Lessons from the Amazon: Service, Community, and Clean Water

In May 2025, I had the unforgettable opportunity to travel to Peru for a two-week, service-based study abroad. Alongside 11 other students and trip leaders, we journeyed into the Amazon rainforest to partner with local communities and organizations. What I experienced there changed the way I see service-and the world around me.

Our first few days were spent on the banks of the Amazon River in a village called Las Palmas 2. This scenic community, which spends much of the year partially underwater, became the heart of our project. With the support of Waves for Water, we distributed water filters and provided training on their use and maintenance. The filters-simple, durable, and capable of removing particles down to 0.01 microns-offer clean drinking water for over a decade if properly cared for.

Many villagers rely on small, bleach-based capsules to purify water from nearby “quebradas” (branches of the main river). While these help kill harmful microorganisms, they don’t remove sediment or other residues. Our goal was to provide a more sustainable, long-term solution. In addition to in-person training, we left behind a video guide to ensure continued success with the filters. The gratitude we received was deeply humbling.

We set up a distribution center in the village’s schoolhouse, which also serves as a communal gathering space. From there, we visited individual families—some of whom welcomed us with stories, laughter, and heartfelt appreciation. I was struck not only by their hospitality but also by the sense of community that permeated every part of village life.

Guiding us throughout the experience were Antony and Jorge, who served as our field leaders and interpreters. Between home visits and long canoe rides, they shared stories from their lives and insights about local culture and traditions. They also helped us better understand the challenges that isolated Amazonian communities face-especially when it comes to access to healthcare, medicine, and essential resources. Saying goodbye to them was difficult; their kindness and wisdom left a lasting mark.

In the second half of our trip, we visited several local nonprofit organizations doing incredible work throughout Peru. We learned about vaccination initiatives, infectious disease testing, and outreach programs that travel deep into remote areas. Witnessing their impact and hearing directly from those who carry out this work was inspiring. What stood out most was the overwhelming sense of community and mutual support we encountered. The people we met live with a spirit of togetherness that’s rare to see-and even harder to forget.

From the riverside village of Las Palmas 2 to the peaks of Machu Picchu, this journey was filled with moments of perspective, connection, and growth. I’m endlessly grateful to Youthlinc, Utah State University, Waves for Water, our in-country partners, and my fellow travelers for making it all possible.

If you’re considering a service trip, I can’t recommend it enough. As I discovered, the truest joy often comes through serving others. Or as Henry Drummond once said, “Happiness consists in giving and serving others.”