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Location
  • Nicaragua
Project Types
Veterinary Service

Program Details

Language
English
Housing
Host Family Hotel
Apr 29, 2019
May 29, 2018
Wish List
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.

Video and Photos

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Program Reviews

4.94 Rating
based on 53 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 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 49 - 53 of 53 reviews
Default avatar
PLU2012
31
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing program to be a part of!

Apr 18, 2012

Part of the VIDA experience is allowing their volunteers to experience as much of Central America as possible. The two week trip to Nicaragua and Costa Rica is the perfect way to experience more than one lifestyle and culture. VIDA does an amazing job working with their volunteers to make sure they have the time of their life. The hands-on volunteer work in the medical or dental field is unparalleled. This trip or any other trip with VIDA would be an amazing opportunity for everyone to experience.

34 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
amrduck
39
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Winter in Nicaragua

Apr 17, 2012

Was one of twenty students who went on this medical and veterinary service trip last January. 5 clinic days, 2 recreation days. Homestay experience was incredible and better than I could have ever imagined. The ziplining activity was extremely fun. Be prepared for an action packed, but enjoyable trip! Loved getting to tour the country for the first time. Not a ton of free time - almost all of the days are scheduled with activities, meals, etc. which is good if you're worried about what you will be doing when you're not working. Would definitely recommend VIDA for this type of experience!

36 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
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Default avatar
Bentley123
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

Apr 17, 2012

Experience of a lifetime! Learned about the culture, the healthcare, and the social scene. Best 2 weeks of my life! I hope to be able to go on a trip like this again. Only downside was that our group of volunteers was over 50 people. Hard to get to know everyone and it was very "clique-y". Other than that, it was a blast! The translators and physicians were amazing and extremely helpful. Highly recommend this trip!

32 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Obrant
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

VIDA - Nicaragua 2010

Apr 17, 2012

I truly enjoyed all of the time I spent in Nicaragua. Only half of my VIDA volunteer opportunity was spent there, but I wish it could've been more. The time we spent on the island of Ometepe was most enjoyable. I really loved the local culture, but it highlighted the the everyday difficulties that locals faced. I did not see a phone or computer the entire time I was there. The only acceptable, by most peoples standards, bathroom I used was the only in my hotel. However, the experience was eye-opening and I would not change it for anything.

32 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
thompsmg
31
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I had a blast

Apr 17, 2012

Suffice it to say, my experience in Nicaragua on a Vida Medical trip was great. I didn't want to come home because it meant not being able to serve in that setting. I had to go again so I attended another VIDA trip, this time to Costa Rica, just this past spring break. Dr. Angelina Delgado was the best and everything was very well executed.

28 people found this review helpful.
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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.

Staff Interviews

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

Marla Abstetar

Program
Vida Medical, Dental & Veterinary Programs in Nicaragua
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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.

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...

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