Make a Lasting Impact with Therapy Volunteers International

This was my first time out of the U.S. and I am so happy that this was my first experience. It was such a meaningful and eye-opening experience that I will never forget. With Therapy Adventures I felt like we were truly making a difference in people's lives and I am so thankful for the work they did to get us patients to see and treat. I would highly recommend this experience to any DPT student or DPT if they ever wish to participate in a service trip. This experience allowed us to utilize our skills as students and also encouraged us to have to think outside of the box in a lot of situations.

We recently took 10 of our DPT students to Belize with Therapy Adventures to work with many of the children in need in the area. Everyone we communicated with, from Amy at Therapy Adventures, to Juan Carlos at the TEC, Wilfred our bus driver to Dunia with the Ministry of Education were very welcoming and accommodating to make are trip the best it could be. They went above and beyond to meet our dietary needs, opened up the zoo for a night time tour (as were were always busy during the day) to a fantastic snorkeling adventure. All of the school personnel, kiddos and families were very receptive to working with us and the students and learning how they could integrate our recommendations into the kids daily lives to improve their mobility. It was a great experience and look forward to taking another group down again in the future!

We were able to travel with Therapy Adventures to Belize for 6 nights, 7 days. Every single person from Therapy Adventures to the Tropical Education Center where we stayed was eager to make us feel comfortable and to answer questions. The food was wonderful and we felt immersed in the culture of Belize as soon as we landed at the airport. Safety was never a concern at any point. The days were spent seeing children and developing home exercise programs. The families were appreciative and it was a wonderful learning experience overall for both the students and faculty. We did have a close encounter with a friendly snake that made it's way to the living quarters; however, it was quickly removed. You will not regret working with Therapy Adventures to make this once in a life opportunity happen.

Throughout the entire trip, it was very evident that everything was thought of and planned out. We felt very welcomed, taken care of, and accommodated. Even when our days lasted longer than we expected, we never felt looked over. Our days were planned out very well with our experience kept in mind. They were able to adjust the times of breakfast and dinner to allow us to be on time and spend the full time with the kids we were working with! Our meals were wonderful and we were able to visit so many places to get the full experience in Belize!

During our time there we developed treatment plans and educated caregivers and parents about disease progression, future health concerns, and safe caregiving practices.

Due to the limited availability and high cost of healthcare services, our treatment was often the only care these kids would receive for a long time. Knowing this, we adapted to limited resources and devised treatment methods that families could continue at home without supplies.

It is difficult to grasp the impact of a single visit, but for these children, it alleved pain and gaining the knowledge to maintain their mobility and participation in life. For parents, it meant seeing their children run outside and play with their siblings again, while for others it helped improve communication with their non-verbal children.

It's easy to overlook what we take for granted, such as easy communication, good health, and access to care. Therapy Adventure allowed us to make a significant difference in the lives of these children and their families, who would otherwise face increasing health complications with little support.

This trip to Belize with Therapy Adventures was an unforgettable and enriching experience. We stayed at the Tropical Education Center and we had the opportunity to go to two different locations to treat patients. As a first-year physical therapy student, it provided me with hands-on learning opportunities that I may not have gained in a traditional classroom setting. The experience of connecting with the local community and seeing the impact of our work was incredibly rewarding. I learned so much and this trip deepened my passion for the field.

This was the most amazing experience and opportunity. My PT school traveled to Belize and stayed at the Tropical Education Center. The first two days, we visited school in Orange Walk and treated patients there. The second two days, we treated patients in Belize City at the Therapy Adventures Clinic. As a first year student, I got to apply skills I have just learned and even take on some new skills I have not yet learned with the help of my other cohorts and professors. This experience was so fulfilling and I’ll never forget it!

I loved my experience in Belmopan, Belize with Therapy Adventures! We stayed at the Tropical Education Center and I felt like they treated us like family there. The communication as far as travel plans and transportation was very easy and I felt that we were well taken care of. I loved interacting with the kids and getting to play with them while providing information to the parents. It was an eye opening experience that allowed me to increase my creativity as a practitioner and a student. I learned how to navigate different family interviews and make the most out of limited resources. Overall I would definitely do this again.