Hundreds of Nicaraguans in need of medical care recently received treatment thanks to a team of volunteers including Mississauga, Ont., REALTOR® Nicole Werkman.
Among the patients were a mother and her children who travelled four hours by horseback to attend a clinic.
Nicaragua is a Central American country with a population of more than six million people subsisting on an average income of $2,600 per year. Nicole travelled to Nicaragua in February with Volunteers in Medical Missions (VIMM) and her travel was partially financed by Summit Cares, a charitable fund established by Sutton Group – Summit Realty Inc.
“Our eight-person team consisted of two medical doctors, one physician’s assistant, two nurses, one health care worker, one teacher and I assisted as a translator,” Nicole says. “Overall, we saw 680 patients during the week.
“Our first two days of clinic were in the town of Casares, which is a quaint fishing village on the Pacific. The people were poor, but happy. They were thankful to see the doctors and receive medications. The following two days, we did a clinic in La Boquita, at a local church. Michelle, the teacher, kept the children busy with crafts, songs and activities. Our final and busiest clinic was held in the village of Huehuete at a government facility.”
This trip to Nicaragua was Nicole’s seventh volunteer mission. She has assisted on three medical missions (one with VIMM and two with Medical Ministry International) and has taken four trips to Mexico to help build an orphanage.
Nicole recommends doing this type of volunteer work as a way to experience different parts of the world and make a direct and lasting impact on people’s lives. Nicole has also been able to put into practice the Spanish she studied in high school and university.
Sutton is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated company with more than 9,000 REALTORS® in over 200 offices nationwide. To find out more about Sutton, visit www.sutton.com. To learn more about Sutton Spirit, visit www.suttonspirit.com.
This story was adapted – with permission – from one originally featured on the Sutton Spirit website. The Sutton Spirit program recognizes Sutton associates across Canada that improve and enhance the lives of the people around them.
