Description:
Whether you are a student, on a career break or retired there is a placement to suit your level. Those entering the medical profession will find volunteering in a developing country invaluable and inspiring. You will see what it is like not to have top level facilities and equipment available to you. Placements available range from hospitals, rural field clinics, house visits, nutrition, health education and public health research.
Work in a Public Hospital
Lend a hand in a free public hospital that serves all citizens of Belize regardless of income. Gain clinical experience in a hospital in San Ignacio or in the capital city of Belmopan. The volunteer's medical knowledge, skills or background will experience will determine his/her responsibilities, but all areas of the hospital need help.
Clinical Medical Practice
Gain clinical experience at one of the local hospitals in Santa Elena. This hospital is a charitable, non-profit medical facility with a mission to provide quality health care to even the poorest of Belizes citizens. A volunteers previous medical or health-care experience will determine his or her specific responsibilities in the hospital.
Physical Therapy and Work with Disabled Youngsters
The only project of it's kind in Central America. As physical therapy and special education is often not available to disabled Belizean children, this project was founded to give much-needed care to children who qualify for it. This project provides a therapeutic environment with special attention that disabled children need to overcome their challenges and live more independently in society.
Public Health Research
Participate in ongoing research projects that seek to further understand the specific health care needs of communities within the Cayo District of Belize. You will work with Kaya staff and health care professionals, local organizations, and community leaders in an effort to conduct scientifically sound and relevant research.
Research projects seek to determine the prevalence of specific diseases, to elucidate risk factors for such cases, and to pinpoint possible areas for appropriate and effective intervention. Results from such research will be used to formulate and guide health education initiatives, as well as be prepared for publication in public health journals.
Public Health Education in Hospitals
Works in conjunction with a local not-for-profit hospital, which provides a complete clinic and hospital including major surgeries and dental work. The hospital is very short-staffed and focus on treatment, but it means the staff do not have time to educate their patients about the major health issues how to avoid them, manage them and stay healthy. This project is looking for volunteers to provide a counseling and advice service for patients of the hospital to enable them to improve their own health. The common conditions tend to be high blood pressure, diabetes, dengue fever and prenatal care, but volunteers work alongside the doctors to identify common complaints, research the area to develop advice, produce materials that can be distributed and provide a counseling service informing patients about how they can help improve their health.
Care for the Elderly
Work to improve geriatric care in a developing country whose resources are inadequate to care for its growing over-65 population. The most rapid increases in the senior citizen demographic occurs in developing countries, which will see a jump of 274% to more than 1.1 billion by 2050. With such a rapid increase the stress on the health care system and care homes in developing countries like Belize is more problematic each day, and the need for volunteers has never been greater.
Help care for those who cannot care for themselves. The project gives you the opportunity to participate in nursing, physiotherapy, geriatric care, and general health care. You will focus on establishing emotional relationships with patients who would otherwise have few or no visitors. Volunteers also have the opportunity to design and implement various programs to meet other needs of patients.
Highlights:
Nestled between Mexico and Guatemala is the peaceful and ecologically diverse country of Belize. Spanning the length of the coastline is the second largest barrier reef on earth, which is a world heritage site. The ancient Maya ruins in the mountains date back to 500 BC, and the ethically diverse population of Maya, Mestizo, creole, Mennonite and Garifuna make for a unique and culturally rich experience.
Track Jaguars at Cockscomb Basin:
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best undisturbed nature centers in the country and easily one of the most beautiful with 600-1000 Jaguars prowling the land. Get involved in mapping and distribution research to help protect Jaguars and their prey.
Glovers Reef Atoll:
70 miles southeast of Belize City brings you to Glovers Reef, named after the pirate John Glover. The atoll is a circular necklace of almost continuous coral reef around an 80-square-mile lagoon with depths to 50 feet; the various colors of blue in the water are so intense they seem unreal. Within the lagoon, divers will find 700 shallow coral patches and the remains of at least four sunken ships.
Kayaking the Belizean Waterways:
Raft a 20-mile stretch of the Macal River. This small, steep, and technical route brings you through drop pools, mazelike channels, and big waterfalls in class IV whitewater. Led by guides who have rafted all over the world, you know it's got to be good when even they get excited about it. Groups are small (six people), and the wildlife abundant -- tapirs, iguanas, and river otters are just a few of the species to be seen.
Belize's fragile ecosystems are under threat from deforestation, improper agricultural practices, irresponsible tourism and development, and forest fires. The people of Belize are very conscious about conserving their natural habitat and have used eco-tourism as a means of preserving their fragile ecosystems. It is very important to the communities that these ecosystems survive as they use them for food, medicine, shelter and water.
These are just a few of the wonderful activities and experiences a volunteer will accomplish in a few weeks of their stay in the majestic Belize.
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
Experience and passion for working in the community and interacting with the people are needed. Participants must also possess enthusiasm and a willingness to learn about the environment and the place's culture.
Language:
English
Cost Includes:
Excursions,
Food,
Housing,
In-country orientation/Training,
In-country staff support,
Language instruction,
Pre-departure orientation/Training
and Registration fees
* Accommodation: Single room in a home-stay
* Food: 3 meals per day - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
* Airport pick up and drop off
* Training: Orientation and language classes provided
* Support: 24 hour support
* Excursions: Canoeing through the jungle, cave tubing, visit Mayan ruins, hiking, horseback riding, and visits to a Creole village
Experience Required: no
Typical Volunteer Projects:
AIDS,
childcare/children,
community health,
health,
health care,
health education,
hospital,
medicine,
nursing,
research
and sanitation
Typical Volunteer: A Kaya volunteer shows enthusiasm, spirit and life to stimulate and bring something new to the residents; love, patience and a listening ear for the people; and a good motivator with a positive and optimistic attitude.
Age Range: Must be more than 18 years old
This Program is open to
Worldwide
Participants.
This Program is also open to
Families, Couples and Individuals.
Typical Living Arrangement:
Home-stays
Participants Travel to Belize
Independently
Or
in Groups
Typically Participants Work
Independently
Or
in Groups
Application Process Involves:
- Online Application plus Application Assessment
Post Services Include:
Kaya Responsible Travel's Mission Statement: Kaya's mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.
Year Founded: 2008