• Share your passion in medical care and help communities lead healthier lives
• Gain invaluable experience in healthcare in a third world setting
• Immerse in the Ecuadorian way of life through safe, carefully-screened homestays
• Practice your Spanish while exploring Ecuador's dramatic landscapes and colorful culture
  

Looking to expand your medical horizons and practice healthcare in a third world country? Volunteer in Ecuador in the Healthcare project and experience the healthcare industry in an enriching environment. For most of the poor and deprived in Ecuador, even the most basic healthcare facilities are inaccessible. Not only is healthcare expensive, it is also hard to find, such that people have to travel long distances to receive the essential care. It is little wonder people in the remote parts of the country still succumb to diseases which are curable. There are grassroots organizations that are trying to change the situation by making healthcare accessible and affordable. As a volunteer in Ecuador, you'll be part of this endeavor. Volunteers will provide support to doctors, nurses, therapists and other medical professionals, who could always use the assistance to be able to treat as many patients possible. Be part of the movement to make healthcare accessible to those who need it, and in your free time, take in the legendary landscapes of Ecuador!

As a volunteer in Ecuador in the Healthcare project, you will be placed in local clinics or hospitals and treat mainly those from underprivileged backgrounds. Depending on each individual’s level of Spanish fluency and expertise, and also the needs of the local staff, the various projects volunteers can choose to work include:

• Assist with general check-ups and examinations of patients
• 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 the increased risks involved and raised medical regulations, volunteers cannot treat patients or become involved in surgery during the project.

By volunteering in the Healthcare project, you'll be working with local organizations who are striving to make health treatment possible to impoverished communities. Local health professionals are working their hardest to treat as many patients as they can, but the number of patients received is always overwhelming. Your role as a volunteer is to lighten their burden and assist with routine tasks. If you're a medical professional, your insight and expertise will come highly-valued in the underdeveloped healthcare industry of Ecuador. Depending on your experience and interests, there are various fields in healthcare in Ecuador that you can assist with. The healthcare understanding and practical experience that you take away from this project will undoubtedly be eye-opening.

Volunteers must be at least 18, and have health insurance, as well as accident and liability. This project is available all year round. Intermediate knowledge of Spanish is preferred. If you cannot speak the language, we suggest that you enroll in our Spanish language course to make your stay more rewarding, both for you and the people you help. You can take our Spanish classes while volunteering as well.

Applicants interested to join this program must possess healthcare certification, such as: ID as a medical student, EMT, paramedic certification, nursing, physical therapy, midwifery or physician’s credentials. We do not permit volunteers without medical credentials to participate in this program due to the potential risk. This project also requires a copy of the volunteer’s resume which clearly documents the education and/or professional credentials, prior to arrival. The projects will also require an official copy of the credentials. Depending on your specific placement and host institution, additional application materials may be required.

The project is located in Quito, the capital city and also the largest in Ecuador. Quito is also the first city to be termed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Quito has a rich pre-Columbian history. Found on the ruins of an Inca city, it is the least-altered historical center in Latin America. Lined with picturesque plazas, towering 17th-century churches and monasteries and beautifully restored mansions, you’ll find yourself taken back in time as you wander past the architectural treasures. Beyond the city of Quito, Ecuador is a country brimming with nature’s majesties. Go on a trek into the magical Andes, wildlife-watching at the verdant Amazonian rainforests, and experience the mythical Galapagos Islands with its panoramic and volcanic landscapes; there is something for everyone at Ecuador. A lovely trait of Ecuador is its climates, which at any one location, will very rarely change at all in the year. All climates can be found in Ecuador, from the tropical coastlines and Amazonian lowlands to the cooler and dryer climate at higher elevations.