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Volunteer Reviews
Great Experience to Practice What I’m Studying
On a day-to-day basis, I supported the project staff during the day and worked on my dissertation research at night or on the weekends. I went to the police station and the hospital to interview professionals and I went to court many times. I tried to do as much as possible, it was very busy, and there was always something to do.
It was a great experience for me and getting to practice what I’m studying, so going to court was great for me. Doing the therapy sessions, even when we went with Meredith to just watch her give the therapy sessions was a big thing for me.
I felt really safe in South Africa because Vocational Impact prepared us before we departed and we had training when we arrived.
It was a great experience for me and getting to practice what I’m studying, so going to court was great for me. Doing the therapy sessions, even when we went with Meredith to just watch her give the therapy sessions was a big thing for me.
I felt really safe in South Africa because Vocational Impact prepared us before we departed and we had training when we arrived.
Dorien Verstraeten
KU Leuven University (Belgium)
August 2019
10/10! I Can’t Recommend the VI Medical Elective Enough
I met amazing people and learned so much. I can’t recommend the vocational Impact medical elective enough. 10/10!
We did a lot of patient observations which is a skill nurses do day in and day out, so that was really helpful to help them out with and for me to see how things differ in Ghana. It also helped me learn to once I’ve taken the observation to ask what the problem was and assess whether they needed a blood test.
I am doing my dissertation on malaria, we don’t have much knowledge about it here in England so it was great to find out more about it first-hand. I sat for about an hour talking to the disease controller about malaria, which is something I could not do back home.
We did a lot of patient observations which is a skill nurses do day in and day out, so that was really helpful to help them out with and for me to see how things differ in Ghana. It also helped me learn to once I’ve taken the observation to ask what the problem was and assess whether they needed a blood test.
I am doing my dissertation on malaria, we don’t have much knowledge about it here in England so it was great to find out more about it first-hand. I sat for about an hour talking to the disease controller about malaria, which is something I could not do back home.
Nia Thomas
Leeds University
April 2019
I Felt Supported Every Step of the Way
I saw Vocational Impact speak at my university and could tell they offered a really tailored and personal volunteer experience. I wanted to go with a not-for-profit organisation that supported us every step of the way. I really couldn’t recommend Vocational Impact enough.
The medical placement was very hands-on and the nurses were always wanting to teach us how to do things. I worked in the outpatient department at the start watching consultations, taking babies’ vitals and weights, and helping with education for mums, particularly around breastfeeding support. I also worked on outreach in the community for those who couldn’t make it to the clinic, and I spent a day at the lab, where they tested for Malaria.
The medical placement was very hands-on and the nurses were always wanting to teach us how to do things. I worked in the outpatient department at the start watching consultations, taking babies’ vitals and weights, and helping with education for mums, particularly around breastfeeding support. I also worked on outreach in the community for those who couldn’t make it to the clinic, and I spent a day at the lab, where they tested for Malaria.
Helena Hardman
University of Leeds
April 2019
It Helped my Personal Growth and Career Development
On this programme with VI I got to sit in on counselling sessions, give talks to schools (on peer pressure, safe sex, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDs, etc.), visit homes in a township, attend the tree clinic support group and visit police stations.
I attended cases at primary schools where I was able to witness how the CSOs collaborate with teachers. I attended a hospital visit, it was interesting to see how healthcare differed from South Africa to Australia. I was also involved with several cases with different staff each time. A memorable experience was when we received a report from a clinic that a child was being abused at home. When we visited the CSO was very affirmative with the perpetrators and it resulted in the mother coming with us to the police station and making a statement which incriminated herself and her boyfriend. And the victims got to be homed at a refuge together.
The work we did was amazing, it makes such a difference to so many children. I took so much from this experience and it really helped my personal growth and career development.
I attended cases at primary schools where I was able to witness how the CSOs collaborate with teachers. I attended a hospital visit, it was interesting to see how healthcare differed from South Africa to Australia. I was also involved with several cases with different staff each time. A memorable experience was when we received a report from a clinic that a child was being abused at home. When we visited the CSO was very affirmative with the perpetrators and it resulted in the mother coming with us to the police station and making a statement which incriminated herself and her boyfriend. And the victims got to be homed at a refuge together.
The work we did was amazing, it makes such a difference to so many children. I took so much from this experience and it really helped my personal growth and career development.
Maddie Steel
University of York
August 2018
I Wouldn’t Hesitate to Come Back
Firstly, the foundation in South Africa is an incredible organisation. They take anybody who needs help and offer them whatever they can – no exclusion at all. Secondly, the staff are incredible people who only want to do good. Thinking about arriving in South Africa initially made me nervous, but it instantly felt like my second home, I love South Africa and wouldn’t hesitate to come back.
The current case with six kids I’ve been involved in very heavily, and they will always be so special to me. I’ve been involved with a 23-year-old who has an alcohol abuse problem, a 13-year-old who is a recurrent runaway, and a young woman with a drug problem who was also raped which Mildred supported me with. The organisation is amazing. The staff are also amazing people. There are so many facets to the work that I didn’t appreciate before I came, and now it’s clear that each is just as important as the next.
This experience has a special place in my heart, and my experience here has both touched and changed me for the better. I wouldn’t change anything about my time here.
The current case with six kids I’ve been involved in very heavily, and they will always be so special to me. I’ve been involved with a 23-year-old who has an alcohol abuse problem, a 13-year-old who is a recurrent runaway, and a young woman with a drug problem who was also raped which Mildred supported me with. The organisation is amazing. The staff are also amazing people. There are so many facets to the work that I didn’t appreciate before I came, and now it’s clear that each is just as important as the next.
This experience has a special place in my heart, and my experience here has both touched and changed me for the better. I wouldn’t change anything about my time here.
Charlotte Linham
University of Central Lancashire
August 2018
I Felt at Home
I did an art photography project with the children in India and the kids responded so well and really enjoyed learning about using the cameras. We did some filming basics and I really trusted them with my equipment. I feel like my art project made a big impact and I hope some of the kids discovered a passion for film and photography that maybe they didn’t have the resources to discover before. Maybe one of them will even become the next big Director!
The children were happy and very excited to see me. They welcomed me very well and treated me like family, we bonded very quickly. I think the children and home have a bright future and a beautiful motive. I felt like I was not in an orphanage a lot of the time and had to remind myself because I felt at home.
The children were happy and very excited to see me. They welcomed me very well and treated me like family, we bonded very quickly. I think the children and home have a bright future and a beautiful motive. I felt like I was not in an orphanage a lot of the time and had to remind myself because I felt at home.
Praise Maku
University of the Arts London
August 2018
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