International Health Program in Thailand

  Thailand

• Bangkok: 
Bangkok

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: Monthly Start Dates beginning Summer 2009

Description: Learn about the Thai health care system by engaging with Thai health professionals in the field!

The Thailand International Health Program gives volunteers a unique insight into the many facets of the Thai healthcare system including hospital organization, structure and administration. A minimum six-week commitment is required for the International Health Program.

Program participants spend the first two weeks teaching of their program preparing for their cultural immersion by participating in community development projects that focus on either HIV/AIDS education and prevention or teaching English.

The second part of the program places volunteers at local hospitals around Thailand. Here, volunteers will have the opportunity to shadow Thai doctors and nurses while observing examinations, surgeries, births, and the treatment of tropical diseases.
The International Health Program provides a unique educational and observational opportunity.

Long-term International Health Programs of nine-weeks or more are available for those seeking to either fulfill academic requirements, or to gain deeper knowledge and understanding health issues in emerging nations.

GSC is in the process of evaluating its HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Program in order better to serve the community and provide a mutually beneficial experience for volunteers. This program is scheduled to launch in Summer of 2009. Please check back with GSC early in 2009 for more details.

Highlights: Accommodation: Volunteers experience true cultural immersion by living with a local Thai family or health professionals. GSC places volunteers with hosts who enjoy learning about other cultures and appreciate the unique opportunity that hosting an international volunteer gives to their family. Host families have been carefully chosen by GSC and our partners, and many have hosted volunteers over the course of several years. Whether you are learning different patient techniques, or sharing a spicy som tam (papaya salad) with your new Thai family, your experience with GSC hosts will provide memories and friendships lasting a lifetime.

Thai Partners: The experience of GSC volunteers is greatly enhanced by their daily interaction with local counterparts, whether a nurse at a hospital, a teacher at a school, or an English-speaking monk, Volunteers and their Thai partners build mutually beneficial and often long lasting bonds of friendship. Local partners assist Volunteers with obtaining local transportation, finding the best local restaurants, learning local language phrases, meeting community leaders, and giving tips about and often participating in social activities. Counterparts play a vital role in providing a true cultural immersion experience while helping to insure that the volunteers' interaction with and service to the community is appropriate and effective.

Cultural Orientation and Technical Training: All Thailand Service-Learning programs include in-depth cultural orientation including trips to important Thai temples and sites, Thai language training, as well as how to use a river boat taxi like a local. Volunteers also receive technical training on relevant to their program including the basics of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), etiology of disease and how to conduct both engaging classes and workshops.

Qualifications: Must be a student or professional in a health related field, such as nursing, public health, medicine, etc.

Cost in US$: Programs start at $4,914 for 9 weeks

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteers are either students of or professional in the health or health sciences fields.

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Thailand Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 2-5

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Year Founded: 1992