I was constantly learning from the team’s creative solutions to various challenges, their careful use of resources, and their ability to connect with both local and international partners

Paches and tamalitos and chirmol! Oh my!

As I flip through my notes and photos that were written and captured during my time spent in Guatemala, it’s hard for me to summarize my personal experiences in a few paragraphs because each memory is unforgettable. Guatemala is a place that I was able to call home within a time span of almost 4 months.

During my eight weeks at Primeros Pasos, I experienced all the frustrations that come with working in a resource-limited nonprofit setting. With those frustrations however, came the unimaginable rewards that can only be experienced first hand, either in the communities of the Palajunoj valley or in the small, yet highly influential clinic.

“The most precious aspect of my experience was the friendships. By the time of my departure, it was a big deal! My new friends were legitimately affected to see me leave. The prospect of leaving made it apparent to me how genuine the relationships were that I had developed along the way.”

“Working at Primeros Pasos for a month was the longest I had ever volunteered in another country, and it certainly made a difference having the medical knowledge that I’ve acquired in my first couple years as a Vanderbilt medical student. “

Within my first week as a Primeros Pasos volunteer, I learned that working in public health in a developing country entails conquering the unexpected.

“The two months (June & July of 2018) I spent in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala volunteering with Primeros Pasos were an incredible success in terms of the work completed, the cultural immersion, the linguistic practice, and the relationships made.”

“The best day I had at Primeros Pasos was the day Melanie [volunteer] , Eline [volunteer] and I accompanied Monica, the nutrition specialist, into the community.”

“I loved working every day at Primeros Pasos because of the people, the place, and the interactions with people of the Valley.”