Volunteering in Nepal Kathmandu

1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Nepal Kathmandu, what program(s) are you doing and why?

Why Nepal: I have previously traveled to Nepal and saw the great need the country was in. I really enjoyed being in Nepal and thought I would definitely be back.

What program: Dental Programme

Why this program: As a nearly qualified dentist, I was curious about dentistry in other countries and wanted to experience a different side of dentistry. I also wanted to help at the need community with the skills I had.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program? 

Program: The challenges the dentists take on at the hospital some of these cases are complicated but there is no other option but to take on the case.

Host Family: To see how similar the host family is to my own family in terms of culture. My family is from West Bengal, India.

Country: The lack of infrastructure outside of the main tourist areas.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program? 

Program: Communication barriers between the patient and me. It was difficult to get an accurate history even with someone translating for me.

Host Family: Everything was smooth. No difficulties.

Country: The bumpy road to and from the hospital.

Go Abroad To Nepal

4. Any tips for future volunteers….

Clothing: Bring easy to wash and quick dry clothing.

Sightseeing: Don’t try and see everything. Take things slowly. Nepal has little infrastructure and it is difficult and tiring to get to and from places quickly.

Donations: Sponsor a child here if you can!

Laundry/internet: Learn how to hand wash. Buy a sim card of data is a live saver when trying to find the places.

5. Other things volunteers should know about: 

a.- City/town: Getting around town and using the public transport system is difficult.

b.- Weather: Winter time is colder than it seems. The houses have no insulation.

c.- Local People: Very friendly and always willing to help.

d.- Tours: Can’t comment as did not do any tours.

Gap Year Nepal

6. Personal Paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible: 

The ABV experience is more than just the “Dental Volunteering” you sign up for. You are exposed to an honest view of the country that you would fail to me if you were on the standard tourist trail. Personally, I found this experience humbling and it has motivated me to make charitable work a significant part of any life. I look forward to being back in Nepal sometime soon.

7. How would you describe your: 

Accommodation: Comfortable. Had all the necessities and fast internet.

Meals (favorite): Simple Nepali dishes are easy to digest and delicious.

Security: Keep all your belongings close to you. Try and not take a bag if you are using public transport.

Host family: Lovely people. All my needs were met.

8. What was your memory of this trip? 

Program: Meeting all the dentists at the hospital. Have made some friends for life and will definitely be visiting them in the future.

Host Family: Learnt a lot about the Nepali way of life from the Host Family.

Country: Nepal has many issues but it is on the way to solving them.

Volunteer Nepal

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country? Be as detailed as possible.

Airport: Picked up from the hotel on time. Taxied to host family’s home.

Orientation day: Detailed all the information required for an enjoyable and safe stay.

Daily Support: Supported me for everything I wanted to do plus give me valuable suggestions. Helped to organize many extra activities I wanted to do.

10. How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers?  

Very detailed information given via email.

11. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience? 

Yes

More Reviews and Reviews (Nov ’17 onward)

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 Volunteer Peru

1.- Whats was a daily schedule at the program, hours volunteered?

My experience was a bit unique in that I was able to have two very different volunteer opportunities. In the mornings, I worked at the hospital dental clinic from 8:30-12:30. Here we did a lot of basic treatments and emergency treatments for lower income citizens of Peru (including extractions, restorations, and exams.) In the afternoons, from 3:00-6:00, I volunteered with a local dentist at his private office. Here I saw a large range of patients, from lower to middle class. This office was fully equipped and I saw a lot of endodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and preventative care.

2.- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

Host Family: Maria Elena was incredibly welcoming and accommodating from the moment she picked me up. So much that she told me every single day she was happy because I was happy.

Program: There are so many volunteers! In the short time that I’ve been here, one volunteer returned home, and 5 more arrived. I have loved getting to know the other volunteers, it’s such a joy to share stories.

Country: I was honestly surprised at how things are similar to the USA. I think I expected things to be more different. I also have been pleasantly surprised at how incredible the people are. I have felt more welcome here than in many US cities.

As far as the dentistry, I was incredibly surprised at how popular it is. There are dentists everywhere!

3.- What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

Host Family: Nothing. The food was amazing, shower was warm, and felt like I really did have family here.

Volunteer Program: There was a strike going on during my time in Cusco, meaning some of the volunteer locations did not have much work. I was grateful to get permission to work in the clinic even though many of the medical doctors were on strike. Some days were slow at the clinic, so I wasn’t always sure I was needed in the clinic.

