Medical Outreach And HIV Education Highlights

The highlights

• Assist in different medical project areas
• Work with disadvantaged, orphaned and vulnerable children
• Educate the community on HIV and AIDS awareness
• Help to uplift the community through healthcare education
• Provide aid to local communities through Home Based Care teams
• Develop Malaria prevention techniques and distribute mosquito nets
• Work in a local hospital and clinic

Where will I sleep?

You will stay in a very comfortable, shared volunteer house. The house is situated on the shores of Lake Malawi at the Southern end of the Lake in Mangochi District, so you can sit and gaze out over the waters. The property is fenced and gated and has a large green garden.

Rooms in the house are dormitory style and there is cold running water, showers (Malawi is generally hot throughout the year, so a cold shower is usually welcome) and western style toilets. Please be aware that whilst electricity and water are fairly reliable, power cuts and water shortages may be experienced from time to time, mostly for no more than a few hours. Staff are present at the house, including a cook, house keeper (although volunteers are also expected to do their bit to keep the house clean and tidy) and night watchmen for your security.

And Meals?

Three meals per day are provided. Breakfast is usually on a self-service basis, consisting of either toast, or pancakes, or French toast, or porridge, although the cook may treat you occasionally. Lunch will either be a packed lunch, or self-service if you plan to return to the house at lunchtime. The cook will prepare the evening meal for you.

We can make allowances for most dietary requirements including vegetarians, vegans and common food allergies. In these cases, please speak to the camp manager or cook on arrival if you have specific requirements. However, you must take responsibility for your own allergies and carefully monitor the food that you consume. It is important that you let us and your project manager know of any dietary requirements that you may have.

Please note: There is a fridge at the house, which is used to store the food for your meals each day and some additional drinks, which you can purchase form the staff. If you do wish to buy some of your own food/snacks and drinks, this will be fine to do though you must be aware it cannot be stored in the communal fridge.

Please let us know before you depart for Africa of any food allergies or specific requirements. We do everything we can to provide for any dietary requirements, but we may have to ask you to bring some things with you if what you need is not available locally.

How do I get there and travel around?

We will meet you at the airport! Our Destination Manager will assist you with the procedures and one of the project representatives will meet you at the airport upon your arrival in Malawi. You will then be escorted to your volunteer base near Mangochi District.

What does the cost include?

• Project Fee: this entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This fee facilitates funding for items such medical supplies, building materials, equipment, etc. Project fees are also used to buy vehicles / equipment for the project, and for developing new housing for volunteers to provide for the expansion of the project.
• All airport transfers Lilongwe International Airport upon arrival and departure on set dates (outside these dates there will be a fee of USD175)
• Comprehensive orientation program.
• All daily transfers to and from your projects during your stay.
• Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at our volunteer house.
• Assistance in your projects by various Project Managers and Coordinators.
• 24 field support and contact in the case of an emergency.
  
  The cost excludes:
  
  
  • Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement, which must include cover for repatriation
  • All transport by air or bus to Malawi
  • All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)
  • E-mail / Internet and telephone calls
  • Soft drinks, wines and spirits
  • All visas for border crossings
  • Any excursions over-and-above your planned itinerary in Malawi

Do I need experience, is there orientation?

You will be involved with to different degrees depending on your experience and project needs at the time.

On your first full day, you will be given a comprehensive orientation by one of the project co-ordinators. The orientation will include:

• An introduction to Malawian culture and values
• Basic local language lessons
• Your health and safety whilst in Malawi
• Workplace ethics
• Money and transportation in Malawi
• An introduction to the area, the teaching project and the staff
• Local food and practices
• Places to visit in your free time
• Excursion to the local town

Anything extra I need to know?

• We have found in the past that the more you as a volunteer put into your involvement, the more you will get out. When working with the orphans, we suggest that you have some lesson plans or ideas, bring or make charts, maps, pictures of body parts etc and take initiative with the children. We are excited to offer you the opportunity to educate them, to entertain them and to love them…
• For all projects it is important to remain flexible in your attitude and work ethic and be prepared to help in any of the areas that are developing. Please be proactive so that you are of real assistance. We do ask that you arrive with an open mind, positive attitude and strong work ethic in order to utilise your time best.
• You may find it useful to read up a bit about HIV/AIDS and malaria before you arrive, as you will be involved in educating the community/children on HIV/AIDS, malaria and how to prevent them. A lot of diseases deaths result because of these.
• Please also understand that the projects are continuously evolving, being improved, and adapting to the needs of the local communities that we are involved with, so involvement areas do change from time to time. Rest assured your work will be necessary, rewarding and exciting. We invite you to be more than a tourist…