“Our mission is to build a worldwide Movement empowering the underserved in their fight for equal access to healthcare, education, and a safe home.”
These are the words that have inspired over groups of students at over 400 schools across North America to commit to making a global difference. The nonprofit organization Medlife is dedicated to making a change by supporting communities in South America and Africa with limited resources. They focus on sustainable action with community develop projects, and provide year round medical care through mobile clinics. Students here at Lincoln have decided to bring Medlife’s mission to our students and community, starting our very own chapter.
“We raise money for Medlife…we provide volunteer opportunities for students and we look for organizations that are really making an impact that can be, like, really clearly seen” said Maddie Lu (’26), 1 of 2 chapter presidents here at Lincoln. She went on to describe how the chapter is planning on working with the Sound Foundation, having members help build tiny homes for people in need. She explained how important it is to reflect Medlife’s values here in Seattle and push for changes in her local community as well as abroad.
One of the most exciting aspects of the club, is the opportunity to travel to the countries Medlife operates in. “People in our chapter are going to Lima, Peru…So, you’ll get to help with community projects and then also shadow doctors as they go around teaching public health and treating people” explained Lu.
The impact that Medlife makes globally cannot be overstated. When interviewing Lorena Muñoz (High School Division Chapter Coach) and Isabella Albarran (Medlife Expansion Associate), they shared just how much Medlife has done for the communities they operate in.
“Just this past year, we were able to see more than 17,000 patients in Peru, more than 1,500 in Costa Rica, and we’ve reached around 12,000 people with our community development projects,” said Muñoz. She went on to explain how the main goal of Medlife is to reach people who otherwise would have never been to a doctor and would not have had access to crucial medical care.
Medlife doesn’t just provide medical care to these communities, however, but also works on environmental improvements for health and safety.
Albarran explained, “In Lima for example, our main project is usually building staircases in communities. You might think, it sounds so simple like, why a staircase. But again, these communities are growing very high up in the hills… they build their homes in these very, like precarious conditions.”
With dangerous accidents affecting pregnant women, children and the elderly, building staircases in these areas was a crucial safety precaution.
“The impact that students can make is huge. The fact that we can get someone traveling, even if it’s 1 student means that we can have the funds needed to carry out development projects” Albarran explained. By going on an SLT, you provide the means to fund mobile clinics, buy materials for development projects and help certain community members get life-changing medical treatment. From a young girl being able to finally receive surgery for her cataracts, a women getting tumors removed from her uterus to an elderly blind couple having a brand new accessible home built for them, the impact made from SLT funds is phenomenal.
Volunteers also get to make a difference the second they arrive in their SLT location.
Albarran described a recent SLT, “They went to Guatemala and they were able to see over 250 patients in a week. Your impact is hugely felt on the ground, with the communities we help.”
She continued to explain how students can not only have an critical impact, but also take away crucial experiences and life lessons as a result of these trips. “You get exposed to a situation, a different reality. It makes you not only become aware, but question how can this happen? And what can I do about it? There’s a reflective experience that comes with being a part of Medlife.”
Of course, it is very possible to contribute without traveling. “You don’t need to travel to have an impact, students doing fundraising activities or campaigns during the school year at their school to spread the word… think of it as an indirect impact” said Albarran.
If you’re interested in the work that Medlife does and want to get involved, contact Lincoln High School’s chapter presidents Emaline Ferrell or Maddie Lu.
