It has always been my dream to travel the world, immerse myself in a different culture, and make an impact on those around me. Choosing projects abroad allowed me to live out my dream and more.
I mainly chose Kenya since, at the time, it was one of the only options with a children’s hospital and where you didn’t need to know an additional language. Additionally, my family had planned to go on vacation around Kenya, so having my internship there worked out perfectly.
Arriving in Kenya
When I arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, I was greeted by a staff member who took me to a hotel for the night since I had arrived late at the airport. They had also called me to ask if I would like to join them on a medical outreach that very next day and of course, I said yes.
The next day I was greeted by a different staff member and was taken to the office where I met the rest of the staff and all the volunteers.
The experience that I had for my first day was significantly different than most since I was able to jump right into the deep end with the medical outreach.
I am very glad that I was able to participate in this outreach, as I was able to get to know all the people there in a span of one day and experience a community outreach.
For the next few days, I was taken on a tour around the town, introduced to the staff at the hospital, and got working there right away. Since it was a Wednesday, it meant C-Section day at the hospital. By the end of my second day in Kenya, I had already watched 3 surgeries and assisted in post-natal care.
This was the best way for me to get the introduction to the next 3 weeks of my life and I loved it. I was able to make friends right away, immerse myself in the community and culture around me, and learn from those around me.
While in Kenya, I was welcomed by the most friendly and genuine family. The house itself was very nice and everyone made me feel at home. Every time that I would come back from the medical outreaches or the hospital, I would always go spend time with the 3 children and either play cards, badminton, or just dance.
It was great to be able to bond with them since I was living with them for a while.
Hospital Work
Since I want to be a Pediatric Surgeon, I chose to start my placement at Consolata Maternity and Children’s Hospital about a 15-minute walk from my host house.
I did have the option to move to a different hospital while I was there, but I enjoyed the one I was at a lot and was able to experience everything possible.
For the first week or so, I wasn’t able to do too much since I was new, but as the days went by, the nurses and doctor learned to trust me more which led to me being able to experience a lot more than I would’ve anywhere else.
While I was at the hospital, I was able to assist in surgeries as an instruments assistant, scrub assistant, and circulating assistant, conduct normal deliveries under supervision, and perform post-natal care, cannulation and bladder catherization.
These experiences are something that I am not able to experience in the U.S.
Medical Outreaches
Additionally, the most memorable and inspiring experience that I have ever done was when I went on 4 different medical outreaches to disadvantaged communities.
I was able to meet the most wonderful children and adults there.
The purpose of these outreaches was to bring medicine and treatments to them, as the nearest hospital is a minimum of 15km with the only transportation being their feet.
Here, I helped treat jiggers, took patients’ blood pressure and blood sugar, and tested them for malaria. Even though everyone there faces the biggest challenges, every single child I met had the biggest smile on their face.
This experience was very eye-opening since everything that we take for granted, is a challenge for all the people in the villages. I learned how small actions can have a huge impact on others’ lives.
Lastly, overall, I was able to form the most genuine connection with everyone there including the staff and participants. Everyone there was very nice and welcoming.
The other volunteers and I always got milkshakes and coffee at the local café and talked for hours. I only saw the staff when we had group events or outreaches, but overall, the staff and other volunteers made my trip complete.
Social Activities and Travel
During the times that I wasn’t working at the hospital or on the medical outreaches, I was spending time with either the host family, the other volunteers, or going on fun adventures around the town.
We had a lot of independence to do whatever we wanted during our time off, so I chose to experience a little of everything. I was able to do something different every day and weekend.
Throughout my time there, I was able to:
- Explore the market in town which had clothes and food everywhere you looked
- Go on a hike on Mount Kenya which allowed me to get a small glimpse of the natural beauty that Kenya has to offer
- Take a trip to a different town called Nyeri
- Spend quality time with the other volunteers going for dinners or swimming
Final Thoughts
As my trip came to its end, I didn’t want to leave all my friends and the dream that I was living out.
Since my family came to Kenya for a family vacation, they ended up picking me up at my host family’s house and got a glimpse of the wonderful time that I was having.
This experience for me was life-changing and the best experience of my life, as I was able to assist in the OR, attend medical outreaches in disadvantaged communities, and completely immerse myself in the culture of those who live here.
This trip may have only had a small impact on some people’s lives, but to me, it has been life-changing.
This is a personal account of one volunteer’s experience on the project and is a snapshot in time. Your experience may be different, as our projects are constantly adapting to local needs and building on accomplishments. Seasonal weather changes can also have a big impact. To find out more about what you can expect from this project we encourage you to speak to one of our friendly staff.
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