Program Reviews

I spent a week in El Salvador with FIMRC and not only experienced the medical need there, but discovered a whole, exciting, and fascinating cultural world. FIMRC facilitated complete immersion into this!

Our days were spent working in the medical clinic at making house calls around the community of Las Delicias. After a long days work, we had several trips available to us (Geological sites, recreational sites, food, dancing, etc). I think this is so critical to any mission work. It's not only about the medical aid, but the experience of walking in another persons shoes and learning how they live. It greatly opened my eyes to so many social issues and is something every person should experience no matter who you are or what you do.

I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with FIMRC with fellow University of St. Thomas (Houston) students all interested in the health field. From pick-up by Meredith, Alex, and Italo at the airport to our final day, we all enjoyed every moment whether we were playing soccer (and losing miserably) with the kids in Las Delicias, enjoying the food festival in the rainy mountains, sweating it out at the community garden, administering vaccinations, giving community presentations in Spanish, swimming in waterfalls, or learning to salsa in the clinic after hours. Nurse Morena and Dr. Eduardo taught us so much and were absolute sweethearts. THANK YOU to the FIMRC team at Las Delicias for hosting us and giving us the experience of a lifetime. Well-organized with plenty of time to enjoy the sights and sounds of El Salvador- I couldn't have asked for a better experience! I'm currently looking to volunteer with FIMRC again for my Master of Public Health practicum, and many of my fellow FIMRC alumni have gone on to successfully enter medical, pharmacy, dental, optometry, health administration, physical therapy, and public health schools/programs!

The community clearly respects and appreciates all the clinic staff and volunteers do. From taking vitals to presenting workshops, I felt like I made a difference; and in turn, the community made a lasting difference in me. The people are all extremely warm and welcoming; I couldn't have imagined a better experience in Africa.

I really loved my experience at Project Kodaikanal! Now I am in medical school, and I am always referring back to what I did in the months that I was in Kodiakanal, but I'll try to cut it a little short for this review!

Most mornings of my internship were spent helping out in the various departments at the local hospital. I was able to shadow and work with a general practictioner, dentist, physiotherapist, and ophthalmologist. In addition, the hospital has a pharmacy, lab, and an optometrist. Not only did I gain an invaluable experience for my future medical career while rotating through these different departments, but it was readily evident how much the subsidized healthcare that the hospital provided impacted every one of the patients I encountered. Nowhere else would they be able to receive these services for the price that they did and nowhere else would they have such a comprehensive healthcare experience. Patients were able to come and have their teeth and eyes checked on the same day in the same location. In addition to saving money on their actual healthcare costs, this meant that the patients only had to take a few hours off of work and saved money on transportation, as well. Further, each year, the hospital hosts a free plastic surgery camp for burn victims and those with congenital defects. Patients from around the country come just for this. It was the first time that I got the chance to be scrubbed into the operating room, but also the first time that a grateful patient requested for me to be beside them!

In the afternoons, we would go to local creches, where we conducted weekly health check-ups on the children. Powered by tourism, Kodaikanal’s economy depends on the service sector, and, thus, most people have menial jobs as daily laborers. These jobs simply do not bring in enough to supply children with nutritious meals. The consequence? The children of Kodaikanal locals are underweight and malnourished, in contrast to those of the tourists that so often storm the same streets. Through the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC), I was able to start up a nutrition program in three local crèches because I believe with the proper education and some financial support, parents can act upon the already existing desire to provide the best future for their children.

Basically, my internship was an invaluable experience. The staff at the site have already asked me to return and I have promised them that I will when I am a doctor and hopefully, will be able to make even greater changes while there!

My trip to FIMRC's Project Bumwalukani has left a lasting impact on my life! I've never met such welcoming people, both through FIMRC and in the communities surrounding the health center. I was humbled to hear community members' stories, and witness their unfailing generosity. There's no denying FIMRC's positive impact on health care in the area. Seeing countless numbers of patients receive treatment and make full recoveries was incredible. I learned a lot about common health concerns in rural medicine by shadowing and assisting the clinicians. I also felt useful making trips to schools to lead health education lessons. My favorite memories involve making home visits to see individuals with HIV/AIDS, and playing with the group of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. With the vast variety of programs Project Bumwalukani offers the community, there are plenty of areas for volunteers to contribute. Weekend trips to waterfalls, safari's, hikes and markets are an added bonus. Can't wait to go back!

