Guatemala Internships

I could not have asked for any more support from the team. After my first call with my Program Manager I immediately felt at ease and was able to just look forward to the trip. It has been an unforgettable experience and I am so grateful. Everyone at the clinic was extremely welcoming and patient, given that my Spanish wasn’t the best. I became more and more confident as the days went on, I assisted the therapists with some very complex cases which allowed me to learn a lot.

I enjoyed more than anything the opportunity to meet many new people at the clinic as well as at my living accommodation which allowed me to be able to come to know the owner and her family really well. Some of the best memories apart from being at the clinic were being able to spend time with my friend who was able to be placed in the same clinic as me. During the weekend when we didn't have duties at the clinic, we were able to visit all of Guatemala's most beautiful places. The internship contributed toward my personal and professional development by offering opportunities to shadow the family practice doctor and allowing me to help with certain responsibilities held by the receptionists and medical assistants. It was through this that I was able to gain a better understanding of the healthcare received by Latinos in their own country but also learn how to be more effective in my regular responsibilities as a medical assistant.

My experience in Guatemala has been eye-opening, revealing cultural and lifestyle differences that made me reflect on my own norms and values. The organisation I interned with aims to help children and adults with disabilities. I had the opportunity to work in the microfinance section of the company, which focused on the economic empowerment of the local community through supporting and growing their small businesses. As an intern, I helped to develop comprehensive business plans for various small businesses and marketing initiatives. I developed various skills which can be applied to my future career, such as practical experience in project management. I learnt to navigate challenges, identify and analyse problems, and develop effective strategies to overcome them.

This experience has given me a taste of what veterinary medicine is like in other countries and has helped me solidify that this is something I want to do in my career going forward. My internship role involved obtaining vitals on incoming patients, doing physical exams on them and relaying my findings to the veterinarian, and helping with vaccinations. This internship has helped me improve my Spanish, not only in a general sense, but also in a medical sense. One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give to someone beginning a similar internship is to do some research ahead of time on the culture you are going into so you have a little bit of an idea on their practices. I would also say to be open to trying new things included in the culture.