Service Learning Trips in Latin America & Africa | MEDLIFE Movement

What Are Service Learning Trips?

Classic Service Learning Trips (SLTs) are week-long educational journeys to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Tanzania, where volunteers work hand-in-hand with a local community on development projects, mobile medical clinics, and more!

The experience allows volunteers to understand the realities of living in low-income communities, connect personally with the communities MEDLIFE supports, and ignite action within them to join the MEDLIFE Movement in the fight for a world free from the constraints of poverty.

Download the Service Learning Trips brochure today to learn more! If you’d like to schedule a meeting with a MEDLIFE Advisor, you can also book a meeting here.

Download Your Free Brochure

Students from Various Disciplines

Medical students can gain invaluable hands-on experience in global health, while students from all fields have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful community work and broaden their perspectives on social change.

Educators

Educators looking to deepen their understanding of global educational challenges while inspiring their students with a firsthand global perspective and the power of community-driven solutions.

Parents

Parents who want to engage in meaningful volunteer work alongside their children, fostering a shared experience that promotes values of service, compassion, and global citizenship.

Graduate Students

Postgraduates eager to apply their advanced skills to real-world challenges, gaining valuable experience that enhances their professional growth and understanding of global issues.

Healthcare Professionals

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who aim to provide care in underserved communities, while expanding their clinical expertise and gaining insight into global health challenges.

Global Learners

Individuals with a passion for making a positive impact on the world, eager to contribute to global community development and broaden their understanding of social change.

Highlights of the Trip

Engage: Shadow local medical professionals and work alongside community members on a development project.
Educate: Connect experiences from the field to academic themes through educational discussions.
Build your CV: Gain 40 service hours!
Advocate: Become a global citizen and learn how to advocate for social issues, both locally and abroad.
Travel: Explore more of the adventure, culture, and wildlife of our destinations by adding travel extensions to a Service Learning Trip.

Day 1

Transfer & Orientation

Students arrive at the airport, where a MEDLIFE team member will welcome them and support their transfer to the accommodation. After arrival, students will have time to settle in, rest, and prepare for the week ahead.

Day 2

Reality Tour

Students are introduced to the local culture through a guided orientation experience led by their Trip Leader. The day includes a walking tour, time to explore the surrounding area, and an orientation session focused on safety, expectations, and the purpose of the Service Learning Trip. This first full day helps students begin understanding the local context before engaging with partner communities.

Day 3-5

Mobile Clinic

Students participate in MEDLIFE Mobile Clinics, which work alongside local healthcare professionals to reach communities facing barriers to medical access. Each clinic day may take place in a different community, allowing students to observe how healthcare is delivered in diverse local contexts. Students support clinic logistics, assist medical professionals within their assigned roles, and learn more about MEDLIFE’s year-round approach to patient care and follow-up.

Day 6

Project

Students may take part in a community development project based on local priorities and ongoing needs. These projects can include infrastructure initiatives such as staircases, roads, public spaces, or sanitation-related improvements. Throughout the week, students also participate in guided reflection and post-clinic activities designed to connect their field experience with broader conversations about health, poverty, and sustainable development.

Day 7

Optional Tour

Students can choose to participate in an optional tourism activity or extension to learn more about the country they choose beyond the program activities. This day offers time to explore, reflect, and enjoy the cultural and natural diversity of the country.

Day 8

Transfer Out

Students depart or continue exploring the country independently. MEDLIFE supports the transfer process for students returning home, closing the week with a final opportunity to reflect on the experiences, lessons, and perspectives gained throughout the Service Learning Trip.

Day 1

Transfer & Orientation

Students arrive at the airport, where a MEDLIFE team member will welcome them and support their transfer to the accommodation. After arrival, students will have time to settle in, rest, and prepare for the week ahead.

Day 2

Reality Tour

Students are introduced to the local culture through a guided orientation experience led by their Trip Leader. The day includes a walking tour, time to explore the surrounding area, and an orientation session focused on safety, expectations, and the purpose of the Service Learning Trip. This first full day helps students begin understanding the local context before engaging with partner communities.

Day 3-5

Mobile Clinic

Students participate in MEDLIFE Mobile Clinics, which work alongside local healthcare professionals to reach communities facing barriers to medical access. Each clinic day may take place in a different community, allowing students to observe how healthcare is delivered in diverse local contexts. Students support clinic logistics, assist medical professionals within their assigned roles, and learn more about MEDLIFE’s year-round approach to patient care and follow-up.

Day 6

Project

Students may take part in a community development project based on local priorities and ongoing needs. These projects can include infrastructure initiatives such as staircases, roads, public spaces, or sanitation-related improvements. Throughout the week, students also participate in guided reflection and post-clinic activities designed to connect their field experience with broader conversations about health, poverty, and sustainable development.

Day 7

Optional Tour

Students can choose to participate in an optional tourism activity or extension to learn more about the country they choose beyond the program activities. This day offers time to explore, reflect, and enjoy the cultural and natural diversity of the country.

Day 8

Transfer Out

Students depart or continue exploring the country independently. MEDLIFE supports the transfer process for students returning home, closing the week with a final opportunity to reflect on the experiences, lessons, and perspectives gained throughout the Service Learning Trip.

I think that being involved with MEDLIFE has given me so many amazing opportunities that I wouldn’t otherwise have had as a pre-health student. It has definitely confirmed my passion for medicine.

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Rhiannon

Indiana University

It’s such an amazing experience. You will really get hands-on experience working with doctors, and you get to just meet a ton of cool people, I definitely recommend it.

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Emily

Harvard University

I really enjoyed connecting with different patients and the global health aspect of MEDLIFE as well. It has made me also potentially consider a path in global health.

testimonials-katlyn

Katlyn

Northeastern University

If you’re thinking that you want to go just do it! It’s easy to get caught in book work, textbooks and you’ll not get the same experience as you will just reading about the things that you can do than actually going out and doing them. Go out!

testimonials-jaylyn

Jaylyn

Indiana University

Follow-Up Local Professionals Our Volunteers Community Members

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We Provide Patient & Project Follow-Up

MEDLIFE employs full-time staff members in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, and Tanzania. These dedicated individuals commit to a year-round follow-up program, ensuring the return and provision of necessary care to patients and projects. They also work on maintaining and servicing long-term needs.

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We Hire Local Professionals

Local medical professionals know the language and culture and possess expertise in the country’s symptoms and treatments of common ailments. Consequently, they deeply understand the local systems, infrastructure, and government processes. This understanding empowers us to provide enhanced services, fostering a higher level of care for our patients.

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We Keep Volunteers Engaged Year-Round

We encourage all volunteers to continue their MEDLIFE involvement year-round by starting or joining a Chapter on their campus. Being part of the Movement and actively engaging in this cause allows you to contribute to making a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.

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We Work Hand-in-Hand With Community Members

MEDLIFE and our volunteers complete 50% of the work during our Service Learning Trips, while community members do the remaining 50%. To ensure the effectiveness of our efforts, we actively develop relationships with the communities we bring volunteers to months before a Service Learning Trip.

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Our Alumni: Where They Are Now

The journey doesn’t end with MEDLIFE, it’s just the beginning. Our alumni have gone on to achieve incredible things, making a meaningful impact in their careers and communities. We’re proud to highlight the incredible journeys of our alumni who have gone on to become amazing professionals, leaders, and change-makers in their respective fields.

Explore their inspiring stories and learn how their experiences with MEDLIFE have shaped their careers, fueled their passions, and influenced their commitment to social change and community service.

Explore Their Stories