HOSPITAL WORK
4 week rotation specifically designed for pre-med and medical students to learn firsthand about the challenges of medicine in a developing country. Participants will spend half days rotating in local rural public hospitals and private clinics in all basic fields including emergency medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, general surgery, and dentistry. Specific experiences are appropriate to level and include rounding with the staff, taking history/physicals, improving differential and diagnostic skills, assisting in emergency care, scrubbing in surgical cases, and a final case presentation
NON-HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER SIGHTS
For the Spanish Immersion groups we offer hands on volunteer opportunities:
1.Esperanza para todos: A local foundation started by mothers of special-needs/handicapped children incluing Down's Syndrome, genetic disorders, mental retardation, and many other conditions. The children receive physical therapy, speech therapy, stimulation with educational games and activities, feeding, and one-on-one attention and love. Volunteering students help in all aspects of day to day care.
2. Arte del mundo (http://www.artedelmundoecuador.com): A program dedicated to improving the overall literacy/reading skills of Ecuadorian children. Volunteers from all over the world come to work with the children. Daily programs include art projects, English classes at all levels, and a small library with dedicated reading time.
SPANISH CLASSES
Programs consist of 4 weeks of Spanish classes and are 3-hour sessions daily. Classes are in small interactive groups of 2-4 students with licensed professors and focus on vocabulary, grammar, conversation, and medical Spanish for students participating in the medical programs. Students will complete a total of 48 credit hours. For those students without any background in Spanish or simply looking for a quick refresher course, we offer an extra first week of a 20 hour immersion Spanish course.
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
As a reward for all your hard work, the weekend adventure tours allow you to discover the marvels of three out of the four environmentally distinct regions of the country: spotting colorful birds in the world’s most diverse rainforest, climbing impressive volcanoes to their icy glaciers in the Andes Mountains, and basking in the sun-filled days and white sand beaches of the Pacific Coast. Bienestar has carefully selected locations that will truly give the best authentic experience for responsible tourism. These include: high-adrenaline adventure sports in Banos, the Amazon rainforest, Cotopaxi Volcano, Quilotoa volcanic crater and lake, Quito historic center, Mitad del Mundo Equator line museum and monument, Montanita surfing beach, Machalilla National Park, and Isla de la Plata ("the poor man's Galapagos").
HOUSING OPTIONS
Students may choose from two housing options. We offer comfortable accomodations in a local hostal with clean bedrooms, private bathrooms, cable TV, and a shared kitchen. We also offer a homestay option with a native family where you can take your immersion experience to the next level. Your family will also provide two daily meals and laundry services.
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