International Service Learning - Belize

Belize was a great country to help get medical supplies and services to those to don't see a physician on a regular basis. As a medical student I did have basic knowledge of how to take a blood pressure and listen for heart sounds, etc. But there were people on the trip who did not have the same knowledge and were still able to learn how to do so throughout the trip. With ISL, I was able to volunteer in 3 rural towns in the San Ignacio area, providing clinics for all those who needed to seek medical treatment. ISL also gave all the volunteers the opportunity to visit a hospital to learn techniques like suturing and injections. Some people on my trip even saw a live birth. Many of the patients in the various clinics were simply there for vitamins or checkups, it was still great knowing that we were providing them with care they would otherwise not be getting. When I wasn't volunteering, we had the opportunities to see ancient Mayan ruins and even got to spend a day cave-tubing and zip-lining. Overall, the organization (ISL) is great and the experiences I had while in Belize were unforgettable.