CAUSES

MEDICINE & HEALTH

Public health is key to community development. High-quality medical care, healthy behaviour, and support plays an integral role in the social upliftment of developing countries.

Developing countries have limited resources, so it is particularly important to invest in healthcare that works.

Assist health professionals in realistic and meaningful ways and develop your skills in the exciting and dynamic fields of medicine and public health! Given the development challenges faced in cities such as Kolkata, Cape Town, New Delhi, and Hanoi you will gain invaluable skills and exposure to health challenges and practices that would not be possible in highly developed, first-world cities.

Our internship opportunities will put you in contact with community health organisations and local hospitals where you can contribute to public health education drives, work toward providing counselling support to communities in need, work with healthcare professionals toward patient recovery, or provide basic health care for impoverished communities. Through hands-on, individually matched opportunities you will learn about public health and medical issues affecting developing communities. We offer research based and clinical opportunities, and can facilitate unique internship positions that may contribute to your current university learning or capstone project. Depending on your focal area e.g. public health, pre-medicine, psychology, dentistry, gynaecology, or nursing, you will have the opportunity to interact with patients and healthcare professionals and have a chance to give back and contribute in a very tangible way.

Nursing and general medical care

We partner with hospitals and outpatient facilities that require the assistance of nursing and medical interns. Opportunities include the possibility to work at a children’s hospital, an HIV/AIDS vaccine testing centre, or in a community hospital.

Occupational and physical therapy

Practise your skills with a number of non profits dedicated to the supporting patients in their physical therapy needs – either recovering from surgery or in need of on going support due to an accident or a physical or cognitive challenge.

Speech therapy and speech-language pathology

Work with registered speech therapists to plan and implement speech therapy interventions with children recovering from surgery or affected by physical or cognitive challenges.

Counseling and Psychology

Under the guidance of registered professionals you have the opportunity to work with youth and adults with psychosocial needs, contribute to assisting children at risk, or develop your skill working with cognitively challenged patients. We also have a few hands-on internship opportunities at excellent non-profit organisations working to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) through advocacy, or treating and counseling the survivors of gender-based violence. Due to the sensitive nature of this work, these internships will suit more emotionally-mature candidates who have some knowledge and experience of gender and GBV issues.

Social Work

Also under the guidance of registered professionals, you will work with organisations that focus on social development and social welfare of children and youth at risk, as well as adults in need. We offer social work internships with well-established, high-profile non-profit organisations in various sectors in our host countries. In developing countries, it is necessary for government and organisations to take responsibility for guaranteeing equal opportunities to all citizens through social action and social development. Social workers play an integral part in uplifting communities in need and they contribute significantly towards improving its social development.

Advocacy and Campaigns

We offer advocacy and campaigns internships with well-established, high-profile non-profit organisations in our host countries. In developing countries, it is necessary for government and organisations to take responsibility for guaranteeing equal opportunities to all citizens through social action and social development. Advocacy work plays an integral part in upliftment in developing nations and contributes significantly towards improving social development.

Candidate requirements

• • Interest & expertise in field of public health
  • Basic to moderate understanding of relevant public health issues, including HIV/AIDS & tuberculosis (TB)
  • Research experience & expertise
  • Strong writing skills
  • Strong communication skills
  • Comfortable working in low-income communities
  • Independence & adaptability

Useful areas of expertise

• Collection of qualitative & quantitative data
• Data analysis
• Research
• Fieldwork
• Writing reports & articles
• Basic web design & web development
• Communications & fundraising

“For he who has health has hope; and he who has hope,
has everything.”

Owen Arthur