Location
  • Nicaragua
Project Types
Veterinary Service

Program Details

Language
English
Housing
Host Family Hotel
Apr 29, 2019
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.

Program Reviews

4.94 Rating
based on 53 reviews
  • 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 33 - 40 of 53 reviews
Default avatar
chlocole
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Worthwhile Pre-Veterinary Experience with VIDA

VIDA was such an amazing experience that I cried at the end of my stay not wanting it to be over! I have never learned so much in 4 clinic days. The States has a lot of restrictions, but down in Nicaragua I got hands-on and visual education headed by a renowned local Veterinary on sterilization procedures, IV catheter placement, tracheal tube insertion, general intake, vaccinations, deworming, etc. We got to work with small and large animals, saving each life as we went for absolutely no cost to the community made this experience humbling and worthwhile. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND VIDA!

What would you improve about this program?
The packing list was extensive, causing my luggage to be quite heavy when I didn't even use half the stuff I brought. They also told me to bring more money than you could ever possible spend, which made me worrisome about where to keep it, on me or in my suitcase? But I have left this feedback with VIDA and they are steadfast working to change these issues. Also, except sickness. Its not VIDAs fault, but rather a harsh adjustment to the country, which I was unprepared for!
33 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
PabloIsTheBest!
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Nicaragua Spring Break 2013

I loved every second of the trip. The volunteers were so much fun to hang out with, and I loved all of the staff so much. They were all so much fun and so great at what they did! I loved everything!

What would you improve about this program?
Space out the program fees a little more, $900 was a lot to pay for!
30 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Raissa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

VIDA Nicaragua Trip

Overall, the program is a great opportunity for students to gain medical experience and make a difference. The program does a great job integrating the country's culture throughout the whole program. I especially loved the experience of homestays. You really get to experience what it is like living in that country. The clinic days were wonderful opportunities to serve in the community. The doctors on the trip did a great job educating the volunteers. They really took an interest in teaching volunteers about common diseases and how to do a basic medical exam.

What would you improve about this program?
I wish there was more time devoted to orienting/training the volunteers for the clinic days. There was a lot of info. crammed into that one orientation day.
32 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Divya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

McMaster's VIDA Trip to Nicaragua

The days blended together so well - the staff did an amazing job with integrating our group into the local culture and helping along with our clinic activities. I would go as far as to say that every moment of my trip was a highlight, there really isn't anything that I would change about the week!

One minor difficulty that I could point out would be the lack of communication between us volunteers and our homestay families. As entertaining as it was to learn a new language, at times it was a little awkward and slightly frustrating to not be able to understand what our homestay family was trying to communicate with us.

What would you improve about this program?
Like I mentioned, I would really only want to change the homestay portion - maybe having us volunteers take a few more spanish lessons, or having the families know a little more english. But honestly, even the homestays were an amazing experience as they were. It was a minor difficulty :)
31 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Anonymous
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Can't find this experience anywhere else

I heard a lot about the trip from people who attended it before but it still managed to surpass all my expectations. The actual clinic days were great. Being able to interact with patients and understanding the kind of medical issues they face on a day to day basis helped me understand the different kind of problems faced by people around the world. Coming up with a hypothesis with other volunteers gave me a glimpse into the day to day life of a physician and has helped convince me that I am on the right track career-wise. The sort of patient interaction I faced is unique and I definitely won't be able to find such an experience here in Canada. The VIDA staff were phenomenal in keeping us safe, comfortable. They were all very approachable and easy to talk to making the trip feel like I was with friends the whole time. The organization was top notch and I can't imagine the trip going any better

What would you improve about this program?
Improve english among homestay families in order to increase communication and understand them better. Not a big issue though.
34 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Morgan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

VIDA veterinary program

I participated in this program as veterinarian from the US. The program was well organized and provided an excellent experience for me and for the students. The students gained real world experience to help with grad school admissions and a life changing experience helping those less fortunate than themselves. The home stays allowed a more indepth exposure to the culture and the recreational days showed off the country and were great fun. I would certainly recommend this program to any veterinary, medical or dental student.

33 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Brightnbubbly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

So Much More Than Expected

I went on the Veterinary Trip through VIDA and was so impressed with how involved, knowledgeable and helpful all the staff was. I was also pleasantly surprised by how quickly we were all joking around with each other and how at home I felt. I was also super impressed by how hands-on my experience was. Rather than standing next to a vet and watching them give an injection, prepare an animal for surgery or preform surgery, a vet was standing next to me and watching ME do all these things. They do a phenomenal job of making sure that you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it that way. The only thing that was a bit confusing is that some of the vets had different techniques, so you have to remember which ones to use around each vet. The recreational days were a lot of fun as well (though we all missed clinic on those days, haha). Recreational days were jam packed with traveling around to local markets, historical sites and activities like zip lining. Home stays were also really cool because we got to experience everyday life in Nicaragua. It was so much fun chatting with my host mom and wandering around town with my host brother and the rest of the VIDA volunteers with whom I was staying. I can't wait to go again next year!!

What would you improve about this program?
Vets should communicate more about the procedures they use so that they will recognize when we have simply been taught by another vet and may not be doing the procedure "wrongly" (just differently).

Also..... MORE CLINIC DAYS!! :)
29 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
cphill
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

VIDA - Pre-Med Team

VIDA enables volunteers to get real clinical experience in the culturally rich environment. In the clinics, I learned how to take patient histories, take vitals (including blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and heart and lung sounds), give abdominal exams, witness PAP smears, and even begin to diagnose and recommend medications. In addition, VIDA immerses students in the Nicaraguan culture by placing students in host families and side-trips to local tourist sites. The staff was enormously helpful with translating and informing our group on local customs and history. I felt that I left Nicaragua with a much broader sense of their culture and greater wealth of clinical knowledge. I highly recommend this trip to any pre-med student with a sense of adventure and interest in other cultures!

What would you improve about this program?
Traveling may have been a little more pleasant if all the students traveled on the same flight.
27 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers