From Program Coordinator to Quest Volunteer

As the Senior Program Coordinator at United Planet, my role typically involves being on the coordinating end of the United Planet experience. Specifically, I am responsible for organizing the logistics of our programs for volunteers; so guiding volunteers through the pre-departure process, working with each of our in-country coordinators, and speaking to interested individuals about our programs are just a few of my daily activities. However, this August I had the unique opportunity to travel with our 2014 Global Health Fellows to Quito, Ecuador where I was able to, firsthand, experience our program abroad as a volunteer. This was a unique opportunity because, not only did I have the chance to travel and volunteer abroad (which I love!) but I got to experience our programs from both the role of Coordinator and Volunteer.

As the Program Coordinator for the Global Health Fellows, it was first necessary to organize the details of the trip. From travel dates, to volunteer work, to language classes, and cultural activities, I worked with Pablo, our Ecuador Country Coordinator, on planning each aspect of the experience. One of the great things about our programs is that they are culturally immersive and well-rounded and we certainly wanted to provide this for our Global Health Fellows – many of whom were traveling for the very first time!

Once the logistics of the program were in place, it was then necessary to train the Global Health Fellows and prepare them for their time abroad. Two in-person pre-departure trainings were held where we reviewed information about Ecuador; covered topics such as dealing with culture shock, what to pack, and tips on living with a host family; as well as reviewed the daily itinerary. While you can never fully know what to expect until you are actually in-country, we definitely want to make this transition as smooth and seamless as possible for each of our volunteers. The pre-departure trainings were also a great opportunity for the Fellows to not only prepare for their experience abroad but also to bond with one another prior to traveling. Because the Fellows would be traveling as a group for their 10 days in Ecuador, we definitely wanted them to feel comfortable with one another and excited about the opportunity to travel with other Boston Public School students.

As a Program Coordinator, I was most excited to see the Fellows present their own research on Ecuador to prepare for their time abroad. As a requirement of the Global Health Fellows program, we asked each of the Fellows to research one aspect of the Ecuadorian culture that they were interested in learning more about, and then present their findings to the rest of the Fellows. Topics discussed included Ecuadorian customs and the indigenous healthcare system. This was a great way for the Fellows to do independent research that would aid in their Quest preparation.

Though, without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect of the trip was actually living this experience with the Fellows. While in Quito, the Fellows and I had the opportunity to experience various aspects of Ecuadorian culture. As the program was centered around the healthcare system in Ecuador, we visited several health clinics where we received tours, lectures, and were able to hear from American interns about the healthcare system in Quito. This certainly was eye-opening for our Fellows as, not only did they get the chance to witness a healthcare system from an international perspective, they also saw many similarities between healthcare in Ecuador and healthcare in the United States – something which I know the Fellows did not expect! One of the most eye-opening experiences was our visit to an indigenous clinic in Otavalo, an indigenous community that continues to practice native, natural methods of healing to this day. One such method was a limpia or cleanse that involved killing a guinea pig to assess a patient’s health. Though shocking, the Fellows were definitely intrigued by this practice and came to find it as a legitimate form of health assessment that patients have been depending on for hundreds of years!

We also enjoyed Spanish lessons, a salsa class, tours at museums throughout Quito, not to mention, the most delicious local food! Typically, our meals included yucca, fried plantains, and rice with some sort of protein. I must admit that none of us were adventurous enough to try the cuy (guinea pig) though maybe this is something I will aim to try my second time around!

The Fellows especially enjoyed their time in Otavalo where they had the opportunity to spend a couple of days with an indigenous host family. Not only were the Fellows able to interact and spend time with their family, they assisted with preparing dinner, doing chores, and taking part in their everyday lives. One night, a couple of the Fellows assisted their family with picking and shelling beans that would be cooked for dinner that night while the other Fellows accompanied their host mother to a local pasture where she retrieved her cows that had been left to graze throughout the day. Without wifi or cell phone service, the Fellows were able to truly experience life in Otavalo and engage with the local community.

While this experience was provided for our Global Health Fellows, I too am thankful for the opportunity to travel to Ecuador as it made me remember how important it is to actually live the experience of traveling and volunteering abroad. As a Program Coordinator, I find it valuable to continue to experience this for myself so that I can bring the stories to life for other volunteers. While I love my job at United Planet and having the opportunity to coordinate volunteer abroad experiences for others, it’s a welcome opportunity to be able to travel myself and experience a community beyond borders.