Description

We offer volunteer service trips, commonly referred to as medical brigades, medical missions, dental brigades, dental mission trips, or service learning trips that provide free basic medical and dental care to needy communities which includes an emphasis on public health education.

We also offer veterinary medicine brigades in which we provide free spay and neuter clinics, as well as consultations, vaccination of livestock and educational information for farmers.

Highlights

We welcome individuals and groups all year round to support ongoing sustainable development projects in impoverished communities. A VIDA adventure typically involves travel and volunteer experience one or two of the following countries: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Group adventures during spring break are usually 9 days/8 nights and during summer and winter breaks 13 days/12 nights.

Minimum Education

High School

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 1465 - USD 2660

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• International travel
• Language instruction
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The money that volunteers pay goes towards two areas:

Directly to the costs of the volunteer's trip this includes 2 meals a day, hotel costs, homestay costs, transportation, professional staff such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians as well as guides and interpreters and necessary supplies for clinics or service projects.

Administrative costs include pre-trip service and support to volunteers, organizational costs such as clinic and service project coordination, etc.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Volunteers are generally college students interested in any health field, such as general medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and veterinary medicine. We also love to have healthcare professionals as special volunteers.

Age Range

18 and up

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 15-22

Scholarships are Available

We also have the following scholarships available: (1) Full Scholarship per team per University for any individual who organizes his/her own group, minimum of 15 students, then that individual is eligible for a full scholarship (does not include airfare). Large groups of 40 or more from the same University shall be granted 2 Full Scholarships for the 2 individuals coordinating the group. (2) Partial Scholarships per team for those individuals who are certified Spanish/English interpreters and are interested in interpreting for fellow students during clinics. You can receive a discount of up to USD 300.00! A telephone interview will be conducted to ensure that individuals are satisfactorily fluent in Spanish along with presentation of certification as a translator in the U.S.A. or E.U. (1) Partial Scholarship per team if you recruit a volunteer health professional (parent, sibling, etc) who is a licensed general medicine medical doctor, internal medicine doctor, physician's assistant, family dentist, veterinarian, or a nurse practitioner. This individual would need to enjoy teaching, volunteer experience/volunteer spirit, and pay for his/her own airfare, food, and bring his/her own spending money. Medical Professionals need to submit their current license and University diplomas to VIDA Central America at least 75 days prior to trip for pre-approval by health officials. You are eligible to receive up to a USD 300 discount on your trip with this scholarship! We are working hard to obtain sponsors for our scholarship programs and we post new scholarships as they become available. Please check the Financial Aid and Scholarships page for full details. These scholarships are on a first come first serve basis.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hours M-F

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

VIDA (Volunteers for Intercultural and Definitive Adventures)'s Mission Statement

To facilitate sustainable and ongoing public health services to needy communities, while offering volunteers from around the world hands-on, eye-opening, mind-enriching experiences. We believe that we can make a long-lasting impact by having a strong emphasis on education. We aim to achieve this goal by working with committed and compassionate bilingual professionals, who play an active role in the intercultural and humanitarian experience. We invite everyone with a desire to help and learn to join our cause. Our commitment is to maximize the use of our resources to best serve developing communities.

Year Founded

2008