At a glance
- Work alongside experienced healthcare professionals, who’ll teach you basic medical skills. You’ll use these skills to help people during outreaches, and raise awareness about diseases.
- Disadvantaged communities don’t have access to basic healthcare services. That’s why outreach initiatives are so important; you’ll be giving these communities the medical services they need.
- You’ll live and work in the city of Guadalajara, and stay with other teenagers at a local host family. Our staff organise fun social activities in the evenings and a sightseeing trip over the weekend.
- Volunteer Service Hours: 40
- Shadowing Hours: 5
- Download a sample itinerary for this project.
Is Public Health work in Mexico for teenagers right for me?
This project is perfect for any teenager interested in adding practical medical experience to their CV and helping people in need at the same time. This will give you an extra edge in applications, and give you interesting points to talk about in interviews. In addition, the work you do will demonstrate your commitment to helping others.
You don’t need any previous experience to join. You’ll learn everything you need to know from local healthcare professionals and our staff are there to guide you.
This project is designed specifically for teenagers. You’ll share the experience with other volunteers your age. We have a set itinerary in place, and our staff are there every step of the way for guidance and support.
What will I do at a Public Health placement in Mexico for teenagers?
On this internship, you’ll learn from healthcare professionals and focus on doing outreach work and raising awareness. You’ll assist with the following activities:
- Run community outreaches and support nursing staff
- Conduct educational health campaigns
- Expand your horizons through unique experiences
Your internship will be divided through the following ways:
Support nursing staff during outreach work
On this project, your focus will lie in promoting healthy lifestyles. You will help develop and carry out individualised health strategies for each community.
On outreaches, you’ll work alongside a local nurse and learn from observing and assisting while they diagnose and treat patients. You can get involved in a variety of activities, including basic health checks, immunisation drives, and performing checks of vitals on babies and the elderly. Nurses can then use this data to make referrals or recommend lifestyle changes that could prevent illness.
Organise educational health campaigns
You will also participate in conducting educational health campaigns, where you can lead discussions about health and hygiene. You’ll work in local schools, care centres and with community groups.
Expand your horizons
While helping the local community, you will also get a chance to expand your own horizons. Since you will be living with a host family, you will get to interact with locals on a daily basis and learn more about the unique culture of Mexico.
It’s also an excellent way to improve your Spanish or learn a new language.
As part of the itinerary, we will take you on a weekend trip to further explore Guadalajara. This will give you a chance to see more of this part of Mexico and gain a greater understanding of local life.
Where will I work in Mexico?
Guadalajara
This project is based in Guadalajara, located roughly 250 miles northwest of Mexico’s capital, situated in the state of Jalisco. The city is often described as the “most Mexican of all Mexico’s cities”, partly because the culture is authentically traditional in so many ways.
The majority of your time will be spent working in areas on the outskirts of Guadalajara where there is often little to no access to healthcare services. You’ll also work in schools or care centers and provide basic medical care and education.
What are the aims of this project?
The aim of this internship is to give high school students like yourself the opportunity to assist the community through basic healthcare services.
You’ll be helping to provide much-needed care to people in remote communities. Healthcare facilities are few and far between in the rural outskirts of Guadalajara. The work you do during outreaches will help improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups. It also makes it easier for people to monitor their health and get treatment if needed.
In the process, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and practical skills to pursue a career in healthcare.
Join our Public Health High School Special in Mexico today, and support communities by providing basic medical care.
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 Guadalajara. 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 Mexico 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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