Hosted by Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)

Nutrition & Medical Volunteering with IVI - Impactful & Immersive

Name: Nutrition & Medical Volunteering with IVI - Impactful & Immersive
Brand: Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)
SKU: 207133
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

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Location

Multiple Locations +10

Fiji
Indonesia
- Bali
Ghana
- Accra
Nepal
- Kathmandu
Vietnam
- Ho Chi Minh City
Peru
- Cusco
Guatemala
- Antigua
Costa Rica
- San José
Philippines
- Leyte
Sri Lanka
- Kandy

Length

1 to 12 weeks

Project Types

Youth Education Health Education Health Medical Disabled Care

Need-based funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Language

English

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Apartment Guesthouse Host Family

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Travel Type

Budget Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

465

Price Details

All programs include arrival airport transfers, accommodation, meals, 24/7 local support, orientation, and Certificate of Completion.

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation Wifi

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2024

Last Reviewed: Jan 12, 2023

Wish List

17 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

IVI is a non-profit who have a mission to fight poverty and improve social welfare and health in developing communities around the world. We have worldwide programs suited to pre-med, medical students, nutritionists, naturopaths, dieticians, physiotherapy, dentistry, and related fields.

Our specialist public health & nutrition programs in Fiji and Bali are the highlight and run at several times throughout the year. Volunteers are supervised by a qualified practitioner and will deliver vital health checks in rural villages and resorts.

Other medical programs include internships in local hospitals and clinics, where volunteers can shadow doctors, gain first hand experience of overseas healthcare, and even take part in certain procedures, dependant on experience.

All programs include arrival airport transfers, accommodation, meals, 24/7 local support, orientation, and Certificate of Completion. We offer safe, reliable and impactful programs, helping communities in need.

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

IVI are firmly committed to providing full support and inclusivity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) individuals. Through our programs and initiatives, we strive to create a safe and empowering space that acknowledges, values, and uplifts the unique perspectives and contributions of BIPOC communities. Our organisation stands united in the fight against discrimination and is dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive, irrespective of their background.

LGBTQIA+ Support

IVI are dedicated to providing our full support for individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, we strive to create a safe and welcoming space for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Our commitment extends to promoting equal rights, dignity, and respect for every individual, regardless of their LGBTQIA+ status. We aim to create a world where diversity is embraced and everyone can thrive to their full potential.

Neurodivergent Support

IVI are committed to fostering inclusivity, we provide steadfast support to neurodivergent individuals. Our programs create a safe and embracing environment, where diverse neurocognitive perspectives are valued. Upholding equal rights and respect, we aim to eliminate obstacles and empower all members of the neurodivergent community to thrive through our dedicated initiatives.

Accessibility Support

With a strong commitment to inclusivity, IVI offer support for individuals requiring accessibility accommodations. Our initiatives are designed to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate and contribute. Whilst some programs may be more suitable than others, we strive to empower all individuals to engage and excel in our programs and activities.

Impact

Sustainability

IVI are dedicated to promoting sustainability in all aspects of our work. By embracing sustainable practices, we envision a future where communities thrive, natural resources are preserved, and the Earth's ecosystems are nurtured for generations to come. We are committed to keeping our projects focused on positively benefitting the local communities and environment.

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Ethical Impact

Our programs embody ethical volunteering by placing local community well-being and empowerment at the forefront. We engage in transparent collaboration, focusing on sustainable solutions that respect local cultures and preserve dignity. Through responsible, long-term projects, we foster genuine connections, create lasting change, and uphold the principles of ethical engagement.

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Program Highlights

Healthcare, Medical, Physiotherapy, Denistry, & Education Programs Available
We are a Charity & Non Profit Org
Over 25,000+ Volunteers Placed Worldwide
Programs start every Monday and are available year-round
35+ years experience. IVI provides safe, high quality & responsible volunteer travel experiences

Popular Programs

Public Health & Nutrition in Fiji

At set times of the year IVI lead a 2-week program focussing on health checks and education in rural villages and resorts in Fiji. Cheap, imported, and canned food is a major problem here, resulting in diets high in salt and sugar. Our team, supervised by a qualified professional from Australia, aim to educated and provide free health checks, including blood pressure, glucose levels, and hight & weight measurements. This is one of our most popular programs and is always well received!

Healthcare Education in Bali

No experience is required for this program, but it suits those with some knowledge of nutrition or healthcare students. You will help to educate local children on basic hygiene, such as teeth cleaning, exercise, first aid and healthy eating. For those with a medical background you can help perform health checks for children and adults.

Rural Medical Internship in the Philippines

Working alongside a wonderful grassroots organisation, you'll take patient vitals, obtaining medical history, administering inoculations, assisting with minor surgery, helping with delivery, and conducting medical screens and exams. Rural areas have little access to quality healthcare, and the busy centres are normally run off their feet and low on resources. One or two doctors and a handful of nurses have the responsibility of looking after an entire community.

Medical Work - Costa Rica, Guatemala & Peru

Work at hospitals, clinics, and assisted living facilities. Depending on previous medical experience and Spanish language skills, you can get involved with shadowing local doctors and nurses, running health check-ups, assist with triage, taking blood pressures and other vital signs, help on administration such as patient records, prepare materials and equipment, and assist during mealtimes.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

based on 4 reviews

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Impact 5
Support 5
Fun 5
Value 4.75
Safety 5

Good for Solo Travelers, Couples, Retirees

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

Thank you for the amazing opportunity to volunteer in Fiji. Having met our amazing host family Masi and Mere but also their house mum Lesi. Going to the farm and truly experiencing the farm life and visiting the villages connecting with the people was the highlight of my trip.