Project Bumwakaluni is a clinic that sees thousands of patients every month. Depending on your level of expertise, you can initiate your own projects and define the experience you want to have whether that be medical, public health, or community empowerment. As the clinic is all staffed by trained local healthcare professionals and volunteers, it's amazing to see how sustainable international healthcare really looks like. Everyone in the community is warm and friendly and have amazing stories and lessons to share with you. Since the clinic is in a really rural location, be prepared to say good bye to a toilet and shower during your time there, but washing outdoors is a really amazing exerpeience !

I was fortunate enough to travel to Restauracion with FIMRC in 2013 and 2014. Each experience completely exceeded my expectations! In 2013 the site was brand new, and I was somewhat apprehensive about how organized/developed the program site would be. To my (pleasant) surprise, the staff was very organized and prepared for our arrival (which often is NOT the case when traveling internationally). The schedule for the entire week was very flexible, which allowed volunteers to pick and choose from 2-3 activities each day, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to do "their thing." For example, I love public health and prefer to be out in the community rather than shadowing in a clinic. I was able to do that, and my peers who prefer a more clinical setting were able to shadow a physician. FIMRC is very accommodating and really tries to give each volunteer the experience they want/need.

FIMRC's mission is so clearly carried out in Restauracion. I left Restauracion genuinely feeling like I helped "to provide access to medical care for underprivileged and medically underserved families around the world."

I would highly reccommend anyone interested in volunteering abroad to choose FIMRC.

The FIMRC Nicaragua site was an incredible place. It is amazing that a place with so little can offer so much. The whole community was friendly and seemed genuinely happy to have us visit. During the diabetes program, we were able to walk into people's homes and perform blood pressure and blood sugar tests without anyone feeling uncomfortable. The community does not have much, but that doesn't affect their attitudes. Every person I interacted with made me feel like I was actually helping and was a part of the program. I have never been on a mission trip before and this one truly changed my life. I am so happy with my choice to work with FIMRC at this particular site. The staff had a lot to do with my positive experience. Jess, Delaney,Anthony, and Sheyla were awesome. They all truly cared about the community we worked in and were devoted to making it a better place. Learning from them was such a unique experience, it was really eye opening to hear from people who were living and experiencing this journey first hand. This trip has made me more aware of how lucky we are in the U.S. I would highly encourage anyone to work with this organization and travel abroad because it offers lesson that can be valuable to anyone. I can't wait to be back!

During out week in El Salvador, we shadowed a pediatrician in the clinic as well as another physician who travels around the community to do well checkups, prenatal visits, and vaccinations. We got to do home visits to families who are taking initiative to live healthier lifestyles to see if they've implemented the health precautions they had been learning in class (having enough water, having an open kitchen, seeing where they put their trash and how they got rid of it, where they kept their toothbrushes, etc.) One day, we went to the local elementary school and helped gather information about the children's heights and weights and helped with ear and eye exams. Another day, we visited another elementary school and taught them about the importance of vitamins, and we got to give each student a month's supply. In addition to these bigger programs, we also spent an afternoon with teenagers who are trying to learn English, and we went on many adventures to a volcano, a lake, and Puerta del Diablo (google it, it's gorgeous).

Traveling with FIMRC is always an unforgettable experience, and El Salvador is a beautiful country with lots of opportunities to make an impact in the lives of the wonderful people who live there.

Where to even begin? The week I spent in Nicaragua with FIMRC was one of the most heartwarming and eye-opening experiences I have ever encountered. From teaching children in their schools and educating people in their own houses to helping a pediatrician and observing a clinic and hospital, I could not have asked for a more diverse and educating visit. The relationships and bonds my group and I created with the communities we visited will never be replaced. With the help of the amazing FIMRC staff, I truly felt I was making a difference, even if that difference just impacted a little girl for a few moments. I highly, highly, highly suggest anyone who is interested in helping others to visit FIMRC's Project Limon site! The visit will change the way you view the world and truly turn your perspective of poverty, health care, and love in a different direction.