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Volunteer Reviews
I Learnt So Much
I enjoyed my time in the clinic. I felt like I had a good spread of experience between all the different areas and I was able to get a good understanding of how things work in the clinic. I really enjoyed them teaching me how to take blood. This is something I have seen many times in the UK but it was nice to have a go myself.
I definitely learnt something each day, whether it was about how to treat tropical diseases or the culture in Ghana. Some of the staff were very happy to engage in interesting conversations and learn from each other. I also went out with the community outreach team. It was a really good experience seeing how they go through the efforts of encouraging mothers to vaccinate their children. I learnt so much and will definitely be taking it back to the UK.
I definitely learnt something each day, whether it was about how to treat tropical diseases or the culture in Ghana. Some of the staff were very happy to engage in interesting conversations and learn from each other. I also went out with the community outreach team. It was a really good experience seeing how they go through the efforts of encouraging mothers to vaccinate their children. I learnt so much and will definitely be taking it back to the UK.
Grace Eggleshaw
University of Leeds
September 2019
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
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