Jordyn Esselman first discovered RUHU in 2017 while volunteering in Uganda with another organization where she was using her nursing degree to do medical outreaches in the slums. After this trip, Jordyn was drawn to learn more about RUHU and soon decided she wanted to contribute as much as possible.
When asked why she decided to go volunteer, Jordyn talked about her inability to study abroad in college, and how “volunteering abroad while using my nursing degree became a passion after graduation.” Since 2017, Jordyn has gone on 2 six-week long trips, where she has mostly worked on medical outreaches as well as health programming in schools. According to Jordyn, “Nothing can describe the feelings you feel until you’re there working side by side with other volunteers on a mission.” During her second trip, she was able to work with the (then newly launched) Muwala Mulungi program and do women’s health programming. During her trip in 2018, she assisted in the construction of the medical clinic at Village of Hope. Before the trip, she spent a year fundraising for the clinic and was able to see the vision come to life.
Jordyn noted, that though she doesn’t have any future trips planned, she knows “the contributions I make state-side are just as meaningful.” Her advice for those considering going to volunteer is that “no matter what your passion is, there is a place for everyone there [and] there are so many opportunities and different ways to be involved.”
Interested in learning more or ready to take the plunge? If so, please reach out to Laura at laura@beautifulresponse.org or apply below. We look forward to hearing from you!
