Meet the Volunteers Who Make Change Possible

In my free time, I love to hike, go on walks, and spend quality time with my family and friends, which helps me stay balanced and connected. I am someone who values connection, kindness, and creating a sense of community wherever I go. I strive to make others feel supported, understood, and included, and I enjoy building genuine relationships with the people around me. I am inspired by the strong, compassionate people in my life and aim to reflect those qualities in my everyday actions.

I am inspired to serve with NPH because of the deep sense of connection, compassion, and community I have experienced through my time with the organization. After visiting an NPH home in Honduras when I was 15, I saw the love, support, and opportunities provided to each child, which left a lasting impact on me. My connection to NPH grew even stronger when my family hosted a pequeño, which allowed me to build a meaningful relationship and better understand the organization’s mission on a personal level. I value creating meaningful relationships and helping others feel seen, heard, and valued. Serving with NPH allows me to live out these values while continuing to learn from a new culture and community. I am especially motivated by the opportunity to support children’s growth, build genuine connections, and be part of an environment rooted in kindness, faith, and service.

I am a recent college graduate looking to serve before I go to medical school. I have done mission trips through One World Surgery and loved the mission of NPH, so I decided to get involved. I will be the Program Assistant to OWS and look forward to getting to work with and meet doctors and other healthcare professionals. My dream is to become an orthopedic surgeon so that I can be a clinical volunteer on missions all over the world. 

I first heard about NPH during my medical missions with One World Surgery in Honduras and was inspired by the story of NPH. Serving was deeply fulfilling and transformed my view of the world and my sense of purpose. I wanted to incorporate service more into my life and saw this time as the perfect opportunity to get involved with NPH. I am taking gap years between college and medical school, and I see this as a perfect time to embark on this grand adventure, growing as a person while I help others. 

Hi! I’m Nicole, and I’m from a town just outside of Boston. I graduated from Northwestern in June 2025 with a degree in neuroscience and plan to go to medical school after my year of service with NPH. I love to dance, sing, surf, and do anything that allows me to engage with nature and the people around me! 

When I first visited NPH DR in high school, I was inspired by the warmth of the community and the way everyone accepted me—a stranger—like family. I am so excited to return and help the pequeños grow up in a safe and loving environment every child deserves. In the OWS surgery center, I can’t wait to work with physicians and volunteers expanding access to life-changing medical care. 

Hi! I grew up on Mercer Island, a small suburb right outside of Seattle. I had a childhood filled with sports, school, and crazy older siblings. I went to the University of Washington, a college only 20 minutes away from the town I grew up in. I studied Public Health/Global Health at UW and had an amazing time! Right now, I am working, living at home, and eagerly preparing for my arrival in the DR! I love to run, swim, sing, dance, read, learn new languages, and meet new people!

I want to serve with NPH because I believe in the power of helping others. I want to serve with NPH because they are looking to make meaningful, systemic, and long-term change. NPH strives to strengthen and support communities, leading to a better society for all. I really believe in the impact of the global community. What we do affects not just us, but those near us and those miles and miles away. I feel honored to be part of the work that NPH does and can’t wait to contribute as much as I can, while also learning so much from this experience and the NPH family.

Hello! My name is Margarita. I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2023 with a degree in Global Health and Development. Since then, I’ve been working in the operating room at a hospital as an Operating Room Assistant, where I’ve gained hands-on experience in a fast-paced clinical environment. I plan to continue my education in healthcare, ideally pursuing a path in surgery where I can make a meaningful impact on my local community. Outside of work, I enjoy learning about different cultures, reading, and spending time outdoors—especially hiking.

I’m motivated to serve as a way of giving back to the community that helped shape who I am today. The support and opportunities I’ve been given have had a lasting impact on my life, and I feel a strong responsibility to contribute in a meaningful way. I believe that NPH is more than just a home for children; it represents a lifelong sense of family, stability, and belonging. That mission deeply resonates with me, and I admire the organization’s commitment to nurturing not only the well-being but also the future of each child.

Hello! My name is Aidan, I’m from the Chicago area, and I’ll be working as a research coordinator at the Holy Family Surgery Center in NPH Honduras. As an aspiring physician, I am genuinely excited and grateful to work with NPH and One World Surgery to improve health quality and access in the surrounding communities while serving as a mentor for youth. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, running, and playing the guitar. A fun fact about me is that I’m a huge comic book nerd! 

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit NPH DR for a week, and I was inspired not only by the excellent work NPH and OWS do for kids but also by the positive impact they have on the surrounding communities. One of my goals is to advocate for underserved populations, and the missions of NPH and OWS align with that vision. 

My name is Graham Neiman, and I am a graduate of UCSB in Political Science and Spanish. I am looking to start the next chapter of my life at NPH Guatemala. After graduating, I spent my time involved with education and community organizing in Santa Barbara. I love spending time outside, biking, running, gardening, and reading. In the future, I look to continue on a path in education with the aim of using it as a force for our collective liberation.

I am drawn to the simple yet powerful mission that NPH has: to improve the material conditions of human beings and to give them opportunities to flourish. I believe spending a year with NPH will allow me not only to participate in this project while I am there, but also to gain a better idea of how I can achieve this for the rest of my life. I have visited NPH on multiple occasions and have been able to see the impact a committed and ambitious organization can have not just on the children, but also on the local community as a whole.

Hello! My name is Caroline Palmer, and I am from Edina, Minnesota. I graduated from Boston College in spring 2026 with a major in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. In the coming year, I plan to apply to medical school with the goal of pursuing a career in women’s health or psychiatry. In my free time, I enjoy running, baking, knitting, listening to music, playing with my dog, and doing anything that allows me to be outside.

I am excited to spend the year between college and medical school serving with NPH and OWS. I am deeply inspired by the impact NPH has on the children and the broader community, and I am eager to contribute to that mission. Having been fortunate to grow up with many opportunities and privileges, I feel a strong responsibility to use those advantages in service of others. I am also excited for the opportunity to travel and immerse myself in Honduran culture, learning from the people and community while broadening my perspective.

My name is Cynthia, and I am a speech-language pathologist from Chicago, IL. I earned my Master of Science in 2025 from Augustana College and have since worked with both pediatric and adult populations across clinical, hospital, and school settings. I am especially passionate about acute care and outpatient services, and I value building meaningful relationships with the individuals I serve. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, playing tennis, reading, and spending time with friends. Spanish is my first language, and with my parents being from Honduras, I am excited to spend the next six months in my family’s home country!

I want to serve because I have felt a strong calling to volunteer abroad ever since my clinical experience in Cambodia during graduate school. That experience opened my eyes to the impact of service and the importance of showing up for communities with humility and compassion. Since then, I have felt drawn to continue serving, especially in Spanish-speaking communities where I can connect more deeply through language and culture.

Serving in Honduras is especially meaningful to me because it is my family’s home country. Being able to give back in a place that is part of my identity feels both personal and purposeful. As a young speech-language pathologist, I am eager to grow, learn from others, and collaborate with the team at NPH. I look forward to supporting the children and staff while continuing to develop my clinical skills!