Xela,Guatemala Projects
- Volunteer Guatemala Home
- Work in an Orphanage
- Street Children/Children at Risk
- Teaching English in Rural Schools
- Medical/Healthcare Hospitals
- Women's Project
- Volunteers' Pictures
- Volunteers' Reviews
- Guatemala Accommodation
- Guatemala Free Time
Volunteer programs in Xela are currently unavailable.
Medical Volunteer Guatemala
Would you like to gain medical experience volunteering in impoverished communities in Guatemala? Have you ever dreamt of experiencing the rich Guatemalan culture and natural scenery while working with underprivileged communities? Then this Medical Volunteer Guatemala project is right up your alley.
Guatemala is a stunning country filled with outstanding scenery and sights like the Tikal ruins and El Boqueron Canyon as well volcanoes both dormant and active. It also has
a deep history of Mayan culture, delicious cuisine and unique dress inspired by its rich Mayan heritage.
Unfortunately, many people in Guatemala, especially in rural and poor areas, have inadequate access to healthcare. While healthcare facilities are working hard to stay up to date with modern medicine, many disadvantaged Guatemalans are left by the wayside as they lack access to these incredible advances.
As a medical volunteer in Guatemala, you will work in public and community hospitals as an assistant to the doctor. You will learn from observing real-life cases and provide much needed help to patients struggling to navigate an underfunded healthcare system. This will give you invaluable experience in the medical field that will greatly benefit you in the future.
Are you interested in gaining huge amounts of practical medical experience while also making a difference and traveling? Then contact IFRE today for more information!
Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.
Volunteer Responsibilities & Impact
Your tasks and responsibilities as a medical volunteer in Guatemala will depend on your education, skills and experience as well as the needs of the community. You will mainly be shadowing local doctors and nurses, learning from them and assisting them with various tasks.
You will not be performing any major surgeries or diagnostic work, but rather work closely with the local doctors and perform tasks such as collecting patient information and measurements, providing counseling, treating minor wounds and injuries and other various tasks.
Your efforts will be rewarded with significant opportunities for learning and gaining hands-on medical experience. In addition, you will be making a huge difference by providing relief to the local doctors and helping disadvantaged Guatemalans receive the care they desperately need.
Skills and Qualifications:
To join our Guatemala volunteer medical / health care program you need to have some healthcare experience or training in the medical field. If you are a nurse, doctor, or a medical student with love and passion for helping disadvantaged people then you are perfect for our medical programs. Whether you are a student, professional, or retiree, there is a vital role within our healthcare program for you.
Each day in this medical project will be fun and rewarding as you use your training to help those in need and learn a great deal in the process.
When you arrive in Guatemala, our local staff will pick you at the airport and transport you to your comfortable accommodation with your host family. The next morning, our local staff gives you an orientation about the country, safety, the project, rules and regulations, etc.
After orientation, you will be taken to your respective project and be introduced to the local staff. There is not a fixed daily schedule as volunteering works vary day by day. However, here is a sample of your daily schedule:
First Day: On your first day of volunteering in Guatemala, you will be broughtto your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement’s local staff members that you will be working with.
Weekdays: Your medical responsibilities start on the second day, and everyday will be different with new challenges and lessons.
7.00 to 7.30 AM: Guatemalan breakfast is served, consisting of delicious and local home-cooked meals that are enjoyed together with the family.
7.45 AM: It’s time to head out for a bright and rewarding day.
12.00 PM: At noon you will break for lunch and share a local Guatemalan meal with your new colleagues.
3.00 PM: Its time to conclude for the day. You have the rest of the afternoon to travel home, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and discover nearby areas.
6.45 PM: Time for a family dinner shared with your host family as you discuss what happened during the day.
Medical Volunteer Guatemala Dates and Fees
Program Dates
IFRE programs begin every Monday year-round. If you have travel constraints, you can still start your chosen program on any day of the year.
Our Fees
Since 2006, IFRE has been the most trusted and respected volunteer abroad organization in the world, and also the most affordable. We’re dedicated to providing the highest quality volunteer programs at the lowest fees, which make it possible for everyone, especially students, to volunteer internationally and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
We believe in 100% transparency. Rest assured, we never use middlemen. Your one-time registration fee of $299 covers our administrative costs. The low weekly fee is paid in the host country directly to your host family and project (via country coordinator), and includes housing, food, and minor expenses. IFRE is a non-profit organization, so your program fees are tax deductible.
Volunteer Program Fee (US$)
| Weeks | Medical project |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $145 |
| 2 Weeks | $290 |
| 3 Weeks | $435 |
| 4 Weeks | $580 |
| 5 Weeks | $725 |
| 6 Weeks | $870 |
| 7 Weeks | $1,015 |
| 8 Weeks | $1,160 |
| 9 Weeks | $1,305 |
| 10 Weeks | $1,450 |
| 11 Weeks | $1,595 |
| 12 Weeks | $1,740 |
Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day »
Airport Pick up and Transfer to Xela from Guatemala City- $40 to $80 (depending on type of accommodation)
Spanish Classes: (Monday-Friday) 2 hours a day: $50/ week
Program Fees Cover:
- Accommodation (host family)
- Food (local food 3 times a day)
- Program Orientation
- In-country support
- Personalized project
- Pre-departure information
- Certificate of completion
- Fundraising ideas and letters
- Discount for returning volunteers
Program Fees Exclude:
- Visas
- Airfare
- Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
- Daily transportation
- Airport return transfer
The volunteering programs in Xela, Guatemala fees will cover expenses that will begin on the first day of the program (usually the first or third Monday of the month) to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program or you decide you stay beyond your program’s last day, you will be responsible for the additional expenses, which would typically be around $30 a day for room and meals at a hostel.
