About the Project: Spend some time volunteering in a community hospital which not only provides affordable medical care, but also runs a school for children and a special needs unit.
It's a great chance to be a part of an organisation which is really making a difference in an underprivileged community.
Your Role: Your role will depend on your experience, qualifications and interests. For gap year students with no previous medical training you could be dividing your time between teaching at the school, observing in the hospital, dispensing medicines, giving basic treatments, and giving your support at community outreach programmes. This is a great project for people who want to get exposure to the medical profession as you will be able to spend time observing how things are done in the various hospital departments, as well as visiting and assisting with community health initiatives.
Volunteers with more experience can have a more direct input in such areas as patient care, dispensing medicine and taking blood samples. Volunteers who choose to spend a portion of their time teaching will be working with children in the nursery school, helping to teach very basic English - alphabet, songs and games etc. There are also afternoon tuition classes where you will be a tremendous help. These are held for previous nursery students who have been sponsored by the hospital into mainstream education. You can also help in the special needs clinic provided you have the requisite qualifications or experience.
Community outreach programmes take place in a mobile medical unit which leaves from the hospital and goes regularly into slum areas and offers affordable diagnosis and medicine. You can help with keeping records and dispensing medicines. It could be especially useful if you have prior experience, otherwise you could always learn these things on the job.
Career breakers with experience in the medical profession can be a great benefit to this organization as you will be able to play a much more direct role in patient care.
What you Gain: This is a fantastic project for gap year students who want to get some exposure in the medical profession. It will open your eyes to life in a hospital and may just help you to decide if a medical career is really for you.
For people with medical experience and qualifications, this is your chance to become part of a hospital dedicated to meeting the needs of the underprivileged. This will be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done.
Requirements:
You need:
- To be over 18 by the date of departure.
- To be passionate about wanting to help.
- Whilst no formal qualifications are needed, you need to have an interest in medicine and caring for others.
Accommodation: Wherever possible you will stay in an Indian home or share an apartment with other gappers. Home-stay hosts are carefully selected and you would normally share a non air-conditioned room with another gapper.