Program Photos
Medical / Healthcare Volunteer Placements - Peru
Location: Peru: Arequipa, Cusco, Sacred Valley of the Incas
Term: Throughout the year
Program Duration: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 3-6 months (includes high school academic semester abroad)
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Programs begin every Monday
Call Us
Phone: UNITED STATES: +1 800 866 6358 PERU: + 51 84 58 1800 COSTA RICA: +506 2253 9220 GUATEMALA: +502 7932 1500
Description
Maximo Nivel's health projects provide volunteers with the opportunity to work in hospitals, clinics, and with special projects providing health care to disadvantaged and at-risk people in Costa Rica and Peru. Volunteers work alongside doctors, nurses, therapists and other medical professionals in urban or rural areas.
Medical volunteers assist with general check-ups and examinations of patients, as well as assist in training emergency patients. Some projects include traveling to patients homes in rural areas to help with vaccinations and care for patients who have become immobilized. Volunteers may also work firsthand with patients suffering from tropical diseases. Depending on the volunteers ability to conduct themselves in Spanish and the expertise they demonstrate, projects will let you work as independently as possible.
Placement in health projects requires notarized documentation of your medical school, nursing school, or other medical credentials.
Medical placements are available for people without medical training. These projects work with children who have mental or physical disabilities. Volunteers help feed, bathe, and play with the children; and may be asked to assist in physical therapy.
Here is an excerpt from a volunteer-doctor in Peru:
"I found this both humbling and empowering. That they can practice the quality of medicine that they do with the financial restrictions they face is very impressive. I felt it was very clever (of them) to have me work in topical medicine as it is very visual given my limited to non-existent Spanish. To me, anyone volunteering at the clinic is afforded an extraordinary window into medicine in Peru and they can make a real difference. (Volunteers) bringing additional money can also make an extraordinary difference as the cost of an X-ray is only USD 6.00 and medicine is USD 1.00, yet a number of patients cannot afford these small amounts, which could be life changing."
Highlights
Peru is one of the world's greatest centers of ancient civilization. Prior to the invasion by the Spanish conquistadors, the country's diverse cultures and civilizations, that culminated in the well-known Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyo), were some of the most advanced in the world, and they left behind one of the richest collections of architecture, metallurgy, ceramics, and textiles known to man.
Qualifications
The volunteer experience is a commitment that includes a willingness to overcome challenges of various sorts. In cases where volunteers are experiencing difficulties, we strongly encourage creative and collaborative solutions. If you are put in an uncomfortable position, every effort will be made to accommodate you, but it is also important that volunteers remain flexible and understanding. Open-mindedness and patience will go a long way toward ensuring an enjoyable volunteer experience.
Intern Types
- Admin (Health Services)
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Physical Therapy
Languages
- English
Cost in US$:
Please contact us for more information.
Cost Include Description:
Program Includes:
- Personalized volunteer placement based on your skills and interests.
- Safe, comfortable housing and three meals per day Monday - Sunday.
- An experienced English-speaking program manager who will provide orientation, supervision and guidance throughout your stay.
- 10 hours per week of intensive Spanish instruction.
- Unlimited free access to high-speed internet and modern computers plus office-wide WiFi access Monday - Sunday.
- Free snack bar
- Free Salsa lessons
- Monthly open-bar International Party
- A toll-free emergency hotline in the U.S.
Credit Available
yes
Volunteer Types
- AIDS
- Health Care
- Health Education
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Professional Services
- Childcare/children
Age Range
25 - 75 years oldThis Program is open to
Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.
Typical Living Arrangements
- Apartment/Flat
- Group living
- Home-stays
- Independent living
- Other
Participants Travel to Peru
Independently or in Groups
Application Process Involves
- Online Application plus Application Assessment
- Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time is
1 dayPost Services Include
- Job and Internship Network
Maximo Nivel's Mission Statement
Strives to be the absolute best center for international Work/Study programs, by being the most professional, creative, and hardest-working organization in every country where we operate.
Year Founded
2003
