The Trip of a Lifetime

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to telling people about Help Learn and Discover. Everything about the trip was absolutely spectacular, and I don't think I'll ever forget some of the experiences I've had. I met amazing people, gained valuable experience in a unique learning environment, and travelled to parts of South America that took my breath away all accompanied with the priceless satisfaction of improving the lives of those in need.

I would highly recommend HLD to anyone looking to volunteer abroad. The passion for helping others that staff and organizers express is inspirational to say the least, and to see how far the organization has come and how many people they have helped is incredible. It's a wonderful feeling got be a part of such an organization, and I'm very proud whenever I tell people about the work the company has done. Especially after seeing the damage and destruction that the earthquake in April caused to parts of Ecuador, it's clear that many people still need help and HLD does just that by building sustainable houses.

I was part of one of the the pre-med trips this past summer, and the experience you get as part of the pre-med learning component is next to impossible to find anywhere in Canada. We were actually inside the operating rooms, or conversing with patients in ER, or gaining first-hand practical experience that would otherwise only be taught in med schools. These experiences are all extremely valuable to anyone considering medicine, as it was a lot like a trial run of what med school and practicing as a physician would be like, minus the stress of applications and grades and what not. You learn a lot, but in a fun and engaging environment.

The final component of the trip, which involved travelling around Ecuador with options to travel to Galapagos and Peru was one of my favourite travelling experiences, and for someone my age I've travelled a lot. HLD knows all of the best sites and places to visit in Ecuador. You see a very large portion of the country in a relatively small period of time. From snowcapped mountains, to the amazon, then to the beach and back. I had a hard time keeping up with the beauty of the country, and was grateful that I chose HLD to show me all the amazing parts of Ecuador.

Help Learn and Discover gave me an amazing experience, looking back I don't remember a time when I was dissatisfied or upset. Anyone looking for any volunteer experience should seriously look into HLD.