Volunteer with Therapy Abroad

I participated in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program in Belize in May of 2022. Here, students ran a Tykes Camp, in which we planned STEM, gross motor, and linguistic activities for child clients. The camp provided me with an accurate simulation of a what a future therapy session may look like. That program was the first hands-on opportunity I had received in my undergraduate learning and I am forever grateful. I enjoyed it so much that I recruited students from my university (Penn State) to create a custom program. Therapy Abroad assisted me in narrowing down dates, providing information and flyers, and meeting with me to discuss the best way to increase participation. I traveled with Therapy Abroad again in May of 2023 for a Custom Communication Sciences and Disorders program in Belize.

Therapy Abroad did a great job of introducing us to cultural differences, and providing Belize's history during our orientation. The town of San Ignacio is a cultural hub with markets, restaurants, shops, and activities. Not to mention, the people are extremely friendly in town. I felt safe throughout the entire trip and the safety measures taken by Therapy Abroad exceeded my expectations. The visit to Helping Hands helped me learn more about the culture, the importance of communication in everyday life, and the opportunities the center provides to the community. During this program, we also had the opportunity to visit a few local schools and engage in speech and hearing screenings for children. The diverse caseload ranged in age, ability, and needs which made each session unique and interesting. We assisted our supervisors in report writing, by sharing our data and notes. The SOAPS note skills I gained on both programs have helped me greatly at the graduate school level. We also visited the archeological site of Cahal Pech, led by knowledgeable, passionate tour guides. My favorite excursion activities were canoeing in the caves and snorkeling on the island of Caye Caulker. Therapy Abroad does a fantastic job of providing balance between learning and fun. I appreciate the skills I have taken with me and will be more aware of cultural differences in my future practice.

After traveling with them on two programs, I will attest that no program is exactly the same. I loved that I had the opportunity to interact with different "clients," established new friendships, and participated in another type of excursion. Therapy Abroad has made a lasting impact on my life and my future career. The first program I went on reinforced my decision in pursuing speech-language pathology and the second solidified my career goals of becoming a travel SLP. I hope to participate in a future program.

Having the opportunity to travel to Belize in the speech-language pathology program was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Going into this trip as a recent graduate, I hardly knew any of the girls I was traveling with. Ultimately, this was the best case scenario; I established meaningful relationships and learned how to connect with those I wouldn't have had a chance to otherwise. While being in a new country can seem scary, the level of organization provided an overarching sense of safety and security. The accommodations--which were charming and comfortable--exceeded my expectations. Everyone was very welcoming and the people I encountered elevated the trip through diverse culture and language. I especially loved how the program focused on the rich cultural heritage of the country, and the amazing and hard-working people who dedicate their lives to molding the children of their community with love and attention. Everyday was packed with exciting experiences, which I accredit to Therapy Abroad's amazing ability to blend service and fun. Besides our time working with children in Belize, my favorite activities involved Zumba in the park and canoeing through a history-rich cave. I accrued greater perspective at every turn and our time working directly with the local population provided a glimpse of the global impact I can make as a future speech pathologist. Overall, this experience solidified my passion for speech therapy by promoting cultural-linguistic diversity---while inspiring me to continue down this path as I move forward with my career.

My experience with Therapy Abroad has been amazing and life-changing. It has given me a unique opportunity to expand my view of the world in a safe environment while also gaining quality experience in the speech-language pathology field. In Belize, I gained experience in the schools providing speech, language, and hearing services to the community, which furthered my love for the field. I was sad when my time in Belize with Therapy Abroad was over, but I came back with a new sense of accomplishment, feeling I positively impacted the world so much that I will be traveling with them again this spring!

I loved my experience with Therapy Abroad. I was able to learn more about my future profession as a speech language pathologist as well as more about the culture of Belize. The hands on experiences provided allowed me to fully feel what it is like to work in this field. Everyone we worked with in Belize was extremely kind and helpful. I think this is the perfect experience for someone wanting to explore a new country and get experience working with children and adults in the field of speech and hearing!

This trip was so incredible. I learned so much about the culture, speech pathology, and myself. It honestly opened my eyes to the world and I loved the impact it allowed me to make on people’s lives. I would 100% go again next year if its available. The people were so friendly, I never felt unsafe, and I met so many new friends. The professors and leaders were so helpful as well as Luz(our tour guide) and Eustace(van driver). The Cahal Pech Hotel was AMAZING and I literally had no problems there.

It was an amazing experience! Worth every penny! It’s nice that they pack so much into an 8-day trip that is a mix of educational and fun! Because of the packed schedule, we were never bored. We had more than enough relaxation time to built-in to our schedules too! I felt safe at all times. Our hotel accommodations in San Ignacio and Caye Caulker were beautiful and clean! Our tour guides were amazing and insightful regarding Belizean Culture. Our needs were most definitely exceeded! Go on this trip if you can!!