One opportunity I had was unfortunately taking a lady to the clinic in Suva with dangerously high Blood Pressure and known hypertension. I know Jules would have records of what village and where. I am terrible with names but lol I could take you there in a heartbeat lol. It was an amazing opportunity to connect with a local clinic and Doctor, once I gained the trust he was happy to share some very valuable information about the health system and it's guidelines. He pointed me to the national guidelines of Fiji and he unfortunately seemed frustrated with the current situation from both the government and being to follow up with villages.

However, since being back I have been looking for and at the Fiji Guideline documents that supported the doctors information I have included the PDF of the guidelines. At the first stage of T2DM and hypertension is the non-pharmacy otherwise known as (SNAP) Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical activity which is outlined in their documentation. And understanding that your program is supporting and promoting the Nutrition aspect of SNAP.

When sitting on the floor talking with the woman after health checks in the villages, they were asking a lot of additional questions about nutrition because I felt they were less inhibited. The health nurses in nearly all the villages were keen to learn more and would benefit from additional information that is in line with their guidelines SNAP. Providing support for them to promote and educate their families in the village.

Thanks again for the amazing experience.

My experience has been great so far me and Amelia have really enjoyed it being able to teach the kids art and English, play football with the students and even did swimming lessons for the kindergarten children in the sea. We definitely feel at home with the family here in Fiji too. We’ve been fishing Fiji style, swimming in the rain and climbing up the big rock near the school. Currently, we’ve been organising the library as all the books were on the floor at the back of a room so it's taken a while. Definitely an experience I won’t forget!

I observed surgeons to conduct surgery; assisted physiotherapist with some hands-on works; group activities with other volunteers.

Excellent coordination and very responsible! Food is all good for me. The accommodation is good for me too, but perhaps the bed can be cleaner as I felt something (mites?) was biting me while sleeping! But overall is very good!

I really love the idea of medical placement for pre-med students. However not many people can free multiple weeks for oversea volunteering and therefore 1 week placement is a really good period which I hope all other medical programs can have a 1 week option if possible. But of course only 1 week placement may not enough for us to learn.

Pros

Excellent coordination and very responsible!

Cons

the bed can be cleaner

I’m truly thankful for the past two months I’ve spent in this special country. I’ve met so many beautiful and inspiring people and have been exposed to a completely different way of living and have seen a completely different appreciation for life. I will cherish the memories, the friends and all the unconditional love and smiles I received.
Daisy Coffey, Rural Community project Bodhgaya India 2016

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

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

What is your favorite travel memory?

Arriving in Bodhgaya, India for the very first and being serenaded by beautiful children. My heart has never been so full! The director of the school Dhirendra, taught me a lot about compassion and that the true journey in life is that of the heart. He gave up his entire life and career to build a school to provide an education to the poor children of the villages who had no opportunity otherwise to do so. This has enabled girls to become educated to either do tertiary study or start micro-businesses giving back to the community in a culture that would previously not encourage girls to be self-sufficient. It is through his vision, the shape ofthe entire community has changed and girls having jobs is now normalized. Bodhgaya is home of the Bodhi tree and Buddhist religion so the temples and monks there are also incredible.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Absolutely I have changed! I have learned that by giving back to others my life has become so full. I have had my share of frustrating moments when volunteering (mostly in airports lol!) but I have learned so much about myself and feel called to do more.

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering. Back when there was no internet and phones were a luxury in many parts of the world, we traveled to developing countries in search of credible NGO’s in need of manpower and global volunteer resources. Some of the many relationships we forged are utilized to this day.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

SO many peoples lives have been changed by volunteering, a young volunteer who comes to mind though is his experience of arriving completely lost (mental health challenges) and then got physically lost in India and what emerged was incredible resilience and problem-solving that allowed him to tackle all tasks as the school he volunteered and left a changed person. He has volunteered in multiple countries since as well - Sri Lanka, Fiji and Bali

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Bodygaya, India and the remote island teaching I think are the most special. You learn quickly how important a strong sense of community is even in the poorest of poor conditions. Because they have each other they really can get through anything! The leaders of both projects are incredibly inspiring as well.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
The nutrition and public health and medical projects are our most unique offerings as we send in specialized teams to make a real impact.

Some of the roles include:
– Conducting individual and group consultations
– Remote island healthcare education
– Corporate health
– Children’s health & education
– Identifying protein deficiency among school kids
– Assisting in the prescription of natural protocols
– Providing educational assistance and local talks (if desired)
– Helping build nutrition and diabetes awareness campaigns
– Designing fitness and exercise programs
– Village exercise programs
– General healthy living programs.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Having a humanitarian heart at the centre of a volunteering org is the most important. Giving jobs back to the local community is also important as it ensures the projects are sustainable.

IVI, we are not motivated by profits, but by helping disadvantaged communites around the world to be the best they can be. We would love to have you join us making a positive impact to those in need, as well as to our wonderful planet.

About Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)

Established in 1989, IVI are pioneers of volunteer overseas experiences. Together with our many partners worldwide, our mission is to educate, fight poverty, improve health and empower change through sustainable volunteer work in developing communities abroad. As a Non Profit Org, we have placed over 25000+ volunteers worldwide! A volunteer travel...