Volunteering with VIDA was one of the best decisions I made. The experience was more than I could ask for. It truly was a hands on experience in clinic because we sat with the patients, took their medical histories, talked about their complaints, and worked with the doctors and our peers to come up with a diagnosis. This program definitely gives you an idea of what being a doctor/physicians assistant/nurse would do during their job so even if you are not sure if the medical field is for you, it's a great experience to learn whether or not it is! Not only did you get hands on experience, but the cultural enriching aspect of the trip was something I'll never forget, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

We were able to gain an insight of the true lifestyle of local Nicaraguans in Masaya, by actually living with a host family for a portion of the trip. We were rewarded with a feeling of fulfillment after helping 203 animal patients at our veterinary clinics throughout the trip, and 365 human patients at our medical clinics. You learn so many valuable hands on skills by working side by side with local doctors. The trip was also filled with fun activities such as a zip-lining canopy tour, a boat tour of the Islands of Granada on Lake Nicaragua, a soccer game with local children, a visit to a local daycare, and a Latin dance class.

From the people to the scenery, Nicaragua was incredible. The clinic days were truly eye-opening, and I felt like I made a difference. The patients seemed grateful, and were more than willing to interact with us. We overcame the language barrier with ease, and had a real, human connection. The home stay families were wonderful, and more hospitable than I could ever have imagined. From the endless meals, to constant entertainment, I never felt bored or uncomfortable living in my home stay family's house. All in all, the experience was unforgettable, and I plan to return to Nicaragua as soon as possible, not only to help the people but enjoy the beautiful culture and nature.

My VIDA trip was without a doubt life changing. The hands on experience in clinics is unbeatable, and the opportunity to visit a Nicaraguan private and public hospital was eye opening. We also got to have lots of fun at Latin dance lessons and while ziplining through the jungle. The staff was fantastic including the team leaders, translators, and doctors. I would recommend this trip to everyone as it truly was a great experience.

The staff was absolutely wonderful; very friendly and enthusiastic about their jobs. Clinic days were wonderful. Learned so much! Homestay parents were amazing even with the language barrier. Overall, it was a life changing experience.

I had such an incredible experience volunteering in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica with VIDA. Not only was I able to perform evaluations and procedures that were years beyond my experience, but I was also able to connect with and invest in people of a different culture. I would definitely go again in the future. The experiences gained and lessons learned cannot be taught from a classroom; this trip is a MUST!

VIDA is a great program. I joined one of their veterinary adventures in Nicaragua. I learned sooooooooo much, not only about veterinary medicine, but about the importance of global volunteering and the culture of Nicaragua. I absolutely loved all of the people I met there. VIDA staff were wonderful at organizing, teaching, keeping us safe, and showing us to a fun time; home-stay families were extremely generous and loving; and pet owners were very grateful!

I enjoyed my VIDA trip to Nicaragua so much that I am currently coordinating the trip for my university! I had so much fun with the VIDA staff, they were great! I learned so much more about the medical field. I gained so much valuable experience working with patients. Also, I enjoyed the down time zip-lining and swimming at the lagoon.