Country: Language. Many people do not speak English. Both work settings were 100% Spanish. I came seeking out an immersion-type environment. Nonetheless, it was challenging and quite exhausting some days.

4.- Any tips for future volunteers… (clothing, travel, personal items, donations, money, internet)

Practice your Spanish, a lot. Volunteering in a place like Cusco is not about getting volunteer hours in or making ourselves feel good. It’s about helping those that need help the most. For those volunteering in healthcare, you need to be able to understand their pains, concerns, and questions.

The hospital is also in great need of equipment. Gloves, masks, sterilization bags, hand sanitizer, disinfection systems, etc. Make sure to bring your own scrubs, clinic jacket, and safety glasses.

If you are coming during July-September, it’s winter! Nights and mornings are quite chilly, but the sun is very warm during the day, so be sure to bring layers.

Volunteer Dental

5.- Other things volunteers should know before coming here (besides Spanish):

Host Family: Don’t be worried. Maria Elena is amazing if you get the pleasure of staying with her. She is 1 of 2 local ABV coordinators. However, I had the opportunity to meet another host family and they were equally as amazing. No matter who you are with, you will leave with a second family.

Volunteer Program: Keep an open mind. Realize you may not make any tangible changes. It is much more likely that the experience will change you.

Country: Do a bit of research. Know what kind of a country you’re coming to. I expected things in Peru to be much less developed, and I was quite surprised. Things are definitely different. But to me, the simplicity of Peru is quite beautiful.

6.- Personal Paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

I came to Peru not having many expectations other than to put myself in a new situation, explore a new part of the world, and improve my Spanish. Although I didn’t think I came with many expectations, ABV somehow managed to exceed them all. I was unsure of my opinions towards international volunteering, but I wanted a firsthand experience to regally be able to take a stance. All in all, volunteering is a good thing. In some cases, yes, people need supplies or equipment more than helping hands.

But A Broader View does a good job of reassuring volunteers that they are unlikely to make any tangible changes. It encourages us volunteers to keep an open mind, and to let the experience change us, rather than expect ourselves to change the world. I think this is important. I feel like I truly am leaving this experience with a broader view of the world. And I plan to embrace this change and use it to influence my future career in dentistry in the best ways possible.

7.- How would you describe your accommodation: meals, security, friendliness, quality others:

Meals: So good. Lots of soup. Great home-cooked food.

Security: City is quite safe. Always lots of people around. I was giving keys to the house, and a separate key for my room.

friendliness: everyone here is incredibly friendly.

7.1.- Score the following from 1 to 10:

Quality of meals: 10

Quantity of each meal: 10

How clean was the house: 10

How safe was the house: 10

8.- Whats was a daily schedule at the program, hours volunteered, activities you did?

7:30 Breakfast

8:15 Walk to work

8:30-12:30 Work in hospital dental clinic

12:30 Walk home

12:45-2:45 Lunch, siesta

2:45 Walk to work

3:00-6:00 Work at dental office

6:00 Walk home

6:30-7:30 Dinner

9.- What was your favorite memory of this trip?:

Accommodation: My surprise goodbye lunch, complete with fancy plates, a flower, special drinks, authentic Peruvian cuisine, and dessert.

Volunteer Program: Getting to experience so much dentistry and getting to meet and talk with the other volunteers.

Country: I came a week early to do The Quarry Trek. It was such an incredible experience to be up in the mountains and villages, and to learn so much of the history of this region.

10.- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling? Emails, chat online, calls, volunteer guide:

Very quick to respond to all of my emails. I had many questions, trip modifications, insurance changes, etc, and they handled it all very quickly and professionally.

11.- What do you think about the reservation system online?
Very well organized. I appreciated all of the reminders.

12.- Who did you find Abroaderview website?

American Dental Association International Volunteering web page

13.- Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Yes

Volunteer Honduras

1.-How was the local ABV Coordinator and the support provided in-country?

The support was excellent and the Coordinator was perfect. We always felt safe and knew what we were doing 

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

At the program: How well equipped they were and how eager they were to teach us and also let us do procedures ourselves

At the accommodation: It was very comfortable and spacious and clean, we were always made to feel at home

 About the country: how safe I felt and the kindness and friendliness of the people

3- What was most difficult to experience?

At the program: The language barrier with patients but this was overcome with a translator 

At the accommodation: the diet, which was mainly carbs and lacked vegetables – I told my coordinator this though and I was quickly provided with vegetables everyday!

