Testimonials

Three weeks earlier, I stood in the airport with my brother both excited and nervous. I didn’t know what to expect of this experience. Now, having just left Peru, I already want to go back. I had the opportunity to be a part of the inauguration of the new preventative health clinic, CESAPU, in an underdeveloped area of Peru. I received great amounts of valuable medical experience and exposure from this trip, but they don’t match the relationships that I’ve built with the staff, volunteers, doctors, nurses, and most importantly, the kids and the community. Every day brings a new adventure, but for me, the most exciting part of the experience was the morning that we arrived at the clinic with all of the kids lined up outside waiting for us. As soon as we turned the corner, the kids bolted towards us to give us hugs and to grab our arms and legs. There is no greater feeling than knowing the impact that you can have on these children’s lives. While I managed with only a little Spanish, I have decided to study Spanish so that next time I go to Peru I can get even more out of the experience and develop deeper relationships with the community and its incredible children. Until next time Peru!

To feel at home in a foreign country is a feeling that most people have never had the opportunity to experience.  I have just returned to the United States after living with my loving, Peruvian family in Trujillo, Peru for a month as a volunteer with Hands on Peru (HOP). I was lucky enough to witness the opening of El Centro Voluntariado En Salud Publica (CESAPU), the first clinic of its kind in Peru, and to spend the next month volunteering with amazing and driven people. Along with six other volunteers, various doctors, and some coordinators and administrators, we worked every day to make the clinic’s campaigns successful, and they were! Hundreds of people were registered with the clinic by the third week, and the trust between the community and the clinic had grown so immensely that the same people were returning every day to visit and receive care! During my time in Peru I gained an entire Peruvian family, made connections with the community that will last a lifetime, swam with sea turtles bigger than myself, watched a baby come into this world by C-Section, learned how to perform a pap smear, and most importantly, I inherited a drive to stay involved with HOP and the community that it serves. If you want to be a part of something that changes several lives in addition to your own for the better, consider joining the HOP family.

This summer I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Peru and participate in different medical opportunities. I was able to give vaccines, observe surgeries, take the height and weight of many babies, and so much more. I was also able to see several big cities in Peru and learn so much about the culture. I’m so thankful for the program directors, my host family, all the nurses and doctors I worked with, and the welcoming nature of Peruvians. It was the trip of a lifetime!

Every good thing must come to an end, and after 6 weeks of traveling in this beautiful country, I have to say goodbye to Peru. I have made so many wonderful memories and great new friends while here. I made an effort to write in this journal to look back on all of the amazing things I did and the wonderful people I have met while here. And these bracelets will always give me a reminder. You’ve been incredible to me Peru, thank you for everything!

Volunteering & exploring the beautiful country of Peru has been an incredible experience. Above all, I’ve found that kindness and compassion lie in the simplicity of our being. A smile, a small gesture, a hug, a giving hand… If Peru has taught me anything, it would be that kindness, respect and compassion can change lives and uplift one’s soul more than a Mercedes Benz can. Our priorities and happiness lie in a far different realm than other countries. Some things just can’t be explained but experienced for the self. I left a piece of me in Peru, but brought back something far greater: increased motivation and aspiration to change the world.

These past five weeks have been some of the best weeks of my life. There is no way to put into words the incredible experience I had in Peru. To put it simply, it was life changing. I am so grateful to every person that made this trip possible, without your support I would not have been able to do this. So grateful for anything and everything. Peru is a magnificent country with breathtaking scenery and beautiful people. I can only hope that one day I can come back to visit.