Medical Volunteers
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Developed in Arusha, Tanzania to promote genuine volunteer experiences, Rafiki Volunteers Organisation assists international volunteers with finding significant placements that make positive differences within the local communities. We strive to ensure that this is a cost effective and safe program.
Volunteers are welcome to participate in our medical placements. Rafiki means “friend” in Swahili and that is what we hope you will become with the local doctors, nurses, and health workers. We will place volunteers in placements matching your particular abilities and background so that we can help you accomplish your volunteering goals in Tanzania.
Anyone with tertiary education experience in the health industry can apply for the Rafiki Volunteers medical program. We will design your program based on your prior experience, knowledge level, and skills. Volunteers interested in working in the hospitals and health clinics much be self motivated, enthusiastic and be able to show initiative in this often challenging workplace.
We also offer placements for physiotherapists, dentists and other medical professions.
Volunteers are welcome to participate in our medical placements. Rafiki means “friend” in Swahili and that is what we hope you will become with the local doctors, nurses, and health workers. We will place volunteers in placements matching your particular abilities and background so that we can help you accomplish your volunteering goals in Tanzania.
Anyone with tertiary education experience in the health industry can apply for the Rafiki Volunteers medical program. We will design your program based on your prior experience, knowledge level, and skills. Volunteers interested in working in the hospitals and health clinics much be self motivated, enthusiastic and be able to show initiative in this often challenging workplace.
We also offer placements for physiotherapists, dentists and other medical professions.
Highlights
Tanzania boasts some of the world's most beautiful landscapes and wildlife. While volunteering in Arusha many participants will also take the time to go on Safari in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Many of our volunteers have even climbed Mt Kilimanjaro during their stay.The participants of our medical program make a significant and lasting difference to both their patients and the facility that have worked in. It is important to continue to implement and teach Western medical techniques to create a more effective medical system in Tanzania.
Volunteers will often have the opportunity to assist in advanced surgeries and treat diseases they would never encounter in their home country.
An incredible and affordable experience for any medical students or qualified professionals.
Qualifications
Proof of your education, qualifications, current enrollment, and/or prior medical experience will be required to participate in Rafiki Volunteers medical placement.Volunteer Types
What`s Included
Rafiki Volunteer program costs include:- Orientation
- Accommodation
- Meals (breakfast and dinner daily)
- Volunteer Placement
- 24 hour on ground support
- Pre and Post volunteering support
- Cultural Day Trips
Other Programs From The Same Provider
Program Locations
Arusha, Tanzania
Overall rating
10
Experience
10
Program Administration
10
Living Conditions
10
Cultural Immersion
10
Social Life
10
Health and Safety
10
Program Details
Provider:
Rafiki Volunteers
Location
- Tanzania: Arusha
Terms:
Throughout the year
Program Duration:
1-3 months, 2-4 weeks, 3-6 months, 6-12 months
Languages:
English, Swahili
Participants:
American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African, Worldwide
Cost:
USD $470+
Rafiki Volunteers - Program Reviews
I am a 24-year-old medical student on 8. semester from Denmark.
Program:
I was volunteering in Tanzania for nearly 4 months back in 2009-2010, mainly teaching and other cool stuff. When I decided to go back to this wonderful country in 2014 as a medical student for 2 months, I was hoping to find a volunteering organization, that could find me the right placement for my educational level and experience. I heard from some friends in Denmark that some of our mutual friends in Arusha had started something called Rafiki Volunteers. I already knew these great people, but I was positively surprised that they managed to arrange the perfect placement for me, because in some organizations some volunteers unfortunately feel misplaced. For that I am grateful to Rafiki's.
From the moment I was picked up at the airport, everything was planned. After a day of introduction to the program, the city and the people I was going to be with during my stay, i started work on the second day.
Besides my work, Rafiki Volunteers planned a bunch of cultural trips and crazy fun night-outs, which i enjoyed a lot!
My friends at Rafiki Volunteers was always ready to help me with anything at anytime.
The Hospital:
My work at St. Elizabeth Hospital has been a great experience for me, that I will never forget. The doctors, nurses and other staff, was very welcoming and kind. They all spoke english and all the charts were in english too. Of course they were busy too, which meant that I did not have people holding my hand and guiding me throughout my stay. I was free to decide which wards to be in, and what I wanted to be a part of.
I spent my first two weeks starting with morning conference with all staff and doing rounds with doctors and nurses at medical ward to learn about the diseases and their treatments, that commonly presents themselves in sub-saharan countries. After rounds I helped out at the prenatal clinic with vaccinations etc. The next weeks I worked at surgical ward, attending/assisting surgeries, doing rounds, and sometimes I helped out in the maternity ward afterwards. My day could consist of folding gauze for an hour and chatting with the staff or filling out discharge papers to suddenly be in charge of small surgical procedures, like draining abscesses or small debridements. There really is not that many limits to what you can do and learn, and there is plenty of opportunities to engage in social activities after work with the staff too, which is fun!
