Program Photos
Volunteer in South Africa - Medical Outreach and HIV/AIDS Awareness
Location: South Africa: Rural Areas
Program Duration: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Year Round
Call Us
Phone: US: +1 917 477 3931 UK: +44 208 133 8041 IL: +972 77 5527000
Fax: +972 153 77 5527000
Description
Surrounding the beautiful region of St. Lucia, there are rural villages which have very few resources for health care. The main goal of this project is to increase the support available to these communities, and make a difference in the health, and the lives of these people. Through home based care, and clinical support, this project has given hope to those who are too sick or too poor to seek help.
In the surrounding communities to St. Lucia, many myths about HIV/AIDS still exist. It is still believed that the virus is a result of witchcraft, and the result is that those infected are often rejected from their own communities and families. Not many people know how the infection is transmitted, and even fewer know how to deal with it once they have it. Through education and support, this project aims to alleviate the fears that HIV/AIDS carries in these communities, and improve the lives of those carrying the virus.
Volunteer work varies and includes many elements that are involved in improving the medical situation in the area, such as home-based care, assisting clinics, HIV/AIDS awareness, community outreach, farming, and first aid care. Some projects may include:
- Assisting with rural home-based care and treatment
- Providing comfort and ensuring patients are taking medications
- Giving out food parcels and donations
- Helping to weigh patients and take temperatures at clinics
- Explaining (through a simple method approved by the UN) what HIV/AIDS is and how it affects the human body
- Education on how the virus is transmitted and how it can be prevented
- Providing community support groups
- Building and refurbishment of the local community buildings and villages
- Assisting to serve lunch for a nearby orphanage, and playing educational games
- Farming and nutrition awareness
- First Aid for day care facilities.
Highlights
St. Lucia is a fabulous area with a lot to offer. In addition to your beautiful volunteer house grounds, volunteers are encouraged to explore the surrounding area. You are able to easily observe South Africa's magnificent wildlife in their natural and organic habitats. Trips and activities are optional with a little planning and help from our coordinators:
- Game drives in the beautiful Hluhluwe and Umfolozi National Parks (USD100)
- Hire a car and visit the beautiful beaches that surround St. Lucia
- Snorkel at Cape Vidal
- Whale, dolphin, and sea turtle viewing (seasonal)
- Hippo and crocodile cruises on the St. Lucia Estuary
- Weekend trips to the stunning Phinda Private Game Reserve
- Dolphin swimming in Mozambique (overnight - USD300)
- Photographic tour in the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains (3 nights - USD650)
Prices are subject to change, and these activities are not included in the main cost of the project.
Travel Types
- Volunteering
Qualifications
- Minimum age 18
- Medical/pharmaceutical training not required but recommended
- An interest in medicine or caring for others
- First Aid certificate strongly encouraged.
- Prior reading and understanding of the HIV/AIDS virus
- Full medical and travel insurance
- Necessary immunizations (Consult your doctor)
Languages
- English
Cost in US$:
1,615 for 2 weeks
Cost Include Description:
- Accommodation: Comfortable lodge with rooms for 2-4 people
- Food: 3 meals a day, except Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch
- Donation: Facilitates funding for medical supplies, food parcels, vitamins, and other project costs
- Airport pickup: Included on arrival and departure days
- Orientation Kit: Full project details will be sent following registration
- Training: Pre-departure preparation and in-depth in-country orientation
- Support: Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
Credit Available
no
Volunteer Types
- medicine
- volunteering
Typical Volunteer
Volunteers with GoEco are united by their passion for travel and desire to help people. Our volunteers are from all over the world, representing a host of religions, cultures, and languages. Ultimately, GoEco volunteers are fun-loving, adventurous, and outgoing agents for change.Age Range
18-80This Program is open to
Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.
Typical Living Arrangements
- Guest House
Participants Travel to South Africa
Independently
Application Process Involves
- Online Application plus Application Assessment
- Phone/Video Interview
GoEco - Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement
(1) Encourage ecological and volunteer tourism that promotes sustainable development (2) Enable travelers to experience different and more rewarding kinds of tourism. (3) Encourage travelers to volunteer for the benefit of others and thus to serve as a good-will ambassador to other countries in the world. (4) Encourage travelers from all over the world to come to Israel for ecological and community-based projects, in both the Arab and Jewish sectors, and experience firsthand the unique cultural and natural diversity in this region. (5) Support environmental and humanitarian projects that promote understanding and good will between ethnic societies in Israel. (6) Conduct further research in the field of ecological tourism, such as the 'Ecological Footprint' as a tool for sustainable tourism development. (7) Establish an in-depth and up-to-date data base of the relevant projects worldwide. (8) Create a platform from which to explore the various organizations that support the environment and actively encourage volunteering.
Year Founded
2005
