Kaya Responsible Travel

I lived in Quito for 6 weeks working at the Equidad for short, a center for LGBTQ + members. I worked on my Spanish and helped the community as a desk person. I traveled on the weekends to beautiful spots like the Galapagos (which you can only travel to from Ecuador) & Baños.

I interned at MPLUS Foundation for two months this summer! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here as an intern and am so appreciative for the opportunity to gain knowledge, exposure, and experience by watching, learning and participating in the inner workings of this foundation. I learned about the importance of sexual health, HIV and STD prevention services, and how important it is that these services are accessible for people. I have seen the value and emphasis MPLUS places on reducing stigma and discrimination, which I believe is so profound and pertinent. I also think it is wonderful that MPLUS is a community-based organization that provides comprehensive people-centered services that are free! I felt positively impacted by having the opportunity to intern at MPLUS. I hope to take what I have learned and observed here, such as accessibility, affordability, decreasing stigma and discrimination, and operating as a community based organization whose sole purpose is to serve the people, back home to America, and implement each of these in my future career role. Everyone here at MPLUS has been so welcoming, kind, and sweet! Getting to know everyone and building relationships has been one of my favorite things while being here! I am grateful for the support that everyone has provided to me while I was an intern at MPLUS and for being the best people with the kindest and most considerate hearts!

My internship in Morocco through Kaya was amazing and was a very valuable experience for me. However, improvements can be made in the administration. I was given a brief overview of my internship before arriving (location, supervisor, responsibilities, etc.) But I was assigned to a different location upon my arrival. It wasn't until almost two weeks into my visit when I was able to start working. The housing accommodation had many pluses and minuses. There was no kitchen access, privacy, or refrigerator space, air conditioning, etc. However, the location and design largely made up for it. I was fine with this, but wish that the accommodations were better explained to me before arriving so that I would have better prepared. If there are fixes in the administration and a more in-depth description of the program/housing would have made an already amazing experience greater.