This project will enable you to gain experience in medicine, or simply to challenge yourself in a friendly environment where your assistance is really needed. You'll work at a community health care centre that is open to the general public and supports the poorer section of the community.

There is one Doctor who is supported by a few staff members, so your help here is very badly needed. The centre is run entirely free of charge for patients who can't afford to pay. This is a challenging and rewarding project!

►SUMMARY FACTFILE
Start Dates	All year round - you choose your start and finish dates!
Duration	Minimum stay 4 weeks, up to 12 weeks or longer, subject to visa requirements
Requirements	You must be at an intermediate or fluent level of Spanish and be  qualified in the Medical field.
Price	From £695 / US$1,045 for 4 weeks, ranging to £1,595 / US$2,395 for 12 weeks. Full Price List and other Currencies
What's included	►Accommodation ►Food ►Meeting you at the Airport and taking you back again at the end of the project ►Transfer to your accommodation ►Transport to and from your project ►Full pre-departure support ►Local in-country team support and backup ►24-hr emergency support ►Free T-shirt.
What's not included	Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance).
Who can do this Project?	All projects are open to all nationalities. You need to be aged between 17 and 70+

Also on this page:

• Qualifications Needed for this Project

• What is Required of you

• Accommodation

• Travel & Visas

PROJECT OVERVIEW
We work at a variety of medical centres in Antigu and the surrounding area, all of which are open to the general public and designed to support people living in extreme poverty. Some clinics are staffed by a single Doctor only, and your help here is very badly needed. At other clinics, you may visit homes in the community to help provide medical care. These clinics are run entirely free of charge for patients who cannot afford to pay, and are generally funded by donors alone.

As with any placement, but its especially true with those projects based in medicine; the greater your knowledge, ability and experience that you bring with you, the more you will be asked and able to participate, especially in the more advanced tasks. We will place you at a clinic or centre based on your knowledge of medicine and of Spanish

If you are a volunteer with limited experience you may be able to join in and get involved in helping with such activities such as weighing babies, measuring temperature and taking blood pressure etc.

Volunteers who combine knowledge and experience with a good understanding of Spanish may be asked to do even more through educating the people in general health matters, participating in the pre-consultation of patients, helping with the vaccination of babies and also assisting the doctor with other tasks.

The health centers are very basic. They are not well-equipped and you should not expect the same standard as you would find back home. The centres performs very valuable and vital role within the community under exceptionally hard circumstances. Your assistance will be valued hugely.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into Guatemala and Central America.

• You'll learn a lot from experts in your field about how they work in a culture that is very different to what you're used to.

• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.

• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market

• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

 
Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

Enhance your Programme with some exciting activities:

You should ideally have some Spanish skills or be prepared to learn some of the language in Guatemala before starting your project. As medical terminology is likely to be used at the centre, it is also highly recommended that you take some extra medical Spanish lessons before starting your project, even if you’re already confident in general Spanish. We can arrange these specific lessons, where you’ll learn medical terminology, which will not only be useful to you on the project but perhaps also in your future career.

If you have a low level of Spanish or no Spanish at all, you are still very welcome to come on the project, but it is a requirement that you spend some time learning Spanish at our language schools before starting work at the care centre or while you are there. It is also possible to arrange Spanish lessons for you during your volunteering if you have a lower level of Spanish but would like to brush up on your skills. Please speak to your Project Co-ordinator about your level of Spanish so that we can discuss the option that’s best for you.

You also need to have an interest/qualification or some knowledge about medicine to take part in this project. No particular qualifications are required, but you must either be studying a related subject, qualified in a related subject or intending to peruse a related subject as a career or as study. Please talk to us about acceptance criteria, as we can usually be very flexible if your intent is there.

This project also has a minimum length of 4 weeks. The centre is closed during December, but open during the rest of the year.

As with all our destinations, the Guatemalan culture and heritage is different to Anglo-Saxon cultures and this must be borne in mind. Self-reliance and independence are highly appreciated in all our destinations and will help you to make the most of this wonderful opportunity! 

Once you have applied for a placement, we will send you a very detailed Guatemala Information Book, as well as an equally detailed Safety Guide - both of these will help to make your stay in Guatemala one that you will never forget!

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

One of our hosts outside her house!

Volunteers enjoying lunch at their accommodation

Accommodation with host families means that Travellers volunteers get to eat, sleep, work, socialise and generally live like a Guatemalan. Most of the families take more than one volunteer or student at once (some up to 10!), so the atmosphere is somewhere between a regular family and a hostel... Often very social, but with the benefit of gaining insights into the Guatemalan way of life from the inside - the best of both worlds!!

Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave Guatemala and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family. Many offer the option of single or shared rooms, and generally houses within the same town are in close proximity with each other. The accommodation is comfortable, with a ‘western-style’ bathroom.

"The house I am staying at is like something out of a travel guide, and the family I am with is sweet and so thoughtful! Flori, Edgar Sr., Edgar, Denise and Paula are sure to be fast friends! My housemates are great too, there are 3 guys from Germany, Colorado and Miami, and we get along great! They are showing me around the city and explaining important rules of thumb (like don't flush the toilet paper down the toilet!!)" Elizabeth Collin, Teaching 2008

All of your meals will be provided from Monday to Saturday, leaving you free to sample local eateries on Sundays. Expect to develop a taste for corn tortillas, tostadas and tacos in plentiful supply! Western and international dishes are also easily available in Antigua. Although Guatemalans are big on eating meat, we can easily cater for vegetarians.

Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
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