Veterinary Internships Abroad

During my veterinary internship in Malawi, I had the chance to be fully immersed in the daily care of a wide range of animals from administering medication and feeding, to assisting with clinical check-ups on monkeys under anesthesia. We also took part in necropsies to better understand causes of death, and even joined the vet team in the field for zebra relocation operations, aimed at increasing genetic diversity between reserves. It was an intense and eye-opening experience that gave me real insight into wildlife veterinary work and conservation challenges. Beyond the technical skills, I learned a lot about local practices and wildlife management strategies. The team was incredibly welcoming and made us feel supported from day one. I’d absolutely recommend this placement, the learning environment is exceptional, the tasks are meaningful, and the overall atmosphere is both warm and inspiring. RealStep was also a huge help throughout the preparation phase; they were always available and made the whole process smooth and reassuring

As interns, we had the role of "Vet Nurse". We vaccinated, dewormed, injected, and disinfected wounds on various animals (dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep, etc.), and we were able to assist the veterinarians during game capture. It is important to bring an open mind to new cultures as it was very different from where I am from, Europe. By bringing an open mind and I was able to open myself up to another culture and way of life. I recommend this project to beginning vet students as you are getting hands-on experience, but the most important thing to remember is that you're extremely important in helping people and animals.