Projects Abroad Offers Meaningful Short-Term Volunteer Trips to India and Ghana over the Winter Holidays
Projects Abroad medical volunteers teach children about basic healthcare on a hygiene outreach in India
NEW YORK – September 17, 2014 – Fall is here and that means winter is drawing ever closer. For those who want to escape the snow and freezing temperatures and pursue a worthwhile experience over the holiday season, international volunteer organization Projects Abroad is pleased to announce a new range of projects taking place during the winter break period. Winter Break Trips are short-term placements suitable for volunteers of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re a student who missed out on going abroad this past summer, or a professional looking to do something different and meaningful for the holidays, Projects Abroad has a project to suit your interests.
This winter, Projects Abroad is offering Winter Break Trips abroad in Ghana and India for two weeks (Sunday, 21st December 2014 to Saturday, 3rd January 2015). Volunteers can choose from two different types of programs: Care & Community and Medicine. Care & Community programs focus on childcare and renovation work in disadvantaged communities, and Medicine programs involve shadowing medical professionals and participating on community outreaches. You don’t need previous experience to get involved, making these projects perfect for anyone with an interest in volunteering.
The Winter Break Trips aren’t just an opportunity to give back. After a day of fulfilling work, volunteers can look forward to the cultural or leisure activities organized by local Projects Abroad staff and spending time with other volunteers. On the weekend, staff will organize a trip that will allow volunteers to experience the beauty of their surroundings and enjoy breathtaking views. Volunteers will also be able to celebrate the holidays and the New Year with fellow volunteers.
“Volunteering abroad is a growing trend among many people looking to give back and do something different. Unfortunately, finding the time to volunteer can be difficult, especially for working professionals,” says Terri Ball, a Program Advisor for Projects Abroad USA. “We are very excited to offer short-term projects during the winter holiday season, so everyone motivated to volunteer has the chance to travel abroad and contribute.”
Here are the Winter Break Trips that Projects Abroad has on offer this year:
Based in Cape Coast, the Medicine in Ghana project exposes volunteers to medical practices and treatments that are different to what they would see in North America. In a developing country, medical professionals are accustomed to working with very little resources and basic facilities, and volunteers can learn a great deal from them. In Ghana, volunteers will get involved with outreach work and observation at a local clinic. Outreach work takes place in impoverished communities, leprosy camps, and orphanages, where volunteers find themselves doing more hands-on work like dressing wounds, carrying out health checks, giving malaria tests, and giving presentations on common health issues.
This project is ideal for pre-med students building a resume for medical school or those studying health care fields such as nursing and community health who want to volunteer in Africa.
This project focuses on helping Ghanaian children in daycare centers and orphanages. Every day, volunteers will spend their morning caring for and playing with the kids, giving them much-needed individual attention. In the afternoons, volunteers participate in renovation and decorating work – by putting in a new floor or painting a mural on a neglected wall, you will be making an invaluable and lasting contribution to the placement. All you need to get involved is a willingness to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged kids.
Volunteers with an interest in medicine can travel to the city of Jaipur to devote their time to observing doctors and nurses in a variety of medical institutions. Volunteers gain a unique insight into medical practices in the developing world and the doctors they shadow will be eager to share their knowledge. Projects Abroad encourages volunteers to make the most of their time and to be proactive, ask questions, and take notes. During the two-week trip, volunteers also have the chance to visit a placement that carries out 5,000 year old traditional Ayurvedic medical treatments. This is a great placement for pre-med students putting together a resume for medical school, but it also suitable for volunteers with no medical experience but who have a strong interest in the field.
This project is designed for volunteers to have a significant impact on the lives of disadvantaged children in Jaipur, India. Volunteers are based in a local care center or orphanage and they take on an important role in these placements by getting the children involved in educational activities, creative activities, and out-door games, as well as helping the kids with their English. They also get involved in some practical work at the placement, like refurbishing a play area or painting a mural. You don’t need any experience to participate, as long as you have a passion for helping others.
If you would like to learn more about Projects Abroad’s Winter Break Trips and how you can get involved, please visit www.projects-abroad.org/volunteer-projects/winter-break-trips.
Projects Abroad was founded in 1992 by Dr. Peter Slowe, a geography professor, as a program for students to travel and work while on break from full-time study. The program had its genesis in post-USSR Romania, where students were given the chance to teach conversational English. After a few years just sending volunteers to Eastern Europe for teaching, the company expanded to sending volunteers of all ages around the world on a wide range of projects.
Projects Abroad is a global leader in short-term international volunteer programs with projects in 29 countries and recruitment offices in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Holland, Hong Kong, Norway, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and the United States.
For details on volunteering abroad, visit Projects Abroad’s web site at www.projects-abroad.org
Remember to “join the cavalry” by subscribing to Devin’s content here.
