Volunteers for Intercultural

1
WELCOME

• Volunteers for Intercultural Definitive
  Adventures
• www.vidavolunteertravel.org

2
VIDA IN A NUTSHELL

• VIDA is a non-profit humanitarian organization in
  the USA and Costa Rica which provides free
  medical, dental and veterinary services to needy
  communities in Central America while providing
  volunteers with unique hands-on learning
  opportunities.
• VIDA offers short term volunteer opportunities in
  Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, and Honduras.
  (Guatemala and Mexico soon).
• VIDA Volunteer opportunities are open to everyone
  over the age of 18 who have an interest in
  international volunteering.
• Health Professionals are encouraged to
  participate as teaching future Health
  professionals is both energizing and rewarding.

3
VIDA Medical Volunteer

• Everyone is welcome to join VIDA Medical Teams in
  Central America.
• VIDA collaborates with needy and rural
  communities to help provide basic services to
  those who are underserved or excluded from heath
  coverage.
• Hands-on patient interaction including social
  histories, blood pressure, blood sugars, quick
  dip urinalysis, injections, and pap smears.

4
Dental Volunteering with VIDA

• Everyone is welcome to join VIDA in providing
  basic dental services to needy people in Central
  America.
• VIDA offers free dental services to patients
  which includes exams, cleanings, extractions,
  sealants, fillings, and temporary fillings.
• Volunteers will participate in these activities
  with supervision and guidance from VIDA Staff
  Dentists.

5
Adventures in Veterinary Medicine

• Amazing hands-on learning experiences for
  Veterinary students, Pre-Vet students,
  Professionals, and lay people.
• Learn about Veterinary medicine in Central
  America and participate in spay clinics.
• Opportunities to gain experience with cows,
  horses, pigs, and other livestock.
• Learn about exotic Costa Rican wildlife and visit
  an animal refuge center.
• Pre-Veterinary students and lay people wanting to
  participate in surgery should observe 25 hours of
  spay surgeries prior to trip.

6
What is included in the program fees?

• VIDA Staff Pick-up and drop off at Airports In
  country transportation
• Accommodations with host families and hotels
• 2 Meals per day during clinic days and 1 per day
  on non-clinic days
• Full day in country orientation and
  Medical/Dental/Veterinary Manual
• 24 hour Bilingual guides and health professionals
  
• Survival Spanish class
• Pre-adventure coordination, support, and
  itinerary planning
• All medicine, equipment, supplies, and
  professionals needed to complete successful
  dental and medical clinics
• Evening group activities
• Some recreational activities

7
What is not included in the program fees?

• Airfare
• Personal Spending Money
• Academic Credit
• Some Tips
• Laundry
• Internet/telephone fees
• Airport departure tax

8
How do I apply?

• Fill out the online application via the website
  and pay your 65.00 application fee via the
  website (Paypal) to guarantee your position on
  the team.
• Application deadlines are typically 90 to 45 days
  prior to trip start date.
• You will receive an email confirming your
  position on the team soon after enrolling.
• Once teams are full, we do post that info on the
  website and close applications for that team.
• University of Washington 2008 (picture)

9
Program Fees

• 1,695.00 12 nights and 13 days
• 1,295.00 7 nights and 8 days
• (65.00 app fee credited to total amount paid)

10
Scheduling your flight

• Schedule your flight to arrive by 2pm on the
  first day of your trip and you may schedule your
  departure flight at anytime on the last day of
  the trip date.
• Students If your campus is organizing your VIDA
  trip then most likely you will be flying down as
  a group.
• If you are enrolling independently then you will
  most likely be flying down alone, but VIDA will
  provide you with information about other VIDA
  volunteers who are on your flight if you are
  interested.
• Try using Travelocity or Sidestep to locate
  discount airfare.
• Popular airlines here are Delta, American
  Airlines, TACA/Lacsa, US airways and Continental.
• VIDA Staff will await you outside of the arrival
  area with a VIDA sign.

11
Explore Costa Rica
12
Beautiful Nicaragua
13
Exotic Panama
14
Pre Trip Orientation

• VIDA will email you country specific information
  that you should read thoroughly prior to arrival.
• You will receive basic a Spanish handout and a
  program specific manual via email.
• VIDA volunteers will receive a Sponsorship-Donatio
  n letter to utilize in the gathering of
  funds/materials for the team and to help offset
  the costs of the trip.
• Students Some campuses have VIDA Student
  representatives who will hold monthly meetings.

15
Donations

• VIDA strongly encourages all volunteers to
  gather/bring 100 worth of donations.
• Your donations of medicines are needed to enhance
  our basic pharmacy.
• Donations of clothing, toys, stickers, bubbles,
  shoes, and sheets are needed for patients as
  well.
• Dental Donations include toothbrushes,
  toothpaste, floss, gauze, and gloves.
• Veterinary Donations include gloves, gauze,
  sutures, metal choke collars, leashes, and
  kennels.

16
Questions?

• Please contact us via the 1-888-365-VIDA number
  or email at info_at_vidavolunteertravel.org for more
  details.