Experience Volunteering Abroad

[DJD27]

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I was talking to an optometrist I'm current shadowing and he said one thing that can put you over the top during the application process is-as the title indicates- experience volunteering abroad. Specifically, I've heard of optometrists taking undergrad students with them to developing nations to provide glasses, etc. to people without access to a good health care system.

At first glance, this seems like the ultimate "it's not what you know, it's who you know" situation. However, this is the kind of experience that is driving me to pursue a career in optometry and I would be more than willing to shell out the coin for a plane ticket.

Anybody have any ideas about how to get involved with something like this?

Furthermore, does anyone have similar experiences that might be a feasible option for me? I understand that the whole "voluntourism" thing can be seen as a somewhat self-serving endeavor because the same services could be just as important to people in my own country and region. With that said, any insight is more than welcome.

 

[nc2tarheels]

google "unite for sight". I checked into it like 2 years ago and if I remember correclty, it runs around 2 grand for EVERYTHING. I may be wrong about that though. Check it out, I'm sure it's probably cheaper then that, but for some reason, that number is popping up in my head. You can also get people to donate money so that you can go. Something that I also thought about.

 

[DJD27]

Thanks for that, the optometrist I'm job shadowing this fall has participated in the Honduras program. I'm pretty sure I'm going to do this in January. My budget looks to be around $3,000 for 10 days, but I might bump it up to 20 days depending on how ambitious I am at fund raising.

Anyone have experience with Unite for Sight?

 

[Absolute Vision]

I don't know if Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) will allow pre-opts on their trips to different areas of the world, but here's their link:

http://www.vosh.org/

If traveling abroad is not feasible, then you can should consider volunteering for Remote Area Medical Volunteering Corps (RAM). I would highly recommend participating in this event because it makes you realize that you don't have to travel out of the country to underserved countries to help the needy...you'll get a chance to help the underserved population in your own backyard, or somewhere in the US.

http://www.ramusa.org/

 

[DawgOD]

I went on a SVOSH trip with SCO a few years back.. I think it definitely helps.. The doctor I was working with went as the head doctor/ chaperon and invited me to go with her. We went to Clarendon, and I learned a lot.

I bragged about it every chance I got.

 

[chewbacca4321]

I was actually a part of Unite for Sight, and I will tell you, it was a pain in the behind. The organization is more concerned with technicalities of training, paperwork, and their name than the actual volunteering. In order to be considered a member (which you need to be in order to go abroad), you need to fill answer a lot of questions, watch videos and answer questions on those, and take tests. The people at UFS will even call you to confirm that you indeed know your stuff. It is absolutely ridiculous. My school got so many phone calls and berates from the organization saying we needed to have educational sessions, even restricting us and say that it HAS TO BE an elementary school, when principals were NOT getting back to us. It was too much of a headache.

Now to the going abroad part: you are responsible for covering everything, flight, food, room. In addition, I believe you need to make a donation in the name of UFS so that you can go. If you are doing this to go abroad and have a great story to enhance your application, sure, go for it. I would see if there are any other alternatives. I had a connection in India and went and shadowed that way. Cheaper, not restricted by all those stupid regulations, and a great experience. If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[DJD27]

Yeah it really seems like there's too much red tape involved with UFS. I found another option that will be less than one third the price while doing essentially the same thing albeit with no opthamologist (and therefore no cool surgeries like cataracts and so on).