General Impression
Overall Rating: / 10
Over my winter break I spent 3 weeks in Uganda working as a Love Volunteer at a small hospital in Ngora, Uganda. The time I spent there was an amazing experience and it helped me to see the world in a whole new way.The hospital didn’t have many supplies and they were very understaffed, but they made the best of what they did have. All of the nurses, midwives, and other staff welcomed us and made us feel very at home from the first day. Everyone was so thankful for our work and they were quick to show us the ropes and teach us new things about both medicine and their country in general. I worked in the maternity ward, the medicine dispensary, and in the outpatient unit. I was given the chance to work side by side with all of the workers there and learned to do everything from counting out meds to vaccinating infants to starting IV lines in patients. The most amazing opportunity that I had during my work here was when I delivered a baby. The main midwife at the hospital took me into the room and talked me through the whole procedure and I delivered the baby. I cannot describe how amazing this feeling was and I’m so grateful that I could experience something so incredible.
All of the people I met in my travels in Uganda were so welcoming and friendly, and every single child I met along the way would reach out to shake my hand or just touch my hand and say hello. The culture is so vibrant and beautiful. I am very confident that this whole experience has changed me as a person and given me a better understanding of myself and what I am capable of. I am also very thankful for the people I met and the friendships I made. I plan on going back as soon as I can and working with all of these wonderful people again. And the next time I will definitely be going for longer because a few weeks just isn’t enough time in this beautiful country. I cannot speak highly enough of this country and its people and my experience of it as a whole. It was one of the best decisions I have made, truly life changing