So this happened this summer!

People say that one picture is worth a thousand words, but I believe that if you combine both, experiences can be better narrated. My name is Dimitra and I am the girl on the right. I come from Greece and I am a third-year student of biomedical sciences in the university of Edinburgh. My first interaction with Medical Aid International Society was before Christmas during the careers fair when I had the chance to get informed about their cooperation with Medical Brigades, a non-profit organisation that works in Honduras as a medical relief organisation which cooperates with community partners, local leaders, doctors and students to provide healthcare to remote, rural, under-resourced communities who would otherwise have no access to healthcare. The university’s society is acting as the unifying mean between students who wish to volunteer with Medical Brigades in the affected areas and the organisation itself, including organising events for fundraising purposes and preparing the students with the skills required.

No matter how many videos from previous groups I had watched or books I had read about Honduras, there was not enough information to make me feel confident about the trip. On the one hand, I was excited for all the adventures and the experiences that this trip had to offer me but on the other hand I was terrified by the unknown. The flight was very long and exhausting but the moment I got outside the airport the view was breath-taking.

During the first day at the camp we had to sort out all the medical supplies and familiarize with each other as the next day we had to visit Los Izotes, a rural community that was one-hour drive away from our camp. The moment we got there I saw hundreds of people queuing in the middle of a field with the sun hitting them straight in the head, without any protection or water. After seeing all these people waiting for our help I was overwhelmed with emotions that I had never felt again in such an extent. I was feeling that doing my best and devoting all my energy to shadowing and helping the doctors that were treating the patients was a necessity.

The days passed by extremely fast and despite the tough living conditions, every day I had the same urge to offer the best I could to the community. My experiences in Honduras fuelled my passion for constantly evolving, undertaking new adventures and more importantly being a better human who is willing to help those in need.