September 2015 - scholarship recipient

Lima, Peru

The trip I took through iHelp Globally completely altered my perspective about the healthcare field. I came to the realization about how broken the healthcare system is in places other than the United States. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to afford healthcare in Peru and have regular check-ups. For example, if someone were to become sick within the US, they would be directly taken to a hospital and treated right away. However, if someone were to become sick in Peru, they would just go and purchase over the counter medication. A disturbing fact I noticed in the district of Callao is how many people were infected with Tuberculosis or how many family members died due to the disease. In the US, Tuberculosis is becoming so treatable, however there I talked with many patients and discussed their family histories, and majority of the patients had family member with tuberculosis. It’s disheartening to think that the only reason people there are diseased is due to the lack of medication and healthcare provided. Through IHG, I was able to directly impact the Peruvian population and make in impact in their lives. I’m very grateful for this wonderful opportunity.

​Overall, I had a wonderful experience traveling with IHG. We participated in many activities, which truly made the trip more memorable. The bike tour took us through the district of Miraflores and it showed how beautiful the coast of Peru is. We learned about historical landmarks, which made the bike tour more meaningful. We also went sandboarding, which was a wonderful experience since many of the volunteers, including myself, hadn’t done it before. I felt completely immersed in the Peruvian culture and it was a wonderful opportunity to travel with IHG. I enjoyed giving back, participating in activities, meeting new people, and traveling to a foreign country. This trip gave me so much knowledge about the Peruvian culture and I would love to go back again someday," (Zainab Rahman, 2015)