If I could make any changes I would make sure to know a bit more about diseases such as HIV, malaria, TB etc. and their treatments/monitoring. Especially because of the doctor in charge, who also happened to be a professor, killed me with questions on every rounds :). The more you are prepared the more exciting it gets and what you learn sticks forever! Otherwise you end up spending a lot of time catching up. Besides that, I would not change a thing!
There is no way I can describe what I went through those 2 months, but basically I got to learn and do so many things, that is golden experience for my future as a doctor, and I had fun too!
Accomidation:
I was staying at the lovely volunteer house with other volunteers right amongst the locals. Great place! Had a great room and bed, but most importantly we had a Mama (the nice lady or angel that cooks and cleans and washes our clothes and always smiles) that made insanely good traditional food. She was so great! I loved the way she lured me out of bed every morning simply by cooking breakfast that smelled amazing and by spreading positive vibes and smiles. Coming home tired, dirty and hungry from work, there she was again with a nice home cooked meal and with our clothes and bed all clean and made up. And she was fun to hang out with as well. All this meant that I could focus on doing my job better.
Tanzania in general is a beautiful country, with lots of amazing places to visit, and with very welcoming and warm people! People do not have much, but a lot of them are willing to share everything they got, which is a quality i miss in my people in my country.
Medical Volunteer at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Arusha, Tanzania - with Rafiki Volunteers
Review by: Bircan Tekin-
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, On: 29 Jan 2015, Changed On: 29 Jan 2015 | Yes, I would recommend this programI am a 24-year-old medical student on 8. semester from Denmark.
Program:
I was volunteering in Tanzania for nearly 4 months back in 2009-2010, mainly teaching and other cool stuff. When I decided to go back to this wonderful country in 2014 as a medical student for 2 months, I was hoping to find a volunteering organization, that could find me the right placement for my educational level and experience. I heard from some friends in Denmark that some of our mutual friends in Arusha had started something called Rafiki Volunteers. I already knew these great people, but I was positively surprised that they managed to arrange the perfect placement for me, because in some organizations some volunteers unfortunately feel misplaced. For that I am grateful to Rafiki's.
From the moment I was picked up at the airport, everything was planned. After a day of introduction to the program, the city and the people I was going to be with during my stay, i started work on the second day.
Besides my work, Rafiki Volunteers planned a bunch of cultural trips and crazy fun night-outs, which i enjoyed a lot!
My friends at Rafiki Volunteers was always ready to help me with anything at anytime.
The Hospital:
My work at St. Elizabeth Hospital has been a great experience for me, that I will never forget. The doctors, nurses and other staff, was very welcoming and kind. They all spoke english and all the charts were in english too. Of course they were busy too, which meant that I did not have people holding my hand and guiding me throughout my stay. I was free to decide which wards to be in, and what I wanted to be a part of.
I spent my first two weeks starting with morning conference with all staff and doing rounds with doctors and nurses at medical ward to learn about the diseases and their treatments, that commonly presents themselves in sub-saharan countries. After rounds I helped out at the prenatal clinic with vaccinations etc. The next weeks I worked at surgical ward, attending/assisting surgeries, doing rounds, and sometimes I helped out in the maternity ward afterwards. My day could consist of folding gauze for an hour and chatting with the staff or filling out discharge papers to suddenly be in charge of small surgical procedures, like draining abscesses or small debridements. There really is not that many limits to what you can do and learn, and there is plenty of opportunities to engage in social activities after work with the staff too, which is fun!
If I could make any changes I would make sure to know a bit more about diseases such as HIV, malaria, TB etc. and their treatments/monitoring. Especially because of the doctor in charge, who also happened to be a professor, killed me with questions on every rounds :). The more you are prepared the more exciting it gets and what you learn sticks forever! Otherwise you end up spending a lot of time catching up. Besides that, I would not change a thing!
There is no way I can describe what I went through those 2 months, but basically I got to learn and do so many things, that is golden experience for my future as a doctor, and I had fun too!
Accomidation:
I was staying at the lovely volunteer house with other volunteers right amongst the locals. Great place! Had a great room and bed, but most importantly we had a Mama (the nice lady or angel that cooks and cleans and washes our clothes and always smiles) that made insanely good traditional food. She was so great! I loved the way she lured me out of bed every morning simply by cooking breakfast that smelled amazing and by spreading positive vibes and smiles. Coming home tired, dirty and hungry from work, there she was again with a nice home cooked meal and with our clothes and bed all clean and made up. And she was fun to hang out with as well. All this meant that I could focus on doing my job better.
Tanzania in general is a beautiful country, with lots of amazing places to visit, and with very welcoming and warm people! People do not have much, but a lot of them are willing to share everything they got, which is a quality i miss in my people in my country.