MEDI TRIP
South Africa
Viva, South Africa!
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Volunteer with resilient and hardworking clinical staff providing healthcare to the local community.
Volunteer in Cape Town
It takes truly committed people to this abroad! With medical volunteering, you will be volunteering to work with patients or in a healthcare specific area on a voluntary basis. Unlike other types of volunteering, medical volunteering is a difficult, challenging and profound area. Medical volunteers will witness and experience things other volunteers never will or what they never would have at home.
This can be a huge challenge as often times volunteers experience situations that can leave them feeling sad, shocked or confused. But for the most part volunteers are often left amazed at the resilience of their patients and at the skill and dedication of their new colleagues. It truly is a hugely moving experience and one most Medi Trippers never forget.
The Problem
Hospitals in South Africa are unlike those back home. Many government facilities are under resources without adequate medication or enough staff to deal with all the patients. There will be times when you are shocked by the conditions you see people have to endure to receive what we might view as sub par care or basic care.
Remember, with limited funding and very few resources the country endures a high mortality rate and frequent outbreaks of disease and one of the highest prevalence rates of HIV and AIDS. You will see a lot of suffering and you must have the ability to maintain your professionalism and remain strong minded and compassionate.
The Solution
Depending on your area of interest and your skills, you will be matched with an appropriate clinical area/hospital. The learning opportunities are bountiful as long as you stay focused and flexible in your approached.
Your role
You will be assigned a local clinic to work in where you will assist in the general care of unwell patients. Your role as a volunteer will require you to assist in monitoring, observing and tending to the patients healthcare needs.
Medical volunteering is the most challenging and therefore requires people who are highly motivated, passionate and focused. This is also the most rewarding area given that you are contributing life saving skills where they are desperately needed.
mEDICAL doctors
nURSING
MIDWIFERY
HEALTHCARE ASSISTANTS
students
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The Solution
Depending on your area of interest and your skills, you will be matched with an appropriate clinical area/hospital. The learning opportunities are bountiful as long as you stay focused and flexible in your approached.
Your role
You will be assigned a specific role within the centre to help maintain their ongoing work and support their hardworking staff.
Your Stay
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Volunteers working within the clinics will stay in the City in a beautiful volunteer house and enjoy choices of local restaurants as well as use local minibus transport to their volunteer project, for an authentic experience. There will a local team of amazing and dedicated staff who are there to ensure volunteers not only have the best experience, but also contribute their best to the community they serve.
As the team are from the local communities, they have extensive knowledge of the various communities of Cape Town and South Africa. This will provide a real insight into Cape Town’s culture, history, landscape through orientation and local community placement and provide the opportunity for genuine interaction with the local people.
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Respect for the locals, their cultures, religion and environment are essential to operate a successful volunteer programme. All our Volunteers placed in the local community have to abide by our Code of Conduct by respecting the local culture.
Volunteers also have the opportunity to explore the scenic beauty of South Africa whereby we offer tours of Cape Town and Western Cape. Local guides and agencies are used with the understanding to offer a true cultural experience.
Cape Town has all the ingredients for an amazing adventure: sun, sea, shopping and thankfully, if hedonism’s your bag, quality clubs and spas too. Take a red bus city tour and enjoy the highlights and scenic views of this incredible city. Cape Town offers adventurous eaters tastes from across the African continent, be it Xhosa fare like samp (crushed maize used in porridge) and marog (African spinach), spongy injeras (flatbreads) from Ethiopia, or Cape Malay cuisine.
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Savvy visitors know to come with a half-empty suitcase ready to fill up with well-priced buys for themselves, friends and families, a portion of which is reserved for African mementos. Visit the Pan African Market (a gem for Victorian tiling, old fok art, and custom-tailored garments) and Greenmarket Square (offers a full range of African folk art plus well-priced CDs and souvenir clothing) for a real-deal bargaining experience.
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The fascinating and inspirational Robben Island is a symbol both of centuries of cruel oppression and the triumph of hope. It has become synonymous with the former leader of the free and democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who spent 18 years in its maximum security prison.
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