UCSC MEDLIFE

MEDLIFE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with low-income communities in Latin America and Africa to improve their access to medicine, education, and community development projects. In order to achieve the ultimate goal of a world free from the constraints of poverty, we provide opportunities for students to become advocates for change by creating on-campus Chapters, volunteering in Service Learning Trips, and supporting the Moving Mountains giving program. With this support, MEDLIFE hires and trains local staff to provide high quality 24/7/365 patient care, community development projects, and educational workshops to empower communities in need. 

The UCSC MEDLIFE Chapter is centered around four pillars. Providing workshops for our student body, regardless of your major, ranging from Resume Builder workshops to Pre-Health Panels. We can guarantee you will be able to make friends and networks within our chapter, the city of Santa Cruz, and MEDLIFE. Secondly, we provide volunteering opportunities, predominantly in Santa Cruz. Thirdly, our chapter leads an annual MEDLIFE fundraiser called: Moving Mountains. The funds we collect from said campaign go directly into patient follow up care and community development projects. Lastly, you will have the opportunity of joining a handful of students on a Service Learning Trip (SLT). This is where you will take part in helping low-income communities in Latin America or Africa.  You will help set up mobile clinics and lead a community development project. 

Over the last three years our chapter has traveled to three different countries. Providing aid to more than a dozen communities, ranking up to more than 1,000 patients. 

Our YouTube video below show some of our highlights from our trip to Cusco, Peru (2024). Then the presentation is a photo album of pictures of our last 3 Service Learning Trips (SLTs).