Overview of the Project
Our medical volunteer in Ecuador project is perfect for both healthcare students and professionals. Your insight and medical expertise is strongly valued in the underdeveloped healthcare industry of Ecuador. Volunteers in these projects assist NGOs, hospitals and clinics with routine daily activities: administering medication, tracking patients' medical histories or healthcare campaigns. The healthcare industry in modern-day Ecuador is less than developed, often offering substandard facilities to its ailing citizens. Volunteers can expect to observe and interact with patients and medical professionals in many activities ranging from administrative duties of reception areas to nursery support and everything in between.
Global's Ecuador healthcare projects are located in various urban and rural locations in and around Quito During their stay, volunteers also have the opportunity to explore and learn Spanish. These volunteer projects are ideal for enthusiastic and proactive participants who are eager to jump in and help in any situation and are undeterred by unexpected circumstances requiring their assistance.
- Program: Volunteer in Ecuador
- Project: Medical Volunteer in Ecuador
- Start dates: 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month
- Location:Quito (in and around)
- Departure and End Point: Quito, Ecuador (Mariscal Sucre International Airport)
- Language Need: Basic Spanish fluency
- Accommodation and meals: Host Family and Ecuadorian meals three times daily
- Activities: Support emerging medical/healthcare system in a vital assistant capacity
- Working hours: 25-35 hours per week
Role of Volunteer
As a volunteer in healthcare in Ecuador project, you will be involved in various activities such as:
- Observing and supporting healthcare professionals by shadowing doctors
- Public outreach and education
- Supporting healthcare professionals (as dictated by individual experience/qualifications)
- Organizing and developing educational seminars
- Educating the general population on topics related to healthcare
- Assisting pre-established healthcare programs (health clinics, non-profits, NGOs)
Medical volunteers will shadow local doctors and learn mostly from observation. Due to inherent risk involved and medical regulations, volunteers cannot treat patients or become involved in surgery during the project.
Skills/Qualification Needed
Beginner to intermediate knowledge of Spanish is mandatory to join medical volunteer in Ecuador project. If you cannot speak Spanish, we recommend enrolling in our Spanish Language Studies program, which can run simultaneous to your volunteer project or immerse in this program for a week prior to your project start date. However, a basic level of fluency is required to begin.
Interested volunteers must have certification or proof of experience in a medical field, such as a medical student ID, EMT or paramedic certification, or nursing or physician's credentials. Due to the health risks involved, volunteers who are not properly trained in healthcare cannot support this project.
Volunteer in Ecuador: Project Locations and Free Time Options
Global's volunteer in Ecuador projects are located in both rural and urban areas throughout this amazing country. Projects can be found in the capital city of Quito as well as Puerto Lopez, Santa Elena, the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon Region and other interesting locations.
Ecuador is a country brimming with wildlife and varied natural environments. The varied projects locations provide varying free time activity options as volunteers have weekends and most evenings to themselves to explore all that Ecuador has to offer. For example, Quito was capital of the Inca empire and has a rich pre-Colombian history. The capital was founded on the ruins of the Inca city and is the least-altered historic center in Latin America and a UNESCO World Heritage Center. Volunteers can amuse themselves with cultural and architectural splendor while in and around Quito. However, volunteers in the Galapagos Islands will partake in more natural than urban adventures while in the islands. Diving and boating opportunities are at every turn, as are chances for wildlife viewing. Volunteers can take excursions to Isla de La Plata offering world famous whale-watching opportunities, the Amazon Jungle and its lush tropical abundance and numerous tours to pristine and dream-like beaches. No matter the project location, volunteers will find amazingly unique experiences in Ecuador.