Health Assistant

Program Description

To use your healthcare knowledge and express your compassion for the Amani children while ensuring their overall health and well-being. As the Health Assistant, you will establish good healthcare practices as a priority for the children from the time they arrive at Amani, by taking new children for their entry physicals, conducting health interviews and starting their health history files, as well as throughout their time at Amani, by supporting the nurse as she treats the children for the minor injuries and illnesses of childhood.

Working closely with the Amani Nurse, you will help to ensure the well-being of the Amani children by:
• Helping with all health-related record-keeping.
• Communicating with weekend and night caregivers to coordinate consistent care for children needing medicine or having specific healthcare needs.
• Taking children to medical appointments at local clinics and hospitals.
• Develop and share ideas for health education lessons to help the Amani children. e.g taking care of their teeth etc.
• Inventory and organize Amani’s medical supplies and donated health items.
• Organize, maintain and share educational resources relating to appropriate health topics with the Amani children and staff.

In addition, you will be asked to:
• Assist in planning and implementing special events at Amani, i.e. children’s graduation party, etc.
• Share your enthusiasm for Amani by writing summaries for newsletter articles and Amani Facebook updates.

Highlights

Volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the lives of the Amani children and act as caregivers to each of the children.

Qualifications

• A mature and flexible individual, preferably with a medical background, to assist Amani’s nurse in providing healthcare to the Amani children.
• Volunteers must be 22 years or older.
• Volunteers commit to actively learn Swahili and have fluency/proficiency in English.
• We only accept volunteers who are able to stay at Amani for at least 6 months.
• Placement as a volunteer with Amani Children’s Home depends on your specific skills and experience, a successful reference check, and the timing and length of your stay.

Volunteer Types

What`s Included

As an Amani volunteer, you will be responsible for your own expenses, including travel, local transportation, housing, food, entertainment etc.
Amani provides lunch on any day that volunteers are working
There is a “daladala” (mini bus) that picks up Amani staff and volunteers in the morning.

The costs of living for a month depends with your expenses, normally between $300 - $500 (mid-range), including rent, food, internet, phone, local transportation, dining out etc.
We normally make initial arrangements so a volunteer has a place to stay at least temporarily while they became accustomed to the area and decide where and how they would like to live long-term.
In additional to the cost of living, you will also be required to pay $550 for your volunteer permit. The permit is valid for a period of 6 months up to two years.