Program Reviews

FIMRC stepped up very quickly and adapted to the rapidly evolving global pandemic situation by making both the Global Health Volunteer and Global Health Fellow opportunities available virtually. I was very impressed with the adaptability of the organization as well as the positive-mindedness of all the staff I interacted with. I participated in the virtual GH experience for two weeks in May - a week with Project Bududa (Uganda) and a week with Project Huancayo (Peru). The reading materials assigned and the videos made available as part of the "curriculum" were informative and engaging, although my favorite parts of the experience were the live discussions with in-country teams. I would recommend FIMRC's virtual GH volunteer opportunities to anyone that wants to continue learning about global health while contributing to the cause during these unprecedented times. Well done FIMRC!

I had an amazing experience working with FIMRC through my school for a period of ten days. I loved working with the staff because they were quite professional, courteous and responsive every step of the way. A worthwhile experience! I am particularly impressed by their dedication to their programs, it gives me the encouragement to know that the world can be better. It will really be nice to one day volunteer in person in one of these FIMRC sites. I love helping people and FIMRC is the perfect organization.

What I liked most about the trip was experiencing a new country's culture and health system I had almost no prior knowledge about. I hadn't learned much about Peru in the past, and this trip really exposed me to how diverse and unique Peruvian culture is. My favorite volunteer activity was the anemia survey we did in La Esperanza and Zona Patria. I was able to see how people lived in a rural community and learn about people's perception of health and anemia specifically, since it is a major issue in Peru. A bonus was the beautiful mountainous location. The experience was more than just educational, and I had a wonderful time exploring downtown La Merced and hiking to beautiful waterfalls around the city!

I went to Huancayo with a group of 5-6 other girls when I was a sophomore in undergrad. It was my first time visiting South America and hopefully won't be my last. One of the biggest mental hurdles I had to overcome was the sheer amount of travel time, which ate up over an entire day of the journey. The 8hr plane ride followed by an 8 hr bus ride was tough, to be honest, but it was well worth it once we got going on the projects and activities. I experienced activities such as OR shadowing, visiting a remote area and setting up a pop-up clinic to take blood glucose readings and administer dental fluoride treatments, visiting an orphanage of young girls who had been abused by their families and teaching them about self-esteem and conversing with them in Spanish, and also learning different suture stitches on a pig's foot. I know these experiences can be tailored more closely to the interests of the group so don't be afraid to communicate what you'd like to see or do! Besides those activities, we had free time to explore around our homestay and we got to see some really cool little parks with amazing architecture and artwork that made for some cool pictures, in addition to the beautiful mountains, glaciers, and lagoons we saw on a hike on a mountain. Overall great trip and it's been a few years and I'm still raving about it!

The staff with FIMRC, especially at the Anconcito sight, made our trip amazing. We went as a group of 15 volunteers from an university. Everyday is different and robust with community activities. You never will be bored or feel like you didn't get to achieve something. Lusia's relationship with community makes you feel like you are a member of it from the second you arrive from the guest house. I am a college student and do not have a ton of medical experience, but the staff allowed us time to practice and brush up on our skills. The guest house and cooking staff was so accommodating to personal allergies or other needs. They made us feel at home in a place many miles away. I am so thankful for this experience and couldn't recommend it more highly.

I volunteered with FIMRC in the summer of 2018 at Project Kodaikanal. This experience was so unique and different from everything else I've done! With FIMRC, not only did I have the ability to make a real impact on the lives of others, but I also have an opportunity to find myself. This program can truly change your outlook on your world! I learned so much in the span of a month, met so many new people, experienced a new culture, and explored a beautiful country. However, the best part was definitely working with kids and families. It lets you see how the work you do directly affects those around you! Its truly rewarding to know that I was part of something that has and will continue to better the lives of families in Kodaikanal. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone interested in global health, or a career in medicine!

I had a truly life changing experience last year while volunteering at FIMRC’s project site in Nicaragua. It was so rewarding to be a part of such a great organization and to see the positive impact that FIMRC has on the local communities. This was especially evident when, after a devastating hurricane, FIMRC staff assisted in the intensive relief efforts following the storm and floods. I was lucky enough to be involved in this relief work and got to see firsthand how FIMRC supports local communities. So many families lost everything in this hurricane and FIMRC helped organize the disaster response including collection of donations, acquisition of necessities including food, water, and medical supplies, and the dispersal of these resources into the communities. This work with FIMRC was truly an inspirational and unique opportunity that I will always cherish. While volunteering at FIMRC I felt like I became part of the family down there in Nicaragua, and I will never forget how *special* FIMRC’s Project Límon and Nicaragua are to me.

I went on a trip with the La Crosse Chapter of FIMRC at UW-La Crosse and I can’t say enough about how great the experience was. We went to Project Anconcito in Ecuador and I met some of the most amazing people. The Site Manager Natalie was the most pleasant passionate person I’ve ever met and everyone was so welcoming. Not only did I have a blast but I learned so much there. I dearly miss my amazing host family who did such a fantastic job of making my friends and I feel like family. Can’t wait to return to Ecuador as well as additional trips to the other FIMRC sites all over the world!

I learned so much more than I could've ever expected to during my time at Project Restauracion! The culture, the language, medical experience, and so much more. I will forever cherish the amazing memories I made with the people of Restauracion and fellow SIHFers. FIMRC does an amazing job preparing you for your volunteer trip, and is there to help you every step of the way with any questions you might have.

SIHF Bududa, Uganda was the most genuine, raw, authentic experience that I have ever had and it will forever change my life. I gained so much experience in the medical and international health field and made some really amazing friends in the meantime. My favorite part was living in the village amongst the local people, to work with them, to understand them, to befriend them. It was very special and unique.