For three weeks, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to partner with the Global Health Initiative-Peru team to provide assistance and interact with various communities across Peru. The Internship took me through the capital of Lima and cities of Huanuco and Tingo Maria and provided an insightful experience into the numerous struggles facing Peruvians. The work done in Peru varied by day but each was full of a new lesson to take home. From spending time observing and interacting with individuals with Down Syndrome, having personal and insightful conversations with underprivileged mothers, and providing advice and guidance to school children, I made it a priority to give it my all to ensure I was providing appropriate assistance. As I have now realized, the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. This is what I stood by as everywhere I went in Peru, I approached every situation with an open mind ready and willing to experience new things. This included emotional pain that stemmed from seeing the struggle Peruvian families have had to endure for years and not once hearing of the hardships experienced in the country, making me ask what other parts of the world have been overlooked that are also experiencing similar struggles. I saw communities that had no access to water, no proper sanitation, and quite frankly, no basic human necessities. After my internship concluded, I was truly humbled and thankful for all the opportunities I have been given, including the opportunity to work with GHI-Peru. Dr. Eric Wetzel is responsible for allowing GHI-Peru to be as powerful and successful as it is today and for that I am forever grateful, but thanks must also be given to the hard workers in Peru dedicating their life mission to bringing adequate care to the community. This includes but is not limited to Beto, who leads all GHI-Peru workers and is a man I aspire to be in his amazing communication and planning skills he holds. Milagros, Mali, Bequet, Yair, Evelyn, and Ariana are all GHI-Peru members I am proud to have worked with, their dedication and pride to their work is what I strive for in a work environment.
There are many other individuals I met along the way that all left an impact on me as I hope I myself left an impact on them. My Internship with GHI-Peru has only strengthened my interest in Public Health, accelerated my desire to pursue new fields of study in my Biology major, all while learning Peru’s history that correlated with my History minor. To any other Wabash Student interested in working with GHI-Peru, this will be an eye-opening experience where you will experience a roller coaster of emotions, but at the end of the day, there will be no other place you’d rather be as you come to love the country and people of Peru
