International Medical Volunteer Programs Bring Hope to Developing Nations Through Knowledge and Skill Sharing
Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) September 30, 2013 -- Over the past few decades, healthcare in many developing nations has improved drastically, but there is still much work to be done and resources are scarce. There are compassionate people, however, who are willing and able to bring help and hope to the developing world. With the assistance of CrossContinental.org, doors are opening for many new volunteers to offer their services to the less fortunate people of the world. Brittany Chung and Adriana Kochi, both new graduates from the University of California, recently traveled abroad to volunteer at a hospital in Nepal.
Brittany summarizes her time in Asia as "the most amazing experience... certainly something I'll never forget and live to tell stories about."
According to a 2010 report by the World Health Organization, Nepal is ranked 139th out of 172 countries in life expectancy, and its people suffer from more disease than other South Asian countries. Kathmandu, the nation's capital and largest city, is home to many medical professionals who work diligently in the area's hospitals and clinics. As such, Nepal presents a great opportunity for helping and skill sharing.
Cross-Continental offers personalized programs, created with individual needs of their travelers in mind. Their medical internships include local support from coordinators and host families, making the experience safer and uniquely personal. For Brittany, this interpersonal aspect made her trip.
"I am very happy with my experience with Cross-Continental. All my questions were answered in a timely manner, and they were very well organized. It's scary going into a new country, but this program really made me feel comfortable." Brittany continues, "Our host family was amazing! Everyone was very helpful and played a significant role in our experience in Nepal. They really taught us a lot about Nepali culture and made me fall in love with Nepal."
Not only was the trip personally rewarding for Brittany, it solidified her desire to proceed in the medical profession, and in turn served as a stepping stone toward her education and career goals.
"Obviously, volunteering at the hospital was very rewarding, but even more were all the relationships we made during our stay here." Brittany continues, "Nothing compares to the relationships and experience this program offers. I hope to come back someday once I'm a doctor."
Brittany's traveling partner, Adriana Kochi, was positive about her trip as well. She was especially impressed with the flexible scheduling and extra-curricular opportunities available in her program.
"I would recommend Cross-Continental to others who specifically aren't looking for a strict scheduled experience abroad. To me this was a selling point, being able to manage your own time."
As part of their volunteer program in Kathmandu, the two also visited an orphanage where they were able to truly enjoy the people and culture of Nepal.
"Everything has exceeded my expectations. The whole trip was a reward, from learning about Nepal's people and culture, to making new friends, learning many new things (both in and out of the hospital), trying new foods, and embarking on many new adventures (most out of my comfort zone)," Adriana explains. "Nepal itself was the perfect country to travel abroad to. It offered all the extremes: Beautiful natural landscapes but heavy pollution, wonderful smelling foods and strange smells, the very rich and extremely poor... Overall, a fantastic site to experience it all."
The volunteer abroad experience offers the satisfaction of providing invaluable assistance to those who need it most, while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience and living a different culture. This simple act of exercising compassion is life-changing for everyone involved. Access free resources or plan a life-changing trip at http://www.CrossContinental.org.
About Cross-Continental Solutions:
Cross-Continental Solutions provides unique and affordable intern abroad, volunteer abroad, cultural immersion, language study, and gap year programs. Many students take international internships for school credit. Medical internships abroad provide good opportunities for those looking to gain hands-on medical experience and volunteer hours for their medical school applications. By living and working side by side with local people, participants gain an exceptional cross-cultural experience and the opportunity to truly make a difference. Covering a wide range of needs, opportunities are available in areas such as: Teaching, Healthcare, HIV work, Care-giving, Orphanage Work, Wildlife, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Community Development, Business Coaching, Microfinance, Marketing, Journalism, Photography, Tourism, and more. Programs are available at many locations around the world, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Jian Leslie, Cross-Continental Solutions Inc., http://www.crosscontinental.org, +1 (604) 700-6096, [email protected]
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