|
|||||
|
|||||
Guatemala faces serious threats as the health sector lacks enough funds to keep it up-to-date. Majority of people lack access to health care facilities. Even if there are healthcare facilities, they are not within the reach of an average Guatemalan owing to their high costs. RCDP International aims to address such issues by providing locally accessible healthcare facilities. Volunteers will assist doctors and work in health camps.
Job responsibilities for medical project volunteers in Guatemala vary dependent on education, skills, experience and qualifications. Most often volunteers help doctors or work as their assistants. You also assist in health camps, distribute medicines, provide tips to patients on health, nutrition and sanitation or provide counseling to patients. You may provide treatment for minor injuries or wounds and document patient records. Also, you assist in carrying out the routine job of taking patient’s blood pressure, temperature, height, weight and other health related tasks.
Volunteers/interns interested in our volunteer health program must hold a healthcare certification, such as an ID as a medical student, EMT or paramedic certification or nursing or physician's credentials. We do not permit volunteers without medical credentials to work in this program owing to the potential risks involved. The hospitals require a copy of your resume, clearly documenting credentials and education, before your arrival to the project. Projects will also require an official copy of your credentials.
Antigua Guatemala or La Antigua was the third capital of Guatemala which also served as the colonial Spanish capital of Central America. It is a World Heritage Site and is probably the most popular tourist destination of Guatemala. Due to its popularity amongst tourists and its very well developed tourism infrastructure, Antigua Guatemala is often used as a central location in which many choose to set up base and from here, visit other tourist areas in Guatemala and Central America.
In Guatemala, all volunteers stay with well-screened host families. Our host families are socially respected and are well versed in the art of hosting international volunteers. Host families offer a safe home, private rooms (occasionally rooms will be shared with other same-gender volunteers) and shared bathroom facilities with running water and a “western” style toilet. Volunteers can to do their own laundry at home or the host family may offer to do it for you for a nominal extra fee. You will receive three prepared meals per day. If you will be out of the house during lunch hour, you can request a lunch "to go" that you can take with you or eat out on your own. Host families provide typical meals that are traditional to Guatemala.
Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either through visits or via email/telephone. With longer placements, we visit our volunteers every two weeks (when possible) and volunteers are always welcome at the local office. If project placement is near, we request that volunteers stop by the office once a week to keep us posted on how they are doing with their home stay and project. If project placement is very far, then our local staff members maintain communication by either email and/or phone.
 |
The mission of RCDP-Nepal is to encourage international volunteers to contribute in sustainable community development that benefits the underprivileged and extremely poor. By developing the places and the communities, the volunteers are also developing themselves and learning new perspectives and ideas that will ultimately change their lives.
