Location: The Galapagos Islands

Duration: Minimum 2 months commitment.

Cost: $1660 USD for 2 months placement + $170 USD for each additional week. - Includes food, accommodation, airport pickup/drop off and in-country orientation & 24 hour support. You will also need to pay the Galapagos Islands National Park Entrance Fee of $100. - XE Currency Converter

Travel: You will be met at Quito or Guayaquil International Airport and taken to the Project HQ by a project representative. You will given 1 week orientation, and then taken directly to the airport to begin your placement on the islands.

Work: Shadowing Veterinary surgeons in a local clinicand assist them with their daily tasks

Introduction

This is a unique veterinary medicine program in the Galapagos Islands, designed to provide an enriching experience to anyone  interested in a career working with animals.  You will be afforded a unique opportunity to work hands-on with a wide variety of animals, whilst learning about general veterinary medicine.

Depending on your requirements, you can be working with both wild and domesticated animals, large or small and within a small veterinary clinic, where you will work side by side with highly qualified Veterinarians. Our veterinary medicine program is suitable for students, qualified Veterinarians anxious in sharing their professional knowledge, experience and expertise.  However, those without experience or qualifications are welcome to apply and can be accommodated for on a case by case basis.

If you have a passion for working with animals, either in the field of veterinary medicine or in a more general animal care-oriented role, then this voluntary project is a perfect way for you to gain knowledge and put your skills into practice in a developing world.

Daily Life

You will be involved in the day-to-day duties of either veterinarian centers, NGOs or zoos (depending upon your interests and requirements) and will be working alongside local staff. You will be able to help and get involved in the following duties:

- Assistance: You will be assisting with patients in filling and keeping animal records, preparation for and recovery from surgery, handling medicines, diagnostics and administering treatments for diseases.

- Veterinary Surgery: Surgeries at our local spay/neuter clinics of dogs and cats and veterinary department of zoos. Inexperienced vet volunteers will participate in surgical pack sterilization whilst experienced vets can perform surgery, under the supervision and assistance of licensed staff.

- Immunizations for parasite management and nutrition supplements.

- Vaccinations of livestock.

- Laboratory Work: volunteers will be assisting with animal exams, post-mortems, and meat inspections.

Note: Due to the nature of this project, the exact activities will vary from season to season.

Accommodation


You will live with an Ecuadorian host  family who will provide a comfortable single room, three daily meals (break fast, lunch and dinner) and a weekly laundry service. All the host-families have been carefully selected by the Project Provider.

You will be received as a member of the family and will be involved in the daily activities of that family, offering oyu the chance of putting into practice and improving your language skills whilst gaining special insight into Ecuadorian society.

All the host families reside in short walking distance or bus ride away, in quiet and safe residential sectors of the city and close to everything such as supermarkets, cafe-internet, medical centers, post offices, shopping malls, bars, restaurants, educational centers, libraries, cultural places, historical downtown, dance clubs, bus stations, airport, etc.

Requirements

Veterinary students and qualified professionals are very welcome on this project. However, if you do not have any experience or qualifications in this area you may still apply as there is always a need for auxiliary workers too.

* Min age 18
* Minimum 2 months commitment - 15-20 hours a week.
* Basic to Intermediate Spanish (Lessons available)
* Full travel & medical insurance
* Necessary vaccinations
* Necessary flights & visas

NO commission is added to the cost of this project by Global Nomadic. We ask instead for a flat placement fee of £195 per project (paid securely via Paypal). We offer full pre-departure support, ongoing email assistance and a full range of discounts with our selected partners.

Send us an email enquiry to find out more, or click the 'Join this Project' button below if you are ready to get involved.