#GlobalHealthStories | From the Field: The Castillo Family’s Journey with FIMRC Costa Rica

Stories of care, connection, and courage from FIMRC’s global communities.

Across FIMRC’s project sites, families, volunteers, and local health workers come together with a shared purpose — to build healthier, stronger communities. Our #GlobalHealthStories | From the Field series brings you real moments of resilience, compassion, and collaboration from around the world.

Each story offers a glimpse into how global health work changes lives — both for the communities we serve and for the students who volunteer alongside them. Whether you’re a premed, medical student, or exploring a future in healthcare, these stories remind us why hands-on experience and human connection are at the heart of medicine.

This Week’s Story: The Castillo Family’s Journey with FIMRC Costa Rica

In 1996, Melania Castillo and her husband made one of the most difficult and courageous decisions of their lives. Following the advice of Melania’s mother, who was already living in Costa Rica, they left their home in Nicaragua and embarked on a new journey. They didn’t carry much, just a small bag with a few clothes, but they brought something far more valuable: hope and determination to build a better future.

Costa Rica welcomed them with open arms, offering new opportunities and the chance to dream again. Over the years, the family grew, welcoming three children, Isaac, Ana Victoria, and Melany, who became the heart of their new beginning. 

When FIMRC opened its clinic in Alajuelita in 2004, Melania arrived carrying her baby in her arms, seeking care and support. From that very first visit, the clinic became more than a place for medicine, it became a source of comfort, compassion, and community. Each time a new baby was born, the FIMRC team was there, offering prenatal care, pediatric services, and the reassurance that no one had to face hardship alone. 

Over the years, the Castillo Rostrán family has faced many challenges of rebuilding life in a new country–financial struggles, limited access to care, and uncertainty about the future. But with resilience, faith, and the continued support of FIMRC’s team, they have built a strong and healthy family, proof of what’s possible when people have access to the care and attention they deserve.

Their journey mirrors the transformation of Alajuelita itself. What began as an underserved  community now thrives through collaboration, access to healthcare, and the work of dedicated FIMRC volunteers who come from around the world to serve. 

Why This Story Matters to Future Health Professionals.

Every year, hundreds of students–premeds, medical students, and aspiring public health professionals–join FIMRC’s Global Health Volunteer Program (GHVP). In Costa Rica, they gain hands-on experience working alongside local clinicians in maternal and child health, community outreach, and health education. 

For many, volunteering abroad with FIMRC becomes a pivotal chapter in their journey toward medicine. It offers a rare opportunity to:

• Earn clinical hours and field experience to strengthen med school applications
• Understand global health challenges firsthand
• Develop empathy and cross-cultural communication skills essential to healthcare
  

Beyond the technical skills, volunteers walk away inspired—by families like the Castillos, by the resilience of the communities they serve, and by the realization that compassionate healthcare changes lives in every corner of the world.

Join The Mission

If you’re passionate about healthcare, community development, and global service, this is your chance to be part of something meaningful. 

Apply today through the Global Health Volunteer Program (GHVP) and help continue transforming lives—one family, one story at a time.

Email: [email protected]
Learn more: www.fimrc.org/volunteer