Therapy Volunteers International!

I went to Belize and met 7 other SLPs, OTs, and BCBAs. The level of collaboration in this team allowed me to learn so much! We bounced ideas off of each other, had plenty of laughs, and got to fall in love with Belize. In additional we got to go snorkeling, ziplining, cavetubing, and had a night tour of the Belize zoo. The tour guides and staff from the TEC were so knowledgeable and proud of their city I loved learning about their history and culture. It was a great balance of service and adventure. Despite the heat and bugs, I would 100% recommend this trip and I wish we had more time in the clinic!

This was my first time volunteering with TVI and I absolutely will be back! I had the opportunity to volunteer with an amazing group of therapist and learned so much along the way. I always felt safe and supported whether it was from my group, the workers at the tropical education center or meeting the locals of Belize City and the islands. You work with the kids and their families for such a short amount of time but the memories will be with me with forever. I hope anyone interested in OT/PT/Speech or ABA take this amazing opportunity to support children and families in a different country.

I have volunteered with TVI the past two summers in Belize and I would go back again in a heartbeat! As a seasoned OT, I felt so much fulfillment from providing services in an underserved area where my skills were highly appreciated. I learned so much from the other clinicians on the trip with daily collaboration. The experience was well run from providing therapy, transportation, meals and lodging. Don’t forget the excursions including an island/snorkeling day, cave tubing and zip lining. TVI found a way to effortlessly blend my love of therapy and travel into an amazing journey!

If you’re wondering… should I go abroad for a super cool volunteer trip that will have a direct impact on a small community? The answer is yes, and you should totally do it through this program. They do very well with balancing in clinic days with exploration/adventure days where you get to really see where you’re visiting. They also provided so many opportunities to learn about the culture, customs, and history of Belize while learning and participating within the scope of practice within the clinic.

Completing a level 1 fieldwork experience in Belize was truly an unforgettable experience! It was an amazing way to immerse myself into the culture and get to know the way of life. They are in need of therapists so getting to help make a difference was so rewarding. All the staff were so supportive in helping us get the best experience. We tried amazing food and went on some awesome adventures, my favorite being Caye Caulker. I would definitely recommend this to any student considering it! Thank you to everyone who made this trip happen!

My time working with TVI was a uniquely transformative experiences that allowed me to grow as a student, as a (future) practitioner, and as a person. Under the mentorship of TVI and other community leaders, I was able to create educational opportunities for parents of children with autism, and experienced firsthand the positive impact of this volunteer organization. I was immersed in the rich culture of Belize and my connections made with the students, teachers, and community members will be cherished for a lifetime. TVI is a wonderful experience for doctoral capstone students who are out of the box thinkers with a passion for therapy. TVI will work with you to create a project that follows the guidelines of your OT program, while ensuring that you make the greatest impact possible during your stay. I’ll never forget my time in Belize with TVI!

The overall experience was great! The country is beautiful and very unique with many languages spoken. The sight seeing days were amazing and I enjoyed every second. Therapy adventures did a great job at accommodating many changes in the schedule that would come up. Also, the occupational therapist that we had was wonderful and knew what she was doing! She was able to guide and teach us specific strategies to regulate a lot of the kids which was our main goal for therapy. I do think a longer stay would have been helpful to the kids, we stayed for a week.

Having a level II fieldwork placement in Belize was truly unforgettable! From immersing in a new culture to taking part in meaningful excursions and providing care at both a local school and clinic, every experience was impactful. Amy, our CI, was incredible in guiding us through the unique structure of services there, which is different from what we are used to in the States. She does remarkable work, and the staff and students at the school were just as inspiring. We also got the opportunity to shadow Tammy, the SLP, who was so insightful and fun to be around.