Frequently Asked Questions

No! We welcome volunteers from all walks of life to participate in our programs. Because of our year-round programming and clinical services, there are always projects that need to be accomplished. We have extensive experience hosting non-medical volunteers - film students, IT Specialists, journalists. We are more than happy to coordinate a unique experience based on your skill set and interests, as well as the needs of the project site!

Absolutely! We welcome volunteers of all ages and educational backgrounds. Families are also welcome to volunteer together!

We welcome all interested individuals to participate in the volunteer program, as we believe that everyone with a passion for children’s health has something valuable to contribute. Our volunteers come from universities, graduate programs, hospitals, and other professional backgrounds. We will take clinical, professional and academic experiences into account when planning volunteer itineraries.

It is important to note that we strive to provide quality medical care comparable to the care found in the US, so we will work only within the capacity that you are qualified. If you have a strong preference for a medical focus, health education or other facet of our program please indicate this on your enrollment forms and feel free to inform our team. We ask that you are flexible and help out where needed at the volunteering site, but we'll also work to meet your needs within the existing programming.

We gladly welcome individual and group volunteers to our project sites. If you are traveling alone and would like to try and coordinate with a group that will be traveling, contact us with your preferred site and available dates and we will try and place you with a group. If you choose to volunteer alone, you will still be working alongside our staff and community members, as you are accompanied by FIMRC staff during volunteer activities for a more enriching experience.

We don't require you to possess foreign language skills to be able to participate in the Global Health Volunteer Program. At all of our project sites, we have bilingual staff members who are there to help translate. It goes with saying that your experience is greatly enhanced if you are able to communicate in the native language or if you are willing to step outside your comfort zone in order to try and communicate.

When you arrive to the airport one of our staff members or representative from FIMRC-approved transport will be there to greet you wearing a FIMRC t-shirt or holding a FIMRC sign. We'll also provide you with emergency contact numbers before departure, which we recommend that you carry with you while abroad. Before you leave for your trip, we will provide you with detailed information on your pickup, as well as confirmations for your housing and transportation for the duration of the trip.

This depends on your volunteering site. You can visit the project site page to see a video or look at pictures of what your accommodations will be. After viewing the page, if you have any additional questions, feel free to email us at [email protected] and we would be happy to answer them!

Please check out our project sites here to learn more about the programs implemented at each site. From there you can learn an overview of possible volunteering activities. Volunteer itineraries vary due to the ever-changing needs of our clinic sites, but we are able to provide general overviews of the volunteer experience. All volunteer trips will combine elements of clinical and community work.

 Volunteer activities coincide with the operating hours of project sites. Generally, volunteers work from approximately 9 am until 5 pm, Monday through Friday. This schedule may vary depending upon clinic hours, volunteer curriculum, and community outreach needs. Weekends are oftentimes spent travelling and learning about the local culture; however, if any activities are planned for the weekend, our staff will let you know upon arrival to be able to coordinate appropriately.

You are responsible for all costs associated with the trip. Please see the individual project location pages, which are listed here, for details on what is covered by the program donation as well as specific costs. The total cost depends on the time of year, length of stay and project site.

Because all our available funds go toward providing medical care to children in need, we are unable to subsidize the cost of volunteer trips. However, we do not want to turn volunteers away because of financial limitations. Once enrolled, you will gain access to your very own fundraising page that can be shared to gather financial support for your trip. This is a great way to include family and friends and allow them to contribute in a tangible manner.

Many schools also offer grants to students doing community service projects. We are happy to work with volunteers to brainstorm other fundraising methods. If you are a student, we encourage you to find out whether your college or university has a FIMRC Chapter. Chapters provide a support network for organizing events, planning trips and fundraising. For trips of four weeks or more, we may be able to make considerations to the program donation fee on an individual basis.

All of our project sites are directly funded and supported by program donations, so you will see firsthand the result of your contributions when you arrive on site. This money stocks the clinics with pharmaceuticals and supplies, compensates the physician, nurse, and local medical professionals, and covers the clinic’s utilities and other costs associated with running a clinic. We operate on an innovative model of financial sustainability supported by Global Health Volunteers’ program donations and in order to ensure the vitality of all projects, program costs, program donations and/or housing/transport fees submitted to FIMRC cannot be refunded.

In light of COVID-19 and the ever changing situation, we do understand there is uncertainty in travel. We require a $250 non-refundable registration fee, and anything paid outside of that will be refunded if a trip is cancelled more than 45 days prior to travel. We will happily apply any received donations or fees towards a future experience at one of our project sites or towards the account of another volunteer of your choice.

It is the volunteer’s responsibility to arrange all flights. In accordance with our commitment to tailored volunteer experiences, we avoid dictating your arrival and departure and instead require that you book your own flight so that all travel is done at your convenience. Upon enrolling, FIMRC will provide you with additional information regarding the required airport for your project site location. Airfare is not included in the program fee paid to FIMRC.

We are glad to work with you and your school however necessary to ensure that you receive credit for your experience. While you are responsible for investigating this possibility with your school, we can submit any necessary documentation on your behalf, and will work to tailor your experience to any requirements your program may have. If you are a medical student in your third or fourth year, you can sign up for a for-credit rotation through our Comparative Health Immersion Rotation Program. We are glad to create your experience according to the specific requirements of your program, so please contact [email protected] to get started.

Absolutely! FIMRC encourages you to collect donations such as over-the-counter medications, hygiene supplies, vitamins, school supplies, and toothbrushes. Please contact us at donations@fimrc.org for the most up-to-date information on a particular site’s donation needs. We are extremely grateful for any supplies that you might be able to bring. Some volunteers even choose to pack an extra suitcase with supplies. Be sure to check with your airline for extra baggage costs or restrictions.