IVHQ Healthcare Volunteering in Cordoba, Argentina

Volunteering with IVHQ was an experience of a lifetime! Pedro and Nati took such great care of us volunteers. They welcomed us into their family and ensured that we maximized our opportunity to volunteer and be immersed into the Argentine culture. This program provides an opportunity to volunteer for any amount of time that works best for each individual and their current stage of life! This experience was life changing and undoubtedly an unforgettable memory!

I had a great time! The IVHQ staff were friendly, helpful, and made me feel right at home. Nati reached out to me via WhatsApp the day before and Lichi emailed me letting me know exactly how things would go at the airport. My stay was comfortable and affordable. The food was delicious and the house was clean and neat. The host family really made me feel like a visiting family member versus a guest. They even threw me a little going away dinner. The staff at my placement were also very nice and helpful and seemed so happy to have me there. As a qualified healthcare professional, I wasn't able to utilize many of my skills so the placement is better suited to a student. Intermediate to advanced Spanish would have made my time easier but I loved the experience nonetheless.

I did the Healthcare program in Cordoba for two weeks and it was amazing. Every doctor or nurse I met was so eager to get to know me and help me succeed. I was originally placed in a clinic where I was able to shadow and perform medical assessments with the supervision of the doctors. I was lucky enough to meet a doctor there that also worked in a hospital in the local area, so I arranged it with the program so that I could shadow him at the hospital a couple days as well. I gained so much experience and had a great time. I was even able to help put several casts on patients. For the healthcare program knowing the language is a must. The accommodations in Cordoba were so welcoming, Jose the house dad, always made us the best dinners and made sure breakfast was made by the time we woke up. He kept the house super clean and made the environment a fun place to be with his great personality. To live in the house you do not need to speak Spanish, there are multiple staff members that speak English that can help you navigate the city and the program you are volunteering with. Even though Jose does not speak much English he communicates very well through body language and facial expressions.

I really enjoyed my time working in the healthcare project. The paediatrican and the nutritionist I worked with were really friendly and got me very involved in the project. The schedule suited me perfectly, the walk to the clinic was lovely, and the hospitality provided by staff will never be forgotten.