Best Guide: Medical and Health Volunteer Abroad Programs

Calling all nurses, nutritionists, speech pathologists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, pharmacists, dieticians, dental hygienists, early childhood educators, occupational therapists, social workers, pre-health students – OK, pretty much all aspiring and experienced health professionals who enjoy traveling: You’re needed!

Global Volunteers’ medical and health volunteer abroad programs offer the opportunity to enhance your global perspective while supporting international medical care, hygiene campaigns and healthcare education. Work alongside local caregivers, healthcare professionals, families, teachers and community leaders at the frontline of promoting better health, nutritious food and disease prevention.

We have over 30 years of experience in organizing volunteer abroad programs – with thousands of healthcare professionals joining us. We also offer medical and health volunteer abroad programs to aspiring medical professionals – pre-med, pre-health and pre-nursing students.

The scope of your volunteer work depends on (1) what our host communities have requested from us and (2) your specific interests, experience and qualifications. Global Volunteers’ unique philosophy of service requires volunteers to work at the invitation and under the direction of local community partners – and one-on-one with local people. If you have an area of expertise in a specialized field, contact us using the form at the bottom of this post. While remaining faithful to our philosophy of service, our Volunteer Coordinators will help you select a project.

Learn more about our medical and health volunteer abroad opportunities available in the project descriptions below.

Food, Diet and Nutrition Projects

Service program locations: Cook Islands, Cuba, Peru, St. Lucia and Tanzania
Volunteer duration: Volunteer for one to three weeks, programs start on select Sundays and Saturdays year-round (depending on the service program location)
Program fees: From $1,995 to $3,195 – depending on the service program location and duration. Tax-deductible fees include food, accommodations, ground transportation, team leadership, project materials and program coordination.

Plant and maintain earthbox container gardens, and teach these skills to families. Provide nutrition education and teach healthy meal preparation in schools, clinics and community centers. Construct rainwater catchment systems, build fuel-efficient stoves and plant trees.

“This experience changed the way I will conduct myself in my professional life. Be more humble. Take compliments. Think of ways to relate to my patients… Do not rush to judge. Be gracious and kind and patient.”

-Rachel Nieto (Tanzania Global Volunteer)

Health Care and Education Projects

Service program locations: Cook Islands, Ecuador, Montana, Peru, St. Lucia, and Tanzania
Volunteer duration: Volunteer for one to three weeks, programs start on select Sundays and Saturdays year-round (depending on the service program location)
Program fees: From $1,045 to $3,095 – depending on the service program location and duration. Tax-deductible fees include food, accommodations, ground transportation, team leadership, project materials and program coordination.

Non-invasive assignments include pre- and post-natal counseling, pediatric care, maternal heath and nutrition, breastfeeding support, physical therapy, diabetes screening and education, dental hygiene, proper hand-washing, first-aid training, disease prevention, HIV AIDS & STD education, eye exams, blood pressure checks.

“My long-term commitment to Global Volunteers is largely due to the fact that they keep their eye on the (long-term) ball, and work with the communities they serve, not for them. They make every effort to leave a helpful, lasting footprint when they are not present, as well as to develop a sustainable, ongoing program.”

-Dr. Bud Weiner (4-time Global Volunteer)

Early Childhood Education Projects

Service program locations: Cook Islands, Ecuador, Peru, Romania, St. Lucia, and Tanzania
Volunteer duration: Volunteer for one to three weeks, programs start on select Sundays and Saturdays year-round (depending on the service program location)
Program fees: From $1,995 to $3,095 – depending on the service program location and duration. Tax-deductible fees include food, accommodations, ground transportation, team leadership, project materials and program coordination.

Care for and stimulate children one-on-one in classrooms and daycare centers – through arts and crafts, reading storybooks, music and games, and model handwashing with soap and water, brushing teeth, and other life skills. As a Global Volunteer, you invest in the future through the youngest of citizens.

“The benefits started the day we signed up, and we returned with a new lens on our jobs and lives. Serving together outside of our everyday work environment was a rare and unique opportunity. It was a great match for our needs – working on the other side of the world in a setting with much different staff and equipment resources.”

-Natalie Diehl (3-time Global Volunteer)