2026

Guatemala 2026

I’m writing this looking back on a summer that was unlike any other. I spent nine weeks in Guatemala with Engineers Without Borders, working alongside 18 other volunteers in local hospitals. We spent the first four weeks training in language and engineering skills, focusing on repairing equipment in low-resource communities. Learning Spanish was invaluable, it helped us build connections with the local hospital staff and show respect and willingness to understand their needs. Strong relationships with the staff were crucial for our main mission over the following five weeks, when we put our training to work in the hospitals.

We were split into groups and sent to different areas of the country. I was based in Antigua, working across two hospitals with three other volunteers. The first hospital had the only biomedical technician working in a government hospital in all of Guatemala. We built a great working relationship with him, constantly learning from one another. Spending days troubleshooting a single piece of equipment, only to finally figure out the issue, was as frustrating as it was satisfying. That problem-solving process is something I’ll definitely take with me into my future career and projects.

Having local Guatemalan volunteers in our group gave us a much deeper understanding of the country, culture, and people, and even resulted in an international friendship with my roommate. It was incredibly rewarding to apply the skills I've learned in school to repair equipment, turn theoretical knowledge into practical solutions, and make a tangible impact on real people. Working alongside so many passionate people with shared goals was both fun and, at times, challenging. We also had time after work and in the weekend to explore the beautiful country, visiting the Mayan pyramids in Tikal, hiking many volcanos, swimming in Lake Atitlan and much more, understanding the diversity of the country.

I hope I left a small positive impact on Guatemala, because it certainly left a lasting one on me. Spending a summer like this is something I’d recommend to anyone.