Hosted by Vida Volunteer

Vida Medical, Dental & Veterinary Programs in Nicaragua

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Location

Nicaragua

Project Types

Veterinary Service

View Other Details

Program Details

Language

English

Housing

Host Family Hotel

Last Updated: Apr 29, 2019

Last Reviewed: May 29, 2018

3 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Join Vida in Nicaragua with their veterinary volunteer programs. Vida currently offers 1-2 week long programs in Nicaragua for pre-veterinary and veterinary school students and recent grads.

Volunteers will work with experience bilingual volunteers and have the opportunity to assist in spaying and neutering as well as other hands-on surgical procedures. They will also learn recovery care procedures as well as how to administer vaccinations to both small and large animals. Gain practical experience in the field of veterinary medicine!

Learn more about Vida Veterinary Volunteer Programs in Nicaragua.

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with Vida Volunteer for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

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Program Reviews

4.94 Rating

based on 53 reviews

Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 94.34%
4 rating 5.66%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 4.9
Support 4.95
Fun 4.75
Value 4.8
Safety 4.95

Showing 25 - 32 of 53 reviews

I thought this trip was fantastic. overall definitely a great experience that is making me want to come back every year! At first, I was a bit skeptical of the minimal amount of review for the clinic days and the homestays. But it turned out that we had more than enough help from the staff that it was a smooth transition.

What would you improve about this program?

I would make it so we had 3 clinic sites of small animal and 3 clinic sites of large animal.

This experience offered by VIDA really was a great one, that allowed me to learn while also teaching individuals from the region where the clinic was held. I will most definitely consider coming back next year for a second time.

What would you improve about this program?

Mandatory Spanish class.

It was a great learning experience. The veterinarians were very helpful and explained everything very well. We were exposed to multitude of animals and were able to watch and assist in many spays and neuters.

What would you improve about this program?

I would like to have had the chance to participate in a greater variety of fun activities, perhaps some which actually involved animals, such as visiting an animal sanctuary or rainforest.

The highlights of this trip were definitely getting to work with fellow VIDA volunteers and VIDA staff. Everyone was incredibly nice and welcoming. Also, it was very nice and fun to have free time at night to spend with friends.

What would you improve about this program?

I would change the free recreational day activities. Zip lining was fun but another fun option would be going to a beach on the ocean. Central American countries have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and I believe seeing them would greatly add to the value of the trip.

I loved the trip. It taught me a lot of information on dentistry. I liked how the dentists would have use check the patient before and report to them which teeth we thought were problematic. They would then go on to tell us all the problems we found or missed with the patient and what we needed to perform on the patient (extraction, scaling, or cleaning/flossing/fluoride). It was nice that the dentists were patient with us because we did not know much, if anything, about dentistry coming into the trip. It was wonderful working with and interacting with the patients. I enjoyed that we did the cleanings on our own but had the dentists to help us with the scalings if needed. The days we had off and could tour Nicaragua were also wonderful. The zip-lining, tour of Granada, boat trip though the islands, and shopping around the towns were very memorable.

What would you improve about this program?

Make the trip one day longer so we could stay at the hotel/house for a day and go around town to the parks and markets.

Going to clinic days and playing with the kids during our lunch breaks or after we were done seeing patients was my highlight. We brought them toys and little things but every time they got something they were so unbelievably happy. They have so little in comparison to us and they were always so happy, and most of the kids were sick with something. It was a life changing experience. I met so many new people from other colleges that I will no doubt visit and helped so many people in serious need. I also got medical experience that I would never have gotten in the US.

What would you improve about this program?

The activity days were fun but we end up being so tired after clinical days. Because of this, I would prefer our activity days to be relaxing at a beach or a pool not taking tours of things and being forced to be on our feet all day again.

I have never had such a wonderful experience as I did on my spring break trip to Nicaragua with VIDA. I learned SO much! Pre-vet people: this is seriously SUCH a good use of your time.
I don't want to ramble, but below is the link to my blog post about the trip where I list all of the hands-on stuff I got to do.
http://prismpuppies.com/vida-veterinary-volunteer-trip-to-n…

If you aren't good with slightly adverse conditions, don't go on the trip.This trip WILL put you outside of your comfort zone- but that's definitely a good thing!!

What would you improve about this program?

Three of the nights' lodging was very uncomfortable, but on the plus side it had air conditioning.

This trip was possibly the best foreign aid trip I have ever been on, and I have been on a few. No other trip provided me with the ability to provide such concrete help to such a large number of people. I felt as though I made a huge impact in the lives of the people of Masaya and Leon and had a blast doing it. The clinics were very hands on and incredibly informative and provided me with first hand clinical experience that I couldn't have gained in the US. Overall, I am extremely pleased with my experience and intend to participate in a VIDA adventure again next year.

What would you improve about this program?

If I could change one thing, I would add more clinic days or increase the amount of time spent in clinic. The clinics were my favorite pare of the trip and helped me to become secure in my intentions to become a healthcare provider.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Brittany Pavloski

Program

Vida Medical, Dental & Veterinary Programs in Nicaragua

Brittany Pavloski is from Menomonee Falls, WI located in the Midwest in the United States. She attends school at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and graduates in May 2014! She currently works as a nurse intern at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare the Wisconsin Heart Hospital. She is a female and is 21 years of age. Her dream is to get her master’s degree and to work on a cardiac floor in a hospital. Brittany enjoys exercising, going out to eat, and spending time with her boyfriend, friends, and family.

Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with VIDA in Nicaragua?

Brittany: I have always wanted to study abroad somewhere out of the United States. There were many opportunities that I came across, but I always came up with an excuse for myself as to why I could not go.

When this opportunity came about, I was instantly excited and I knew it would be my last chance in my college career to study abroad. I did not hesitate once I signed up and am very thankful for the opportunity.

Tell us about one person you met.

Brittany: One person I met was Amy, the woman who was with us for our entire trip. She honestly made the trip worth it and helped us, and me personally, adjust to our surroundings.

If it were not for her, we would have not had as many great experiences that we had. She has the biggest heart and always put our group first.

She called ahead to restaurants to make sure they could feed us all and have it ready in a decent amount of time, she made sure we had cold, fresh water at all hours of the day, and she also was so much fun to be around.

What was the best moment of the entire trip?

Brittany: The best moment of the entire trip was being able to touch so many lives.

I personally loved going to public clinics. We got so much experience there and were able to help in so many ways.

We were thanked each and every day, multiple times a day for the help we brought the workers there.The smiles on those people’s faces will not be forgotten, and being able to make a difference like that makes the trip worth it.

What's something interesting about Nicaragua that the average person doesn't know?

Brittany: I did not realize how beautiful Nicaragua is.

On the days we were not working in clinical settings, we were able to explore Nicaragua. We went on a boat tour in Granada, hiked up a volcano, went and visited an active volcano, and many more things.

There are so many beautiful areas of Nicaragua that are must-sees for anyone who is going to visit the country.

Has your worldview changed as a result of your trip?

Brittany: Yes, I definitely feel that my world view had changed.

Going to Nicaragua was a culture shock for me. It was hard at first but I had to keep reminding myself of why I was there and how amazing this experience is for me.

I thought, before going to Nicaragua, that I did not take things for granted. I was wrong. Going to Nicaragua has made me a better person and I truly feel that I don’t take as much for granted anymore.

I have shared my experiences with many family members and friends and I hope that my story impacts them as much as it has changed me.

Stephanie Hart

Kristyn Hosmer

Brittany Pavloski

Alissa Rogol

Matthew Thompson

Olivia Brant

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Tell us a little about VIDA and your role at the company.

VIDA is a 501c3 nonprofit from Minnesota, USA. We work with volunteers from around the world to bring medical, dental and veterinary care to low resource communities in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. At VIDA, I am the Community Manager, so I am in charge of managing our website, blog, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter and online profiles. This helps us get the word out about VIDA and find more volunteers so we can continue to spread to more communities throughout Central America and help those in need.

How did you get involved in the volunteer industry?

Volunteering has always been an important part of my life. I am originally from Wisconsin, but moved to Costa Rica 7 years ago. Here, I didn't have many opportunities to do volunteer work, as I was going to school full time. When I graduated from college and was offered a job with VIDA in 2010, I knew that I had found the perfect organization to work for. VIDA has given me the opportunity to help those in need, and also travel throughout Central America while meeting amazing volunteers from around the world.

View Entire Interview

What makes VIDA unique?

VIDA offers life changing experiences to those who are interested in studying medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine. We offer hands-on service learning opportunities in a controlled environment where students can learn from local doctors and help communities in need; but we also let the volunteers have fun outside the clinics! All VIDA Adventures include sight-seeing and cultural activities such as tours of historic cities, whitewater rafting, hospital visits, canopy tours, visits to historic buildings, etc., which let the volunteers learn and see more about the countries they visit.

In your experience, what characteristics make a good international volunteer?

A good international volunteer is someone who wants to take time out of their schedule to help those in need. A great international volunteer is someone who travels with an open mind, is prepared for anything to happen, and learns from every experience they face. International travel will open your heart and mind to many new experiences, and if you come prepared to accept and learn from these situations, you will get much more from your travels!

How do you ensure your programs are sustainable and mutually beneficial for you, the community, and the volunteers?

VIDA's main goal is to help the communities in Central America receive the medical, dental and veterinary attention they deserve. In order to obtain this goal, volunteers pay a fee to attend the trips. This fee goes towards paying for their accommodations while on the trip, but also pay for the staff, medications and equipment we need in order to run the clinics. In the future, we hope to apply for and receive grants within the US to be able to purchase more equipment in order to help more communities in need.

Location

Location:

Nicaragua

Currency:

Nicaraguan Córdoba

Weather:

Jan-Mar

93 F / 70 F

Apr-Jun

95 F / 73 F

Jul-Sep

88 F / 72 F

Oct-Dec

88 F / 70 F

Airports:

Augusto C. Sandino International

( MGA )

Nicaragua is a less touristed destination than some of its neighbors like costa rica, Belize, and Guatemala. Because of this, it is a relatively untarnished country with plenty of surfing spots, volcanoes, and divers paradises. Nicaragua is abundant in natural beauty and everything here comes with a smaller price-tag than other Latin American countries.

About Vida Volunteer

Vida Volunteer is a nonprofit organization that strives to promote human and animal health through empowering Service-Learning trips to Central America. We currently intervene through three main fields of work: Medical, Dental, and Veterinary, which are designed to promote health, ensuring a long-lasting impact while participants develop both...