Description

Our placements run throughout the year and are tailored to your interests and abilities. They can be done at any stage of your training, not simply as part of a designated overseas elective period, and can accommodate any course requirements you may need to consider.

The maternity wards in our destination countries are a world away from what you may find at home. Under-resourced, busy and employing unfamiliar techniques and customs, they will no doubt challenge your abilities and emotions. At its core though is a sense of familiarity. Women have babies all over the world and for those that want experience; midwifery skills can be translated and developed dramatically.

The role of a midwife overseas tends to span many areas of specialty. You are likely to find yourself working in the delivery room, neonatal intensive care, obstetrics and gynaecology as well as with new mothers and fathers.
If you spend more than four weeks away with us you may be able to split your placement across different hospitals or regions to give you a broader view of healthcare in your chosen country. You can also choose to join one of our Add-on projects and, depending on destination, live in a rural community helping to deliver primary healthcare, study traditional medicine or learn another language.

Highlights

- Tailored Placements
Shortly after signing up for an elective you will receive a call from our head office to welcome you to the programme and to determine exactly what your interests and requirements are. We then liaise with our permanent in-country team to place you effectively. Our team will meet with the relevant departments to discuss each individual student, ensuring you are matched to the most suitable placement and that everything is ready for your arrival.

You will be assigned a clinical supervisor who will act as your main point of contact with the hospital or clinic. They will provide you with a structured elective that is suitable to your skills, experience and abilities. In addition to this your university will be provided with any documentation or information they require.

- Food, Accommodation and Local Staff?
In each of our destinations we have a large, secure Work the World house, which will be your home for the duration of your placement. As well as providing a social hub for like-minded people, they include large comfortable bedrooms and spacious communal areas in which to relax during the evenings and weekends. The accommodation is consistently deemed a highlight of many people’s trip.

Each house has its own team of staff employed from the local community with an onsite housekeeper and caterer working together to keep everything clean, tidy and well run. Experiencing the local cuisine is always a travel highlight and we try to combine local specialities with home favourites to keep everyone happy and well fed! Specific dietary requests are always catered for and the kitchen is always open for snacks and fresh drinking water.

- Support Network
Adjusting to living and working in a foreign country can sometimes be difficult, so we make sure we provide you with the highest level of support, both before and during your placement. As well as having plenty of telephone contact with our UK staff in the run-up to your trip, our online system My Trip gives you access to information about your hospital and supervisor and allows you to download supporting material and view the timeline of your elective.

Upon arrival, our local staff takeover. They will be there to meet you at the airport, take you home to the Work the World house and give you a full orientation in the local area. They will also make sure you know how to get to your placement and introduce you to your supervisor, giving you 24/7 support throughout your stay.

- Free Time and Travel Opportunities
We understand that an international elective is not simply about working in a different setting. Many of our students want to make the most of their destination and travel at weekends, grouping together to arrange trips. Our local staff can always provide you with travel advice, and each house has a book full of tips from previous students.

- Add-on Experiences?
Our Add-on placements vary from destination to destination, but all are intended to provide our students with a broader elective experience, whether that is the delivery of primary healthcare in mountainous Nepal, rural Ghana or in the tribes of Tanzania, or the practice of Ayurvedic medicine in Sri Lanka, each will add a new dimension to your experience. Travelers to Argentina are also given the opportunity to sign up to an Intensive Spanish experience, building on basic Spanish through cultural activities and then moving on to incorporate medical lingo. This will not only enhance your trip but your future – bilingual doctors are in short supply. Full information on the available options can be found in the specific destination pages.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Qualifications

All we require is a good level of English and that you have completed at least one year of study in your healthcare area. We can accept nurses on the Midwifery program.

Minimum Education

Bachelors

Intern Types

• Nursing

Languages

• English
• Spanish
• Swahili
• Nepali
• Farsi

Subject Areas

• Health Sciences
• Nursing
• Nutrition
• Public Health

Cost in US$:

Please Visit Website For Pricing

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees

Program Fees Include:

Work the World elective placements include placement organisation, accommodation and meals, airport pick up, local orientation and an introduction to the hospital and your supervisor. To help your communication skills we also offer free weekly language lessons at the Work the World house. This gives you a chance to practice the basics, as well as learn some of the phrases you may hear on your placement.

It is important to us that the people working with our students benefit from the placement fees that we pay each hospital. We make regular donations to individual wards and departments and sponsor English language lessons for hospital staff. We also support local customs, giving personal gifts to individual supervisors to show our appreciation for the mentorship they provide.

Although this is the bulk of your trip, there are a few extra costs that we have chosen not to include in our price so that you can take advantage of the deals available at the time of purchase. It is worth keeping these in mind when you plan your trip.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

yes

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Participants on the Work the World program are healthcare students and professionals who have a keen interest in global health. They have a passion for expanding their knowledge, a keen understanding of the need for well structured and results orientated placements and a realistic view of the impact they can have during their elective.

Age Range

18 and above

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of generally 1-2, max. 4

Scholarships are Available

Some students have been successful in applying for small bursaries or funding from their university or community groups. We are happy to support you in your application and provide documents where helpful.

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Resume

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-3 working days

Post Services Include

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

Work the World's Mission Statement

Work the World was created in 2005 with the aim of providing healthcare students with safe, affordable and hassle-free overseas elective experiences.

Year Founded

2005