Medical Intern
Overview
This internship is ideal for you if you’re a high school student interested in a medical career. You’ll gain practical experience that will give your CV an extra edge. In addition, the outreach work you do will also help demonstrate your commitment to helping others.
This is the chance to see what it’s like to be a doctor or nurse. You can get valuable insight into this career path before committing to years of studying. You’ll also gain skills that are valuable in every career, like teamwork, planning, and leadership.
You don’t need any particular experience or qualifications to join. All of your work is supervised, and our staffs are there to guide and help you every step of the way. For this project, our staffs have designed a set itinerary of work and cultural and leisure activities specifically for teenagers. It’s the perfect project for you if you want to get the most out of your time abroad without the added stress of organizing your own activities.
What will I do?
You’ll spend time working in hospitals and getting practical medical experience in a Maasai community. Here are some of the tasks you’ll do:
Shadow doctors and nurses
As part of this internship, you’ll get to observe the work of doctors and nurses. You’ll be assigned a supervising doctor who will guide you through your different tasks. Get the chance to see first-hand what working in a hospital in Tanzania is like. You’ll sit in on consultations and get to see how to use specialized medical equipment. Because the hospital where you work is under-resourced, you’ll also get to see the innovative ways doctors cope with running out of supplies.
Attend workshops
You’ll spend part of this internship attending medical workshops. You’ll learn about common diseases in Tanzania, like malaria and HIV/AIDS. Doctors will also give you first aid training or teach you things like how to suture or give injections. You’ll also learn practical skills like how to measure blood pressure and blood sugar.
Help at medical outreaches
During your time in Tanzania, you’ll participate in medical outreaches. These cover different topics, but you’ll always have plenty of preparation during workshops beforehand. Some examples include visiting a kindergarten to share knowledge about the importance of oral hygiene, or doing basic health checks in a Maasai community.
Explore this beautiful country
This programme has a set itinerary and although you’ll be doing lots of learning, there are also plenty of leisure activities in between. So, as part of this project, you’ll get to explore Tanzania and learn more about local culture. Through all your adventures, you’ll be with a group of volunteers your age.
Aim & Impact
The aim of this project is to give you an introduction to a career in medicine. You’ll learn practical medical skills that will give you the confidence for university applications. You’ll also get to see what working in a hospital in developing countries would be like, which can help you decide on your future career path.
We also aim to provide basic healthcare to remote and rural communities. These communities don’t have the funds or transport to seek regular medical assistance. By helping at outreaches, you’ll help doctor’s advice and treat patients in these communities. You’ll also raise awareness about disease prevention.
Location: Arusha
Situated in northern Tanzania, Arusha is the capital of the Arusha Region and is surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, it has a mild climate and is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Arusha balances well the ‘city life’ with the ‘small town’ feel and that makes it even more attractive in the eyes of tourists and travelers from all parts of the world. It is commonly referred to as the safari capital of East Africa.
Accommodation & Food
You'll stay with a host family in Arusha. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs. We believe that this is the best way to involve yourself in the culture of Tanzania. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe. Your programme fee includes breakfast and two meals a day.
Safety
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects staffs are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance.
Other Information
Visa Information
An ‘STP’ or ‘Volunteer’ visa is required to volunteer in Tanzania and costs around US $250. Some nationalities can apply in advance, but most volunteers will obtain the volunteer visa from the airport on arrival in Arusha. Note: All travelers require return or onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and proof of funds. Currently visitors arriving from infected areas must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Key Facts
Start Dates
Every Sunday (Year-round)
Duration
2 - 12 Weeks
Ages
15 - 18 Years
Arrival Airport
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Airport Pickup
Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport volunteers will be collected by a representative of the local project team and transported to their assigned accommodation.
- Included in fee