Hearing directly from students who have served in the field is one of the best ways to understand the true impact of a Safe Homes Service Learning Trip. Reading volunteer testimonials gives prospective participants an honest look into the daily work, community relationships, and personal growth that happen during a project. For Tilly, an undergraduate student who joined the Safe Homes Movement in Lima, her time spent building concrete staircases on the steep hillsides of peri-urban settlements proved to be a life-changing experience.

Here is her perspective on what it means to build safe, accessible infrastructure alongside local residents.

Firsthand Impact on the Hillside

MEDLIFE: "What's the impact of today's work?"

Tilly: "I think it's gonna help tremendously. I mean just being able to make it more accessible. Just even walking down the hill was crazy enough. So being able to see how they live, just their everyday lives and to be able to be a part of that to make it just more accessible, easier on their bodies and everything, could prevent future things too, so I think this is just as important as the health aspect."

Choosing to volunteer construction labor for retaining walls and staircases acts as a form of preventative healthcare in underserved communities just as much as working in a mobile clinic. By providing safe steps, residents avoid dangerous slips, reduce physical strain, and gain reliable access to emergency services.

Learning From Community Strengths

Worksite projects are built on a 50/50 partnership, where local community members work side-by-side with student groups and Safe Homes staff. When reflecting on what she learned while working on the hillside, Tilly noted the incredible sense of unity among the families living there:

MEDLIFE: "What have you learned from working with the community?"

Tilly: "I think it just shows how grateful everyone is and how willing to help the community members are and just like the sense of community that it has because where I'm from we don't really have anything like this. So it's been really cool to be able to see everyone work together."

A Experience That Brings Volunteers Back

When asked if she would encourage other students to sign up, Tilly did not hesitate:

MEDLIFE: "Would you recommend participating in development projects?"

Tilly: "100%. I'm gonna come next year for sure. I think this has been one of the best experiences I've ever done in my whole entire life and especially being able to be first hand with the community that we're trying to help, I think it's been so special."

Deciding to volunteer in Peru gives students a unique opportunity to step outside the classroom and support sustainable, community-led infrastructure. As these student stories show, working alongside local leaders to build safer homes leaves a lasting impact on both the community and the volunteers themselves.

To learn how you can assist people living in underserved communities in countries like Peru, Ecuador, or Tanzania, fill out the interest form below to get info on how you can join a Safe Homes Movement Service Learning Trip.