Country
Category
Health
Starting period
Year-round arrival on Saturdays or Sundays
Minimum length of stay
2 weeks
Number of people
1-4 students
Study fields
Psychology, Public Health, Health care, Medicine, Medical, Nursing, Social work, Occupational therapy
Country
Category
Health
Starting period
Year-round arrival on Saturdays or Sundays
Minimum length of stay
2 weeks
Number of people
1-4 students
Study fields
Psychology, Public Health, Health care, Medicine, Medical, Nursing, Social work, Occupational therapy
Psychology Community Outreach project, Tanzania
Our hosting partner Medical Internship & Volunteer Organization (MIVO) was registered in the UK in 2014, but all the projects are based in and around Arusha, Tanzania. A multidisciplinary team of Clinical Psychiatrists, Psychologist, Physiotherapist and nurses provide psychiatric and wellness services at a health centre in Arusha. The team conduct the majority of their services within the community, during home visits in patients homes or in recovery centres based in the community. Additionally, they conduct a large amount of educational and awareness training, workshops, campaigns and radio shows promoting mental health services and encouraging the public to become more informed about mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding seeking psychiatric treatment.
MIVO specialises in bespoke volunteer programs for healthcare professionals and individuals passionate about making a real difference. They aim to facilitate volunteering/intern experiences in Tanzanian healthcare facilities and within the community to create the opportunity for individuals from different countries to learn, share knowledge of best practice, discuss areas of mutual concern and exchange ideas.
The Problem:
There is huge stigma surrounding mental illness in Tanzania, particularly when dealing with ailments or complaints that cannot be easily identified or understood. This oftentimes delays people seeking treatment or support which can have severe and destructive life outcomes. Because of this, the majority of the work needed to be done in reaching people that need help is in the community and through bold awareness campaigns countering stigma. Many people will not make it to the few mental health treatment facilities scattered around the region.
Culture also has a huge role to play in supporting the community in creating mental wellness. Traditional and religious beliefs provide a powerful backdrop on how mental health is understood and navigated in communities. Beliefs can also play into health seeking behaviours, where people may seek out religious leaders and/or traditional practitioners for help and understanding before seeking psychiatric or medical diagnosis and treatment. A large proportion of the population still attribute supernatural reasoning for mental health issues, lessening the amount of people readily seeking psychiatric treatment or western based psychological treatment support.
The Patients
The team receives patients at their treatment facility, but conducts a large proportion of their work on home visits and within the surrounding community.
The patients have a varying scope of mental health complaints or presentations most commonly:
- Depression and suicidal ideation
- Bipolar Disorder
- Substance induced psychosis
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Schizophrenia
The lead Clinical Psychiatrist will offer identification of the patients individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment based on the patient reports, history and assessment of any other contributing reports or factors.
What they do:
- Psychiatric assessments, diagnosis, treatment
- Treatment through psychopharmaceuticals: medication administration
- Treatment through talk therapy using the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy model
- Intensive family therapy and family counselling sessions
- Addiction support: Drug and alcohol addiction support at recovery and sober living houses
- Referrals for severely ill patients for in-patient treatment
- Suicide prevention and awareness
- Education and awareness around depression
- Trauma support and treatment through intensive treatment
- Community and home visits
Vacancy requirements
- Fully Self-funded, however we do encourage fundraising or crowdfunding
- For Students: 2nd year + Undergraduate University Student:
- For experienced interns: 6 months + experience for professional candidates from related professional backgrounds
- Background in mental health work, counselling, psychiatry, social work, occupational therapy, addiction and rehabilitation, community mental health, nursing, medicine.
- Self-direction when situations appear unclear/unambiguous
- Entering environments where local customs, safety awareness and local regulations should respected
- Acceptance and understanding of strong cultural differences
- Situations or scenarios that can feel overwhelming or unmanageable
- Lack of basic resources; funding, equipment and additional staffing
- Working in rural settings with no modern conveniences
- Long distance travel (risk assessed as: safe)
Stories
124 reviews with an average rating of 4.7 / 5.
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frequently asked questions
Why should I choose for Let’s Go Africa (LGA)?
- Derived out of passion of Noor & Roel, who both have Africa experience since 2006 with development work, studying, travelling and living in several countries.
- LGA personally visited and screened all countries and partner organizations
- Small scale; no extra office or personnel costs, focus on personal experience
- Cheaper than almost all other organizations in same countries (outcomes from independent research on service and accommodation costs)
- Professional vacancies and customized project descriptions derived from local needs striving towards sustainable impact
What is included in the LGA service package?
- Individual project description according all criteria (personal, study and partner organization)
- Let’s Go Africa information brochure
- Preparation and safety meeting for your specific destination
- Organisation of accommodation and transport advice
- Visa, vaccinations, insurance, passport and flight booking assistance
- Airport pick up & introduction program
- Free Police Clearance Certificate application (PCC in Dutch; VOG)
- Professional supervision and local guidance
- Constant fast and direct communication with your contact person
- Informal feedback session when back home
- Let’s Go Africa certificate of participation
Can I also do my Minor in Africa instead of internship/volunteer work?
Yes, many different Minor and research projects are possible.
Do you offer travel service and how does that work?
Yes, for our destinations in Africa we offer fully organized tours and customized travel services based on personal experience. On the Home page under destinations, you can click on the countries where all unique travel options are described.
Do you have travel and volunteer combinations?
In our different program countries in Africa we have challenging combination packages. Please contact us.
What is Travel 4 Charity?
Travel 4 Charity is a unique concept where you always support a local partner organization financially. T4C can provide a fully organized travel experience or your trip completely customized. Optionally, you can experience the development work organization up close, see where your support ends up and even collaborate there.
How much of my trip goes to charity and to whom?
Minimum 10% of LGA service package costs. Check the country pages for each trip to see which partner organization we support.
Is there always money going to charity via T4C?
Absolutely! The support for T4C charities is a guarantee for every trip regardless of XMS participation and concerns at least 10% of LGA service package costs.
Can I combine different projects?
Please send us your preference because we have many opportunities!
I am graduated/retired or having a sabbatical, can I do a LGA project?
Absolutely! People with experience are very valuable at our projects.
Can we also go in pairs or with groups?
Definitely, it is even recommendable to share the experience.
Do I have to be Dutch to participate?
No, everybody wanting to go to Africa is welcome to contact us.
What is the minimum age to participate?
18 years old. However we sometimes make exceptions depending on the situation and guidance of an adult.
Does LGA assist with organizing flights/visa?
Yes, of course we assist with the cheapest options and easiest procedures.
What is the cancellation policy of LGA?
- Registration costs and down payments costs are non-refundable at all times.
- Reimbursement of 50% of the remaining LGA mediation package costs and the full accommodation/tour costs minus €145 cancellation fee by cancellation minimum 60 days before departure by the specific LGA intern/volunteer/traveller, when one of the following cancellation reasons apply:
- Disease or injury by accident, of that nature that the physical and/or mental state of the person is medically indicated not being able to travel and participate.
- Severe disease/injury by accident or diseased 1st or second degree family member of the participant. There must be a serious health concern where the life of the person is in serious danger.
- Cancellation with any other than the above mentioned reasons or within 60 days of departure, gives in no way the right for a refund of service package and/or accommodation costs paid to LGA or there partners.
- Is it possible I will not pass the screening of LGA or their local partner in Africa?
- Yes, if LGA or our partner organization decides you are not suitable, then we can decide not to continue the procedure. In that case you will have no right of a refund of the registration costs.
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Challenge yourself by temporarily leaving your comfort zone
Make a difference via a local need-based project description
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