The country: the poverty seen and the language barrier

4- Any tips for future volunteers…

Clothing Dress lightly!! No need for jumpers, only bring loose clothes and sandals and running shoes for the clinic.

Donations: Bring as many as you can, although they were well stocked in all the clinics  

Weather:  the heat is unbearable. Bring lots of sunscreen and deodorant 

4.1-Other things volunteers should know:

a.- Honduras is a very safe and welcoming place. I was initially very scared to come to La Ceiba but if you are careful you will be fine.

b.- You will learn a lot from the dentists at the clinics- they move at a very fast pace but are always so helpful and will always help you if you get stuck. Infection prevention and contamination is not anywhere near as thorough as the West, you just have to get used to it!

c.- good wifi generally

d.- prepare for the heat and bring cash to exchange!

Volunteer Dental

5- Personal Paragraph (ABV Program Testimonial), don’t leave blank:

I really really enjoyed my ABV experience in La Ceiba. The clinics were well run and busy, the people were beyond helpful and friendly and the host family was perfect. We were always made to feel very welcome and safe and always made to feel as if we were helping while learning.  I would recommend La Ceiba to everyone.  

6- How would you describe your accommodation, meals and security:

My accommodation was great and comfortable. I had my own room for the second week. The diet took some getting used to, definitely- it is not one rich in vegetables or nutrients but I expected that. Security was perfect, at the accommodation and at the clinic always.

7- What was your favorite memory of this trip?

Program: how busy we were and getting to know all the dentists and patients, who were so so nice and friendly and even bought us presents.

Country: the rich culture and the friendly people

8 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Yes

9 – Can you tell us how did you find or know about A Broader View?

I researched similar programs online

1- How was the local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country?

It was really good, Maria Elena was a great host mom, she was there at the airport as soon as I arrived and she helped me with anything I needed. She took me to my work the first day and to Spanish class and showed me around the town and the places to go. She was extremely helpful.

2- What was the most surprising thing you experienced?

Program: I was the only volunteer at the dental hospital, I was expecting there to be a few of us there.

Host Family: How good the food was and how welcoming and helpful everybody was towards me.

Country: The weather! During the day it gets pretty warm and at night it gets pretty cold. (in summer)

ABV: we have volunteers in different clinics and with different coordinators so no all volunteers get to met, some clinics only take 1-2 volunteers at a time.

3- What was the most challenging thing you experienced?

Program: I was the only volunteer at the hospital so it was very hard for me to talk to the doctors, since my Spanish was not the best. Buy the Spanish lessons online in your ABV account, so you can practice before traveling to Cusco.

Host Family: I did not have any challenges with the host family. Maria Elena was great!

Country: The language barrier! My Spanish was not as good as I thought so it was very hard for me to communicate/understand others.

4- Any tips for future volunteers… (clothing, travel, personal items, donations)

If you are going during the summer, bring short sleeve t-shirts for the day because it gets warm!

When bringing US$ dollars, make sure there are no tears in it because they will not accept it when trying to convert it to soles, bring new bills.

5- Other things volunteers should know before coming here:

a. The orientation guide covered everything, I don’t think there is anything else that needs to be added.

6- Personal Paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

I think this was a great experience/opportunity for me. I worked at the dental hospital and it was great to see how different they treat their patients and the different accommodation they have to make. Living at Maria Elena´s was very nice, everything thing here was amazing. She had hot water, wifi and the meals were great! I think if you have the chance you should defiantly come abroad, it’s an experience you’ll never forget!

7- How would you describe your accommodation, meals, security, friendliness, quality others:

Maria Elena’s house was a great place! She had hot water in the showers, wifi, and you could watch tv (Netflix) in the living room. The meals were great, I was not expecting them to be as good as they were. The house/neighborhood felt very secure and everybody I met was extremely nice.

8- What was your favorite memory of this trip?:

Program: Getting to go to the children’s daycare and put fluoride in their mouth, it was great to be able to interact with the kids and help them with their hygiene.

Host Family: Maria Elena had a dance teacher come to her house one night and we all got to learn how to dance!

Country: Machu Picchu, it was by far the prettiest thing Ive ever seen. Once we got to the top it was breath taking.

9- How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

The help with the ABV support was great, whenever I had questions I asked them online and they were always able to help me right away with my problems.

9.1- Who did you find Abroaderview website

My friend went through abroaderview the summer before me and also worked at the dental clinic and said he enjoyed it so he was my reference.

10 – Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?

Yes, I would be willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers

Volunteer Programs in Cusco:

Medical / Healthcare

Premedical / Predental