International Health Program In Tanzania

  Tanzania

• Other Cities in Tanzania: 
Arusha

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: Monthly Start Dates throughout the year

Description: Shadow Tanzanian health professionals at a local hospital, engage in capacity building projects at a local health facility and educate community groups on HIV/AIDS while living with a local family in Tanzania.

Both health professionals and pre-med, health and medical students are invited to participate in the Tanzania GSC International Health (IH) Program. The IH Program requires a nine-week minimum program length and can be extended to three months or more.

This GSC program consists of two segments: facilitating workshops training community members, teachers, and students in HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness; and shadowing health professionals in local health care facilities.

During the community training part of your IH program, you will be a key member of a team including local Tanzanian counterparts, counselors and community members who together will facilitate community workshops and encourage trainees to receive counseling and testing as well as adopt safe life style habits. Community training activities during the first June IH Program include participating in the HIV/AIDS prevention and life skills day camp provided to students and teachers at Arusha secondary schools.

During the second segment of the program, participants shadow Tanzanian health professionals and engage in community service health projects. Shadowing placements are available in several hospitals and clinics in the Arusha area as well as in hospitals further a field. Participants with medical knowledge are encouraged to apply as they can offer special skills to the HIV/AIDS program. You will be able to engage in enriching services while learning about international health through shadowing and working with other health organizations.

Community service health projects depend on the needs of the community, but in the past of included providing further HIV/AIDS trainings, working with peer educators at local secondary schools, assisting HIV positive households with nutrition and food production, working with local orphanages and a newly launched telemedicine project. In collaboration with one of our local partners GSC has the development of an on-line telemedicine system for rural hospitals to communicate with hospitals in the U.S., Europe and other developed countries These IH participants will help address the need to tutor hospital staff in basic computer skills as well as the use of the specialized telemedicine software.

Highlights: Homestays: Volunteers experience true cultural immersion by living with a local Tanzanian family. GSC places volunteers with hosts who enjoy learning about other cultures and appreciate the unique opportunity that hosting an international volunteer gives to their family. Host families have been carefully chosen by GSC and our partners, and many have hosted volunteers over the course of several years. Whether you are learning Tanzanian games or sharing a plate of ugali (corn meal) and sakuma weki (greens) with your Tanzanian Mama, your homestay experience with GSC hosts will provide memories and friendships lasting a lifetime.

Tanzanian Partners: The experience of GSC volunteers is greatly enhanced by their daily interaction with local counterparts, whether a nurse at a hospital, a teacher at a school, or a college-bound translator, Volunteers and their Tanzanian partners build mutually beneficial and often long lasting bonds of friendship. Local partners assist Volunteers with obtaining local transportation, finding the best local restaurants, learning local language phrases, meeting community leaders, and giving tips about and often participating in social activities. Counterparts play a vital role in providing a true cultural immersion experience while helping to insure that the volunteers' interaction with and service to the community is appropriate and effective.

Cultural Orientation and Technical Training: All Tanzania Service-Learning programs include in-depth cultural orientation including Swahili lessons, a tutorial on how to use the dala-dala bus system like a local and an insider's tour of Arusha. Volunteers also receive technical training on HIV/AIDS in the Tanzanian context, Tanzanian health care challenges, and how to lead week-long educational workshops.

Qualifications: Student or professional in health related field, i.e. pre-med and medical students, nurses, etc. An interest in International Development and cultural exchange a must. Must be at least 18 year old.

Cost in US$: 9 Week Programs start at USD 5,230

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 and above

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Tanzania Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-5

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Service Corps's Mission Statement: Working from offices on three continents, Global Service Corps is dedicated to fulfilling our mission of designing and implementing effective service-learning programs that provide maximum benefit to our program participants and the communities we serve. Through the hard work of our staff, support of our advisory board, collaboration with our partners and the participation of hundreds of volunteers each year, Global Service Corps has earned its reputation as a leader in international volunteerism, service-learning and community development.

Year Founded: 1992