General Info
Their mission is to combat infantile malnutrition and you'll work with the paediatricians, nutritionist, social worker and nurses to help the hospital achieve this aim.
This is a work experience project for professionals or students of nutrition or healthcare. You will spend time with the professionals who will assist you in learning all about malnutrition care in Argentina. When you are not observing or assisting the doctors, you will be an invaluable member of the care team, feeding, playing, reading, singing, and stimulating the children in their recovery.
Located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Mendoza and its surrounding countryside is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. This beautiful town is next to some of the world's best skiing and in the summer months visitors enjoy mountain biking, rafting and hiking.
As well as nutritionists, this project is suitable for those interested, studying or working in the fields of social care, psychology, paediatrics, nursing and more.
This is part a care project and part a work experience project. You will spend 2 days a week shadowing, observing and assisting (depending on your level of experience) the doctors and professionals. During this time you will get to see the healthcare from diagnosis through to treatment and the doctors will discuss with you what is happening and why and answer questions you may have. The other 3 days of the week will be devoted to general care work with the children at the centre.
The hospital warmly welcomes volunteers who are interested or qualified in nutrition or healthcare to work with nutritionists and doctors. They also welcome anyone who can offer any other service which could be related in some way to nutrition and health care.
THE WORK EXPERIENCE INTERNSHIP:
Your work will depend on your level of previous experience. Volunteers will spend time with the doctors and nutritionists by shadowing and observing and also discussing diagnosis of the children together. The professionals will be happy to discuss in details the children’s different cases with you, whatever your level of previous experience.
This hospital is keen to receive volunteers who can help with the various different duties the hospital carries out. If you have previous experience/qualifications in health care or nutrition you will be given more responsibility including assisting in diagnosis. If you are not yet qualified, you will spend your time shadowing and observing diagnosis and treatment. You will also be able to sit in on meetings with the doctors and the parents of the children.
The staff at this care centre are especially kind and caring people! They are very welcoming to anyone who is ready to work and "give hands" to their job. The head of the hospital, a Dr Gabriela Sabio, who is a paediatrician, is keen to share her knowledge and experience of the children with you. There is a lot of love in this hospital and a willingness to work and devotion is all that is required for an incredible experience.
WORKING HOURS:
The hospital is open everyday. Office hours for paediatricians are from Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 12:30. Doctors and nutritionists assist the ill children every Tuesday and Thursday and on these days you will be able to observe the professionals working on duty. The other days of the week will be spent on general care.
THE CARE INTERNSHIP:
When you are not shadowing the doctors, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, you will be assisting with the care internship.
Because the children attending Fundacion C have nutrition problems they require feeding every 3 hours. Sometimes the mothers also stay in the hospital with their children and they are taught how to give the children what they need in the way of nutrition to that when they leave the hospital, they hopefully won't ever have to come back. Each child has a very specific amount and type of food/formula that is prepared and labeled especially for that child at every mealtime. The children's weight, height and growth are monitored very closely during their stay and outpatient children also have their diet at home monitored.
You’ll work for as many hours as you choose, between 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. We suggest you work for about 3-4 hours a day, at least 3 days per week. However, you can work anything up to 7 days a week if you wish!
Some of the work you'll be involved with includes:
Helping in the kitchen - this means preparing the meals to specific formulae for each child to combat that particular child's nutritional needs to ensure their recovery
Serving the food, taking care to ensure that each child receives the food and/or formula mix that has been specially prepared for them. Generally, these undernourished children need feeding every 2 to 3 hours.
Helping to feed those children whose mothers are unable to be at the hospital to help them eat.
Playing with the children.
Playing with the children and entertaining them, as well as giving them love, attention and care, is a very important aspect of the project. The majority of children range from a few months to 5 years old, and if they are fretful, unhappy and insecure, it impedes their recovery. Your care and time spent with them will aid their recover. Your work in this area will also enable those mothers who are able to spend all their time staying at the hospital with their children to get some well-deserved breaks. Although the mothers are encouraged to spend all their time at the hospital, including sleeping there, in order to learn how to continue to properly feed their children after they leave the hospital, sometimes this is just not possible. The children of these mothers, in particular, need special care and attention.
There is a basket of mixed toys such as building blocks, kitchen sets, cuddly toys, etc., for you to use when playing with the children. However, there is no library of books as such to read to the children. We would ideally like to build up a reasonable library of books that can be used as we believe that not only will reading to the children keep them entertained, books can also be used to teach the children in an informal, 'non-study' environment. Colouring books are also very popular with the children.
It is very important to have an energetic positive approach to this volunteering project as lots of encouraging stimulation is as important for the children and the loving care and attention you can give them.
Benefits:
Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £1,595 for four weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.
Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).
You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.
Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.
Requirements:
Open to anybody qualified, studying or interested in nutrition or a related healthcare discipline (such as social work/psychology/paediatrics/nursing). Intermediate level Spanish required. Intensive Spanish courses available on request in Argentina prior to your placement. Details below.
Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 18 years old upwards, and all nationalities.
