In een oogopslag
- Shadow experienced dentists in clinics and health centres and learn from observing them. This is a great opportunity to get insight into how dentistry is practiced in a developing country.
- In Mexico, many disadvantaged communities lack access to basic medical and dental services. You’ll do dental outreaches in these communities, and give back while gaining practical experience.
- You’ll be based in the city of Guadalajara. With scenic surroundings and a bustling city centre, it’s the perfect setting to experience life in Mexico.
Startdata:
Altijd
Zie dataMinimumduur:
Een Week
Leeftijd:
18 of ouder
You need to speak basic Spanish.
Is a Dentistry internship in Mexico right for me?
Our Dentistry internship in Mexico is perfect for anyone interested in a career in dentistry. It will give you relevant experience to draw on when you apply to study. If you’re already studying, you can seize the opportunity to build on your practical dental knowledge.
You can use this experience to add work experience to your CV, and it will give you a lot to talk about in interviews. Talk about what you saw and learnt, and how you overcame any challenges you faced. You’ll also have a deeper insight into the healthcare challenges people face in developing countries.
You don’t need any previous experience to join. You'll have a supervisor to guide you, and you can reach out to Projects Abroad staff anytime you need to. You can find out whether dentistry is the right career for you by getting first-hand experience of what the day-to-day life of a dentist is like.
However, you do need to be at least 18 years old to join. You’ll also need to speak basic Spanish.
This project runs throughout the year. You can join at any time of year for a minimum of two weeks. We encourage you to stay longer so you can see and learn more.
What will I do at my dentistry placement in Mexico?
You’ll work in a dental clinic or healthcare centre. In both placements, there are plenty of ways you can learn and gain experience. These are some of your main tasks:
- Shadow and observe local dentistry staff and experience their daily routine
- Assist with minor tasks like patient screenings and preparing instruments for procedures
- Conduct community outreaches and raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene
Your work will focus on these areas:
Observe professional dentists
The majority of your internship will be spent shadowing dentists in a dental clinic or healthcare centre. You’ll get to observe patients being screened, sit in on consultations, and observe procedures. These procedures include teeth extractions and tooth cavity cleaning.
You may also be able to observe more complex procedures, like endodontic procedures and maxillofacial surgeries. You will be permitted to enter the operating room to observe.
Assist dentistry staff
You’ll also have the chance to assist with minor tasks. This will include helping prepare instruments and equipment and giving patients information about oral hygiene.
Community outreaches
You can also raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene during outreaches in schools and around the community. You’ll give talks on how to brush teeth correctly, and you can make oral hygiene posters to hang on classroom walls. This will give students a visual reminder about why they need to care for their teeth.
Where in Mexico will I work?
Guadalajara
This internship is located in Guadalajara, a traditional city filled with leafy boulevards and winding cobblestone streets. It has a busy city centre, with buzzing street life and a great culinary scene. But there are also more rural communities on the outskirts where a lot of our outreach work is focused.
You will gain dentistry work experience in Mexico, at a dental clinic or healthcare centre. The facilities in Mexico are well equipped, and it will be a good opportunity to see how dentists work in developing countries.
What is a typical day at a dentistry placement in Mexico like?
On a typical day, you’ll wake up and enjoy a tasty breakfast with your host family. You’ll use public transport to get to your placement. On your first day, our staff will show you the easiest way to get there.
Your workdaywill run from 8am until 1pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll have your weekends free.
You will usually shadow the dentists in consultations and occasionally on easy procedures, depending on what is scheduled for the day.
Once a month (depending on the overall number of interns), you’ll go out into a rural community to help at outreaches or raise awareness about dental care.
In the evenings, you can spend time exploring local markets or visiting the string of culinary establishments in the city centre. Or you could spend time with your host family to get to know them better and fully immerse yourself in their way of life.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The aim of this project is to give you the chance to learn more about dentistry first-hand. You’ll learn directly from dentists, and they’ll teach you how to diagnose and treat the conditions you see. We encourage you to ask questions and take notes to make the most of your internship.
