My Nonprofit Reviews

Volunteering at a health clinic in Xela Guatemala for past two weeks was a revitalizing experience. During the past semester in college, I went through some emotional troubles and thankfully, this trip helped me get my life back on track. It inspired, within me, motivation to continue pursuing a career in the health field and self confidence that I saw disappearing in the past few years. During my time here in Xela, I had the opportunity to give vaccinations to babies, learn and practice Spanish, visit Fuentes Georginas, hike up a hill to see all of Xela, celebrate Christmas and New Year´s with my family, and many other things. I am extremely grateful for the time I spent volunteering in Xela, and I hope I can come back soon to work in the clinic again.
My host family was very welcoming. I really enjoyed eating their home-cooked meals. I had the chance to celebrate some festivities with my host family, and I had a lot of fun spending time with everyone. Tamales are a traditional food served during the holidays and I loved eating them! My host family made sure I was safe, but they also gave me a lot of freedom to explore Xela.
My main task at the health clinic was to give oral vaccinations to babies, and a lot of them cried afterwards because of the bitter taste. However, there was one baby boy who actually smiled after I gave him his vaccinations, and he also gave me a kiss on the cheek afterwards. It was the cutest gesture!
The ABV in the USA prepared me well for the trip. They sent me a program summary that outlined my daily schedule and explained how I would get to Xela from Guatemala City. The staff members answered my questions promptly and made sure I went over all of the important information.