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Accommodation and Meal
When you join medical volunteering program in Guatemala, you will be living in a respectable and loving host family. They are esteemed members of the community with years of experience hosting international volunteers. Their home is modern with electricity and running water in addition to comfortable bedrooms. The family will welcome you to their home and immerse you in their culture. In addition, they will provide you with three home-cooked meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) each day.
Read more about your accommodation and meals you can expect while in Xela, Guatemala.
For more readings:
Host family
12 tips to enhance cultural experience in host families
Free Time and Weekend Exploration
When you join medical volunteering in Guatemala, there will be plenty of time for you to travel. You will only volunteer 4-5 hours a day, Monday through Friday. The rest of the time will be free to explore the local area and discover all it has to offer. During the weekend, you will have both Saturday and Sunday to go for long trips around the small country.
Learn more about amazing places you can visit while volunteering in Guatemala.
Safety and in Country Support
IFRE ensures that you are safe and secure while in Guatemala. You can expect full support from our local coordinator who is available 24/7 should you need anything. Your host family will also provide you a comfortable and secure home for you to live in throughout your stay in Guatemala. Every year IFRE reevaluates our projects to guarantee you a safe and secure environment.
Read more about our extensive safety measures while in Guatemala.
Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.
Medical Volunteering Guatemala: FAQs
Arrival and departure
When participating in our program, you should arrive at Aurora International Airport, Xela, Guatemala one day prior to the start of the project. Please provide us with your flight itinerary as soon as possible so that we can arrange your airport pick-up. In the case of any delays or missed flights, let us know so that we can reschedule.
We do not provide transportation back to the airport at the end of your project, but your host family or in-country coordinator will be happy to help you arrange this.
Visa
You will need a tourist visa to join one of our volunteer projects in Guatemala, which should be arranged well in advance of your trip. However, a Guatemalan visa is not required for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK for a stay up to 90 days, provided you have a passport valid for at least six months. Please visit the Guatemalan Immigration website for more details.
Vaccination
You should research what vaccines you need when traveling to Guatemala and consult with your doctor. You can also find the information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Health Canada or in Travelers' Health United Kingdom. We highly recommend that you take all the required vaccinations before heading to Guatemala tovolunteer in our program. Some of the required vaccines are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Any important information you want to share about this project.
- At least intermediate Spanish is required in this project.
- You should dress appropriately in scrubs or a lab coat.
- Because this is a medical project and it involves a lot of responsibility, you will not be expected to work directly with patients outside of observing.
- It is important for you to be flexible and proactive in assisting with varying tasks around your assigned healthcare center, which may occasionally include administrative assistance as well.
Why Medical Volunteer Guatemala?
Volunteering with healthcare in Guatemala is an excellent chance to gain valuable hands-on experience in the real world while also making a huge difference and immersing yourself in the rich culture of the country.
Contribute to ensure the health of the underprivileged
Volunteering in Guatemala in the Medical program is anexceptional chance to help underprivileged people who need medical assistance. Your support and treatment will allow people to lead a better life.
An opportunity to learn and work alongside medical experts
Our Guatemala medical program is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn directly from experienced doctors and medical professionals. You get to hone your medical skills in real world situations adding experience to your existing knowledge.
Provides you with a feeling of satisfactory accomplishment
Taking part in this Guatemala medical volunteer program to provide medical aid is an opportunity for you to treat the people in need. They are deprived of fundamental medical aid and usually don’t have enough funds to get treatment. By treating them voluntarily it gives you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Get to know about the Health System of Guatemala
You will get the rare chance to immerse yourself in a different health treatment system that exists in Guatemala. This proves to be an eye-opening experience that will boost your medical experience. Your acquired experience will give you an idea ofthe wide gap that exists in the medical field around the world.
Nurture the health of people in the rural areas of Guatemala
Due to widespread poverty Guatemalans face huge problems in getting adequate treatment for simple diseases and illnesses. They often fall prey to treatable disease due to lack of medical awareness and accessibility. Your contribution will increase their chances of survival and healthy living to a great extent.
Other Volunteering Opportunities in Xela, Guatemala
If you lack the medical background to participate in this project, don’t worry! You can also
Support street children in need,
Help empower girls and young women and much more.
Contact IFRE today to find the perfect project for you!
Other Medical Volunteering Opportunities Worldwide
There is a dire lack of access to proper healthcare for a huge part of the world’s population. To help solve this problem, IFRE arranges medical volunteer projects all over the world, with the most popular of them listed below:
- Cambodia - Health/Medical Project
- India - Medical/Health Project
- Nepal - Work in Health Project
- Sri Lanka - Medical Volunteer
- Thailand (Surin) - Medical Project
- Ghana - Health Projects
- Kenya - Work in Health Project
- South Africa - Health Projects
- Tanzania - Health Projects
- Uganda - Health Projects
- Argentina - Medical Project
- Costa Rica (Cortes) - Healthcare
- Costa rica (San Jose) - Healthcare
- Guatemala (Antigua) - Volunteer in Healthcare
- Peru - Medical/Healthcare Project
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