In Mexico, many of the disadvantaged communities we work with have little or no access to basic healthcare or dental services. Either they can’t afford to pay for treatment, or they have no means to travel to a clinic. You will be part of our efforts to overcome this by participating in outreach work.
Your main role during outreaches will be to help raise awareness about the importance of dental hygiene. By teaching local community members the ins and outs of dental care, you’ll help with preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
To make sure we’re always working towards a long-term vision, we’ve outlined several goals in our Medical Management Plan:
- Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
- Promote awareness of non-communicable diseases
- Improve hygiene standards
- Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
- Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
Join a Dentistry internship in Mexico and help us work towards these goals.
Management plans
We hebben onze doelen en belangen van onze projecten uitgeschreven in onze Management Plans. Op deze manier kunnen we uitgebreid plannen welk werk moet gebeuren op elk project. Het helpt ook om het werk te meten en te evalueren wat we elk jaar bereikt hebben.
Het is uiteindelijk de bedoeling dat onze Management Plans de projecten effectiever maken. Je gaat daardoor deel uitmaken van een duurzaam project dat impact heeft waar het echt nodig is. Lees meer over onze Management Plans.
Onze impact
Onze projecten zijn opgesteld voor de lange termijn, en er worden elk jaar specifieke doelen vooropgesteld. Elke vrijwilliger en stagiaire helpt met het behalen van deze doelstellingen, hoe lang ze ook helpen op onze projecten.
Elk jaar evalueren we de voortgang in het behalen van de doelstellingen. Daarom hebben we een Global Impact Report opgesteld waar we al onze verwezenlijkingen verzamelen. Kom meer te weten over de impact die onze internationale groep vrijwilligers, stagiaires en staff hebben gemaakt en lees het laatste nieuwe rapport.
Maaltijden en accommodatie
Je gaat bij een gastgezin verblijven in Guadalajara. Zij verwelkomen je met open armen in hun huis en delen graag de lokale gewoontes en cultuur met je. Dit is de beste manier om jezelf volledig onder te dompelen in de cultuur van Mexico en een unieke ervaring te beleven.
We proberen ervoor te zorgen dat je met minstens een andere Projects Abroad vrijwilliger of stagiaire verblijft bij het lokale gastgezin. Jouw kamer is bescheiden maar comfortabel, proper en veilig.
De kostprijs van het project is inclusief drie maaltijden per dag.
Lees meer over onze accommodatie.
Weekend en vrijetijdsactiviteiten
Prachtige witte stranden, verschillende kunstgalerijen en heerlijke restaurants, er valt zoveel te zien in Mexico.
Je kunt de oude stad ontdekken, de neo-gothische architectuur of de Templo Expiatoria del Santisimo Sacramento. Een prachtig stuk architectuur met ornamenten en kleurrijke ramen.
Leer de lokale geschiedenis kennen en bezoek de verschillende musea of vind rust in de natuur in het Las Peñas Ecological Park.
Wat Mexico zo uniek maakt is de lokale keuken. Proef de lokale tamales, pozole en geniet van de omgeving!
We hebben verschillende gastgezinnen in Mexico waar je samen met andere vrijwilligers bij kunt verblijven tijdens jouw vrijwilligerswerk project. Ga eropuit op je eentje of met een groep vrijwilligers.
Veiligheid en ondersteuning
Jouw veiligheid heeft onze hoogste prioriteit. We hebben verschillende procedures opgezet zodat jouw ervaring in het buitenland zorgeloos en veilig verloopt. Onze Projects Abroad staff is 24/7 beschikbaar, zowel door de week als tijdens het weekend, om je te ondersteunen en begeleiden. Zij zorgen ervoor dat jij je altijd veilig en comfortabel voelt. Mocht je ergens tegenaan lopen, dan zijn ze altijd beschikbaar om je te helpen.
Lees meer over veiligheid en ondersteuning.
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