Seven Weeks That Change Everything

Ian's journey as a Yampu-sponsored MEDLIFE volunteer reveals how meaningful travel transforms both giver and community.

Seven Weeks That Change Everything

Ian arrived in Lima as a University of Vermont student with a Biology degree and a passion for community development. Seven weeks later, he's witnessed firsthand how MEDLIFE's approach to sustainable change works—not through handouts, but through partnership with the communities themselves. From delivering a sandwich cart that gave a mother independence, to building staircases that keep children safe on treacherous hillsides, Ian has learned that real development requires listening, planning, and working alongside the people you serve. This is what volunteer work looks like when it matters: cultural immersion paired with tangible impact, guided by a philosophy that community contribution isn't optional—it's essential.

MEDLIFE in Action

Week Seven: Three Projects, One Mission
The work that changes lives, one community at a time.

A Cart, A Future

A Cart, A Future

Tatiana now has the tools to support Camila's medical needs independently, turning a mother's determination into sustainable income.

Building Safety

Building Safety

Hands moving sand and cement up a hillside, creating a staircase that means children can reach home without fear.

The Wall of Shame

The Wall of Shame

Ten feet of razor wire and concrete, a stark reminder of the inequality that MEDLIFE works every day to bridge.

Learning Through Doing

Ian's weeks in Lima revealed what no classroom could: that sustainable change comes from working alongside communities, not for them. When MEDLIFE helped Tatiana secure a sandwich cart, they didn't hand her a solution—they asked what she needed to support her daughter Camila's medical care, then helped her build it herself. The staircase project in Los Jardines taught the same lesson. Climbing those rocky hills before construction began made the need real. Three months of planning, community meetings, and mapping preceded the actual work—the invisible foundation that determines whether a project lasts. Ian's CDAE classes had prepared him for this, but only the hillside, the community members, and the cement bags could teach him why community participation isn't just philosophy. It's the difference between a project that changes one season and one that changes everything.

Meet Ian

A MEDLIFE volunteer intern with deep roots in community development and hands-on experience across Peru and Ecuador.
Meet Ian

From Freshman to President

Ian joined MEDLIFE at the University of Vermont during his freshman year. By junior year, he became chapter president of MEDVIDA, leading his peers in service and advocacy. His progression from member to leader reflects his commitment to sustainable community change.

Two Brigades, Two Countries

His first brigade took him to Cusco, Peru—an experience that changed his life. A year later, he returned to South America for a second brigade in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, where he first learned about this internship opportunity in Lima.

Beyond the Internship

Ian mentors two mentees, Keshon and Kiki, volunteers on the pediatric floor at UVM Medical Center, and competes with the UVM Triathlon club. A Biology major with a minor in Community & International Development, he brings both scientific rigor and human-centered thinking to his work.
Meet Ian

From Freshman to President

Ian joined MEDLIFE at the University of Vermont during his freshman year. By junior year, he became chapter president of MEDVIDA, leading his peers in service and advocacy. His progression from member to leader reflects his commitment to sustainable community change.

Two Brigades, Two Countries

His first brigade took him to Cusco, Peru—an experience that changed his life. A year later, he returned to South America for a second brigade in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, where he first learned about this internship opportunity in Lima.

Beyond the Internship

Ian mentors two mentees, Keshon and Kiki, volunteers on the pediatric floor at UVM Medical Center, and competes with the UVM Triathlon club. A Biology major with a minor in Community & International Development, he brings both scientific rigor and human-centered thinking to his work.

Why Volunteer With Yampu

Meaningful work that changes lives—yours and the communities you serve.

  • Work alongside MEDLIFE on real community projects

  • Learn sustainable development in the field, not th

  • Live immersed in Peruvian culture and daily life

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