Guyana Medicine & Health Education
Now recruiting for our fall placement of Guyana’s medical mission!
Looking for volunteers with a medical background to assist us in a tour of the indigenous regions of Guyana distributing medicine and providing health education to the local communities.
Spaces are limited, so be sure to submit the completed application package with your deposit . Once we have your application, we will contact you for an interview (if you are a first time volunteer). Returning volunteers do not need to resubmit all their forms but should submit an updated Application Form.
Program Period: Two-week placements
Time Commitment: Two weeks, three placement sessions are available: Winter, Summer, Fall dates TBD.
Program Cost: February project is $2,800 CAD (Tax Deductible). June and October projects are $3,000 CAD (Tax Deductible). Cost includes flight, accommodations, meals, ground transportation, and training/orientation.
Program Purpose: Ve’ahavta has been working in Guyana, South America in partnership with the Lions Club of Bartica, and under the umbrella of the Guyanese Ministry of Health and Regional Health Services for over a decade. Our Guyana project is a development project that focuses on the long term goal of building local capacity of health care service providers and empowering local communities to take control over their health and well being.
Volunteering with this project is a two-week commitment to work within a multidisciplinary team environment providing mobile clinical health services, training & capacity building for local health care workers, and public health outreach to under resourced communities living in some of Guyana’s most remote regions. Trips are led by experienced Ve’ahavta staff, and volunteers receive comprehensive training & orientation in Toronto prior to the trip’s departure.
Our most recent volunteer medical team returned home on February 21st after a very successful two weeks working in Region 7. The team saw over 600 patients and engaged in public health outreach with over 1,000. Ve’ahavta also explored the possibility of expanding the Ve’ahavta- Lions Club Medical Project into Region 2. There are exciting prospects for our next project, and our local partners are excited and eager to continue to provide urgently needed health care support and education to local indigenous communities.
Program Description: Volunteers will function as part of a multidisciplinary team which will provide clinical care to local patients through a mobile clinic model and will also focus on preventative health education, with a particular focus on sexual health education, diabetes, hypertension, oral hygiene, and maternal/infant health. Volunteers travel together under the supervision of a Ve’ahavta field officer to communities through Region 7, including Bartica & Riverine communities and interior Amerindian communities.
Desired Experience:
- Physician, nurse, midwife, social worker, public health specialist/educator, family planner, pharmacist, laboratory technologist, and/or support worker
- Ability to work well as part of a team
- Responsible, positive, flexible and dedicated
- Cross- Cultural exposure (Experience working with Caribbean and Indigenous communities an asset)
- Ability to speak/present to groups/ experience with community-based health education.
- Ability to work well under supervision
- Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Comfort in different or difficult environmental conditions. Camping experience an asset.
- Experience developing and facilitating educational activities for women, men, and families
- Interest in traveling and learning about different cultures and peoples
- Previous volunteer experience with Ve’ahavta in Guyana an asset (though not a requirement)
Ve’ahavta will provide logistical support, pre-departure training, assistance with travel, full orientation and supervision in the field.
Did you know?
Ve’ahavta volunteers can now fundraise online towards their project fees! You can create a customized fundraising webpage and your friends and family can make designated donations in support of your volunteer fees. All donations (and the entirety of the volunteer fee) are tax deductible. Ask us for details.
Application details
All applicants must complete a volunteer application form, which includes a CV, two letters of reference, a personal statement, and a deposit fee of $500 (fee is non refundable upon your acceptance). All applicants must attend an in-person or phone interview. For further inquiries, please contact: Sarah Zelcer: Phone: (416) 964-7698 ext 15; Fax: (416) 964-6582; E-mail: sarah@veahavta.org
Guyana Posting 2010
International Volunteer Application Form – Guyana
International Volunteer Agreement – Guyana
Waiver and Release – Guyana
Guyana Medical Form
Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement
