Ash's MEDLIFE Story - Cusco, Peru (May 2015)

"Going to Cusco, Peru was one of the best decisions I've made recently. Even though I was nervous to go in the beginning, I can't think of a better way to spend my summer.

Preparing for the trip couldn't have be easier. MEDLIFE is such a student friendly organization and guided me the entire way, from tickets to hotel accommodations. MEDLIFE also allows volunteers to set up a donation fund through their 50:50 campaign, in which the collected funds are put towards 50% of the cost of the trip and the other 50% goes to MEDLIFE to pay for medicines and payment to local doctors for better services to our local communities. Once I had my visa (as I do not hold a Canadian passport currently), I was ready to go to Cusco!
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Our group and MEDLIFE leaders were so nice, I had no problem making friends. In an instant, all my nervousness disappeared and all that was left was excitement for the days that were to come. Our clinics were truly the best place to learn about community medicine and see the barriers these communities have to face on a daily basis. We did our best to learn and appreciate. MEDLIFE is different from other mission trips because of their follow up program so we knew that the patients we saw would receive continuous follow up care if they needed it. It was not just a week of work. I will continue to help and do what I can to remain engaged in community medicine and I encourage every single person reading this to consider a trip with MEDLIFE. It doesn't require any medical knowledge, just the determination to help others!"