Policy Brief & Ethical Guideline by Pearl Sakoane-Nog, Medi Trip. I. FORMALISED SECTOR DEFINITION Term: Vocational Volunteer Definition: A Vocational Volunteer  is an unpaid participant  placed within an environment that is directly connected to a recognised profession or regulated field , such as medicine, nursing, midwifery, psychology, social work, law, engineering, or teaching. The vocational volunteer engages in activities that provide exposure to the professional context  but do not...

Understanding Compassion Fatigue, Apathy, and Structural Burnout in Tanzanian Workplaces: An unpacking for volunteering in low resource settings. By Pearl Sakoane-Nogi “This would never happen in my country.” “The people seem so cold.” “Why are they so rude?” “No one here looks like they care.” “They don’t comfort patients the way we do back home.” “They’re ignoring suffering right in front of them.” “They’re so slow don’t they see it’s urgent?” “No one smiles or welcomes us. It’s clear they...

A Reckoning with Systems, Self, and the Stories We Carry By Pearl Sakoane-Nogi Medi Trip Volunteers Introduction: Beyond the Fantasy Every year, hundreds of volunteers travel across borders seeking experience, purpose, and personal expansion. Their journeys are often framed around helping , impact , or giving back . Yet behind this comforting vocabulary, we need to re-examine some uncomfortable truths: the experience volunteers imagine and the systems they enter need realignment. This...