Sydney Yovic, an avid traveler and Medical student born in Sydney, Australia, completed a Healthcare Quest to Chile in 2010. Read what she had to say about her two week trip…we hope it will inspire you as much as it has inspired us!
My experience in Chile was like a vacation for my soul. I did a lot of work and found myself very tired at the end of the day, but I enjoyed every single minute of it. My host mom, Maggie Diaz, is probably the most special woman I have been lucky enough to meet. I was only with her for two weeks, but still I felt as though I learned as much from her as I learned in a semester at college. My quest with United Planet was an experience I will always cherish.
I worked in the rehabilitation center at Teleton. I worked in the “recepcion”, playing with the children before their appointments. Although I was not able to help with direct healthcare, I do feel that I was able to improve the cognitive abilities of a lot of these children. I also believe that a good attitude and a warm smile made their day better as well as eased their anxiety about being in a doctor’s office. The volunteer work that I did also gave the hard working parents a small break.
My short-term Quest to Santiago, Chile has undoubtedly changed the way I see not only myself, but the world in which we live in. From the moment my plane landed, I was surrounded by incredibly warm and welcoming people who taught me more than I thought I could possibly learn in 2 short weeks. The host mom I lived with will always have a big place in my heart, she made every single day a dream for me. My volunteer experience was the most fulfilling work I have ever been a part of. The children in the rehabilitation center were bursting with spirit and life, despite their disabilities. Each day I left my volunteer site, convinced that the children had made my day better than I could have possibly made theirs. I would recommend and encourage anyone who shares global ideals with United Planet to sign up for a Quest, I have no doubt that my first Quest won’t be my last.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
