Medical volunteer project St Lucia South Africa Volunteer Africa Gap year Career Break

ST LUCIA MEDICAL AND HIV/AIDS AWARENESS PROJECT
ST LUCIA - SOUTH AFRICA

This project is based in the amazing setting of the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park – recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and offers volunteers the opportunity to gain a unique insight into medicine in rural South Africa, and make a real impact on the local community.

Location:

ST LUCIA - SOUTH AFRICA

Dates:

Any date throughout the year.

Fees:

£895 - 2 weeks

£1,345 - 4 weeks

Payment:

£180 deposit at time of booking – balance of project fee due 8 weeks before departure

Reference:

AV027

General Information

St Lucia is to be found in the iSimagaliso Wetland Park, previously known as the Greater St Lucia Westland Park. It is a truly beautiful area, home to the lively and colourful Zulu tribe, and is often referred to as Africa’s premier bush-and-beach destination. Volunteers are offered the opportunity to work with the nurses in the small rural clinic which supports about 20,000 Zulu people who live in communities around St Lucia. The clinics lack resources and the help provided by volunteers is greatly valued.

Volunteers will spend the mornings at the medical clinic or accompanying a Home Carer out into the villages, helping sick people in their own homes. The clinic is often busy as it is the first point of help for many local people, and the nurses work very hard. Volunteers will not be required to make decisions about treatments but can help by reducing the nursing workload by helping with basic medical tasks. Areas in which volunteers may be involved include:

Under fives clinic
Family Planning and antenatal clinics
Chronic clinic
Minor ailments

Volunteers may also offer help to the local nurses by teaching basic computer skills which will improve data collection and statistic recording.

Visits with the Home Carers may include helping around the patients’ home, providing food, ensuring medication is being taken – and sometimes just cheering them up by having visitors.

Community Development Projects

Volunteers will spend their afternoons helping out in the local community, some examples of which are:

HIV/AIDS Awareness

Many South Africans still believe that this virus is a result of witchcraft and those infected are often rejected by their own communities and even families. As a result, many people suffering from the virus do not admit to it. Very few of the local people know how to prevent becoming infected and even fewer know how to deal with the virus once they have it. Volunteers will, during their time in South Africa, meet with groups of adults and children in the local community to –

Explain what the virus is and how it affects the human body, using a method approved by the United Nations
Provide education as to how the virus is transmitted and how this can be prevented
Give explanations on how life for those with the virus can be extended using medication, and better food and lifestyle
Become involved in a local support group where people come to discuss their concerns and also make crafts for sale to provide an income

Clinic Refurbishment

The run-down clinic, which sees more than 100 patients every day, badly needs a makeover. Volunteers will have the opportunity to help the local people to mend roofs and windows, improve drainage, paint walls, put up shelves and storage units as well as building new walls and creating new rooms.

Farming

Growing their own vegetables will help the community to improve nutrition, especially for the sick, the elderly and the growing children. Volunteers will help with this important work.

Weekend Highlights

Although these are not included in the fees paid, the local project managers will be happy to assist with any arrangements volunteers may wish to take part in eg trips along the garden route or to local game reserves.

Support

Support and advice is available from your Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi travel Team.

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all volunteers upon booking their placement and further advice and information will be provided by telephone and email before departure. A full orientation programme will be provided on arrival by the project manager and will include:

An introduction to the town of St Lucia and the surrounding area
An introduction to all projects in St Lucia
A basic language course – some basic words and sentences in Zulu, to help communication. In addition some advice on local culture will be given.
A detailed briefing from an experienced nurse on common diseases in the area, working methods in the clinic and Home Based Care – this will ensure that all volunteers are well prepared to start and work safely

Accommodation and Meals

All volunteers will stay at the large and comfortable project house in St Lucia. The house is fully furnished, with large lounge, satellite television, barbecue area, garden and swimming pool. The house is staffed with cooks and laundry and cleaning ladies. Bedrooms will be shared by four people and the project manager will be resident at the house to help with any questions or issues that may arise.

Three meals a day will be provided every day except for Sundays. Breakfast is on a self-serve basis and there are usually cereals/porridge, toast, tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner are full meals – cooked by one of the house chefs. On Sundays volunteers often take the opportunity to visit tourist locations and have lunch in town. The group will sometimes visit restaurants in St Lucia for their evening meal, and this should be budgeted for.

Getting There

The nearest airport to St Lucia is Richards Bay Airport, which is about forty minutes’ drive from St Lucia. Volunteers will be met at the airport by one of the project staff and transferred to the project. There are daily flights from Johannesburg Airport to Richards Bay.
There may be a number of ways to reach your destination airport – for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel.

Project Fees

What is included

A contribution to the project itself including funding for building materials and the medical clinic.
Transfer from Richards Bay Airport and St Lucia as outlined above and daily project transfers.
Orientation programme. "On-the-job" educational activities and support from volunteer coordinator and local staff.
Unlimited tea, coffee and water and Laundry and domestic services.
All accommodation including 3 meals a day.