At a glance
- Join us on a medical internship in the Philippines for teenagers and gain international work experience. Learn directly from doctors and add value to your CV.
- Learn how to check blood sugar levels and measure blood pressure, both are new skills which you’ll put into practice on community outreaches.
- Live and work with teenagers your age, and stay with a local host family. There are planned weekend trips and social activities ensuring that you experience authentic Filipino culture.
- Download a sample itinerary for this project.
Is a medical internship in the Philippines for teenagers right for me?
Are you interested in pursuing a career in medicine? Want an internship that combines both work and cultural experiences? If you answered yes to these questions, this is the ideal project for you.
In the Philippines, you’ll gain insight into the daily working life of a doctor or nurse in a clinical environment. This experience will boost your CV, and give you interesting points to talk about in interviews and applications. The outreach work you do will also demonstrate your commitment to helping others.
Our medical internship for high school students is an excellent way to learn about healthcare in a developing country in the safety of a group. We know that travelling abroad by yourself can be a daunting prospect. This is why our High School Specials are specifically designed for teenagers. Our staff are on hand 24/7 to ensure you feel safe and comfortable, and to supervise all activities.
What will I do on this project?
On this internship, you’ll have the chance to take part in a range of interesting activities. These include:
- Observe medical staff at work in a local hospital or health clinic
- Participate in awareness and outreach work
- Experience the local culture with fellow volunteers
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Observe medical staff at work in a local hospital or health clinic
You’ll spend a lot of your time observing doctors and nurses on their rounds in a local hospital or health clinic. You’ll be able to rotate through different departments, which gives you a broad insight into the different specialties. Some of the possibilities include:
- Dentistry
- Obstetrics
- Dispensary
- Laboratory
- Treatment units
Participate in awareness and outreach work
In order to tackle healthcare issues relating to lack of services or information, you will take part in some community-based work. We organise regular outreaches in rural areas, as healthcare services there are limited. Here you will help to conduct basic health checks, such as taking vital signs. All of your work is supervised by a doctor.
Education is also an important part of disease prevention. You work with your group to plan and run workshops for communities. You’ll talk about important healthcare issues, like how to prevent and treat Dengue fever.
Experience the local culture with fellow volunteers
Since you’ve travelled all the way to the Philippines, we want to make sure you have a chance to experience this incredible country. We organise exciting weekend trips, like swimming and relaxing in Sante Fe, for example. You’ll also get to take part in regular social activities, where you’ll have fun with your fellow volunteers while learning about the local culture.
Where in the Philippines will I work?
San Remigio
You will live and work with other teenagers in the town of San Remigio. It is situated in the north of Cebu Island. While the town is small, it has a number of beach resorts and all the modern conveniences that you may need. These include grocery stores, restaurants, and banks.
As an intern, you’ll spend the majority of your time at a local hospital or health clinic in the area. These facilities are often of a lower standard than those you’d find in a big city. Outreaches and awareness work, meanwhile, will take place in disadvantaged areas in and around San Remigio.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
There are two main aims to this project: to provide you with an educational experience, and to raise awareness in communities about disease prevention.
Many of the teenagers who join us are looking to gain international work experience in the medical field. This can either be to prepare for your future career, or to decide whether a job in the healthcare sector is right for you. This trip can help you decide, as you’ll observe doctors in action, explore different departments, and learn basic medical skills.
In the Philippines, many disadvantaged communities have very little access to regular healthcare. In addition, Dengue fever remains a problem and illnesses like diabetes and heart disease are on the rise. This is why we organise outreaches, and share knowledge about disease prevention. You’ll help by doing health checks, and doctors use the results to diagnose and treat patients. You’ll also assist with planning educational workshops.
In 2017 alone, our High School Special interns took part in 72 house-to-house visits to conduct health screenings. They also helped to provide 142 patients with free eye checks, and 120 people were given new reading glasses. These are small yet significant events which contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of local communities.
Join us on a Medicine internship in the Philippines for teenagers, and expand your medical knowledge while making a positive contribution.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Every year, thousands of High School Special volunteers and interns actively make a difference around the world. During their time abroad, they contribute towards achieving long-term goals and make a long-lasting positive impact on the communities where they work.
We produce an annual High School Specials Impact Report, which documents some of these achievements. Find out more about the impact of these projects, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Bogo City. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of the Philippines and have a truly unique experience.
On our High School Specials, we will always try to have you share a room with at least one volunteer or intern of the same gender and approximate age. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects Abroad staff are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance. Our staff also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
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