Volunteering Abroad in Ecuador: Kiana Parkins’ Global Health Journey with FIMRC

Kiana Parkins, a registered nurse and graduate student in public health, traveled from the U.S. to Ecuador seeking a hands-on understanding of global health. What she found in the coastal town of Anconcito was a life-changing lesson in resilience, community, and compassion.

“I came to Ecuador expecting to learn about public health policies,” Kiana shares. “But I left understanding what true dedication to healthcare looks like.”

What Do Volunteers Do in Ecuador with FIMRC?

During her time in Ecuador, Kiana worked in local clinics and schools alongside local doctors, nurses, and community leaders through FIMRC’s Global Health Volunteer Program (GHVP). 

Volunteers at the site: 

• Support local clinics and schools through health education
• Assisting with diabetes and hypertension screenings
• Teach CPR and emergency response
• Participate in the Health Ambassador Program, empowering local youth to become health leaders
• Join public health campaigns that promote nutrition and prevent disease

These activities give students and healthcare professionals real world experience in preventive medicine and health education, something that is invaluable for anyone pursuing a career in healthcare. 

What Makes Volunteering Abroad in Ecuador So Unique?

Kiana also witnessed firsthand how healthcare works in rural communities, where long travel distances, limited essential medical supplies, and social factors affect access to care, contrasting with her experience with the US healthcare system. 

“This experience gave me a broader understanding of what it means to serve,” she reflects. “It’s not only about medicine, it’s about empathy, education, and creating lasting change.”

Through this immersion, students can develop: 

• Cross cultural communication skills
• Adaptability and teamwork in resource-limited settings
• Deeper insight into global health systems

These are not just resume boosters, they are lessons that shape more compassionate and culturally competent healthcare providers.

How Volunteering with FIMRC Supports Communities

FIMRC’s work in Ecuador focuses on sustainable, community-driven health initiatives. Volunteers help strengthen long-term programs such as: 

• Nutrition and preventive health programs, 
• Chronic disease screening and management
• Promoting healthy habits and combating malnutrition
• Youth leadership and empowerment

This approach ensures that every visit contributes to lasting change, not just short-term aid.

Get Involved. Gain Global Health Experience Abroad

If you are a student, nurse, or aspiring healthcare professional looking for meaningful hands-on experience abroad, FIMRC’s Global Health Volunteer Program (GHVP) offers opportunities year-round in Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, and Uganda.

Whether you’re preparing for medical school or exploring a career in public health, volunteering abroad can help you grow both professionally and personally, just like it did for Kiana. 

Learn more here.