Medical Expedition Blogs

Joining Vine Trust’s Jubilee Hope Expedition on Lake Victoria in Tanzania was one of the most life changing experiences, and I’m so grateful for the Dr Julia McLean Grant Fund for helping to facilitate it. I honestly had no expectations prior to the expedition, and my experiences on Jubilee Hope far exceeded anything I could have possibly imagined. Our days began with a health talk and patient registration on the island, and then we returned to the ship for clinics. As a student, I was encouraged to give everything a go, from taking histories and being involved in managing patients…

Over 20 years ago the Amazon Hope 2 visited my town.  On board and through our church we learnt of The Vine Trust and it’s work in Peru and I thought what an amazing thing it would be to volunteer.  However, working in admin, I had no usable skills so it was nothing more than a ‘what if?’ moment.  However, years later and having worked as a phlebotomist/ lab assistant and now a healthcare support worker, a chance conversation with a veteran of many Vine Trust trips to both Peru and Tanzania, my ‘what if’ began to become more of…

Spending 2 weeks on the Peruvian Amazon in July 2024, as part of my medical school elective, was an unforgettable and unique time that I never thought I’d experience as a student. It was a very useful clinical and cultural experience for both my personal and professional development, and one I know that I will look back fondly on for many years. I have always been interested in remote and rural healthcare, alongside a long-term desire to travel to South America, so when I discovered the Vine Trust and the electives they offered, I knew it was the perfect choice…

  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would be delivering a baby in the middle of the Amazon River in Peru!! But I did and I had the most amazing, magical experience of my life while volunteering with the Amazon Hope Medical programme in November 2023.   Initially when my friend asked me to join them on this trip I was very apprehensive as I had never travelled very far and I was scared of most things, planes, piranhas, snakes and spiders!! I knew this trip was going to put me way out my comfort zone,…

Recalling my time aboard Jubilee Hope, it’s primarily memories of the people that I shared those two weeks with that I carry with me. A diverse group of people who warmly welcomed a stranger into their midst, who embodied what it is to truly live and work as an effective team. A team where each member had a clearly defined role yet all willingly chose to pitch in to help and support to achieve that which needed to be done; cleaning, caring, translating, attending to late night emergencies. It was so refreshing and encouraging to work along side those who…

The last time I saw Forth Hope, she was departing Rosyth for her epic voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. It was a truly special moment when I caught my first glimpse of her on the Puinahua river as we approached after 3 hours in the speedboat. The contrast of this modern vessel and the surrounding area she serves is striking; she is unique, unlike anything else we saw on the river. Upon boarding you soon realise there is even more to her than meets the eye. The ingenious design of the interiors helps her feel as though she is a…