Q: I am interested in participating in a health volunteer trip abroad. Where do I get more information?

A: We post all the information for our current projects on our website page for volunteer programs at http://www.fimrc.org/missions/index.php Please see this page and click on a project location for full details. If a location is listed but it does not link to a PDF file, then we are not running a current project at this location. Please check back at a later time if you are specifically interested in this location.

Q: Can I volunteer alone or must I go with a group? What are the dates for the trips?

A: We are happy to accept individuals or groups on the volunteer programs to Uganda and Costa Rica. The clinics in Uganda and Costa Rica operate year round and welcome volunteers at all times and for any duration. Even if volunteers come alone, they are not sent out to perform projects by themselves. Volunteers are accompanied by FIMRC staff while at project sites.  In El Salvador and Haiti FIMRC works with preset dates and can more easily accommodate groups than individuals. FIMRC prefers that individuals interested in Haiti have a strong clinical background in medicine.

Q: I have reviewed the program information online, and I am ready to book my trip. How do I proceed?

A: Please contact us at missions@fimrc.org. Send us an email with the dates that you are interested in traveling, your location of interest, and any other questions that you might have. We will check the volunteer program availability and confirm your proposed dates. At that time you will receive the enrollment forms, which ask for information about food preferences, language and medical background, and housing preferences. We ask that you fill out the enrollment forms and mail them in along with your full program donation within two weeks. We will hold your reservation for two weeks while we wait for your forms. If you are not yet ready to book your flight, please send the forms in without your flight information, and then forward us travel details when you book the flight. FIMRC requests that volunteers submit travel information at least four weeks prior to departure so that we can arrange for ground transportation.

Extenuating financial circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. All program reservations can be changed up to 90 days in advance, but the program donation is non-refundable.

All forms and the complete program donation must be received at least four weeks prior to travel. Please note that FIMRC charges a $50 late processing fee for all forms and donations submitted after this deadline.

Q: The trip sounds great, but who pays for it?

A: The volunteer is responsible for collecting funds. Unfortunately, FIMRC does not have the ability to pay for volunteer trips. However, FIMRC does not like to turn volunteers away because of financial limitations. We encourage all volunteers to appeal to family and friends to sponsor them on their volunteer trip. You may contact missions@fimrc.org to request our funding template; you can adjust the template to your needs and send out to potential sponsors. Many schools also offer grants to students doing community service projects. FIMRC is happy to work with volunteers to brainstorm other fundraising methods. Also, if you are traveling as a student, please investigate whether your university has a FIMRC chapter. Chapters provide a support network for organizing events, planning trips and fundraising.

Again, extenuating financial circumstances will be considered on an individual basis.

Q: What vaccinations or other safety precautions should I consider before traveling abroad?

A: We refer all volunteers to the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/travel/ for the most up to date vaccination recommendations. Please note the different recommendations not only for the country you are visiting, but also for the region in which you will be staying.

  As a side note, the Costa Rica clinic is in Alajuelita, which is in the province of San Jose. Alajuelita is NOT in the province of Alajuela.

Q: What are the pre-requisites or background required for volunteering abroad?

A: FIMRC welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds and interests to participate in the volunteer program. Volunteers come from universities, graduate programs, hospitals, and other professional backgrounds to our abroad locations. The FIMRC staff will take clinical, professional and academic experiences into account when planning volunteer itineraries. FIMRC strives to provide quality of medical care comparable to that in the US, and therefore allows volunteers to work only in the capacity for which they are qualified in the US. 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 bring it up with our VP for Volunteer Programs. Still, we ask that volunteers be flexible and help out where needed at the clinic site.

Q: How far ahead do I have to/ can I plan my trip?

A: We do not have a deadline for planning your volunteer trip. However, if you wait until the last minute it may be difficult for us to accommodate your requested dates, especially if they are during University winter or spring breaks. Please contact us as soon as you can commit to your trip so that we can guarantee your spot and plan for your visit.

Q: May I bring medical supplies or donations of any kind?

A: FIMRC strongly encourages volunteers to collect donations such as clothing, shoes, vitamins and toothbrushes. FIMRC and the children abroad are extremely grateful for any supplies that you might be able to bring. Some volunteers even choose to carry an extra duffel bag with supplies for donation. Always check with your airline for baggage restrictions on size and weight.

Q: How do I get from the airport to the project site?

A: In Costa Rica and El Salvador, transport from the airport to the project site is supported by your program donation. When you arrive to the airport a FIMRC staff member will be there to greet you with a sign. We will also provide you with emergency contact numbers before departure, which we recommend that you carry with you while abroad.
  In Uganda FIMRC arranges transport from the airport, but the volunteer must pay for this transport in Uganda.

Q: Where do I stay during the volunteer program?

A: In Costa Rica we arrange for volunteers to stay with local families in Santa Ana. FIMRC’s homestay coordinator reviews housing requests as indicated on the enrollment forms and places individuals or up to three people together in homes. Please explain your dietary restrictions and if you have any housing preferences on the enrollment forms. Please also note if you are allergic to pets. All homestays are clean and comfortable, with western style toilets and showers.
  In El Salvador volunteers lodgings depend on group size and time of year. Please ask for details if you are interested in learning more about housing in El Salvador.
  In Uganda there are various housing options that will depend on your group size. Please contact missions@fimrc.org if you would like more information about your accommodations in Uganda that were not addressed in the program overview.

Q: What will I be doing while at the project site?

A: Please see the individual program overviews at http://www.fimrc.org/missions/index.php for a sample itinerary.

Q: Is it safe?

A: Please contact us if you have any concerns regarding safety. Volunteer safety is our first priority, and we take many steps to make volunteers comfortable. We provide transportation from the airport to the clinic site. In addition, all volunteer quarters are in safe areas, and volunteers will never be at the project site at night or alone. Meals are provided to the volunteers taking appropriate measure to prevent sickness from food. We maintain a full FIMRC staff on the ground to guide volunteers through every aspect of their visit including arrival, transport, participation at the clinic, and departure. We also distribute emergency contact numbers so that volunteers know exactly who to contact if they are uncomfortable with a situation or if there is a complication.
  If there is a medical emergency FIMRC staff will assess the situation to determine where the individual can get the best medical care. We do require that volunteers have travel insurance. FIMRC recommends TravelSafe for all of your travel insurance needs. TravelSafe includes benefits for: Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation, Post-Departure Trip Interruption; an Optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit and Travel Delay; Accident & Sickness Medical Expenses; Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation; Baggage and Baggage Delay; and more. TravelSafe also provides a 24-Hour Worldwide Telephone Assistance Service to help you in the event of an emergency.
  Another travel insurance service is InterMedical. InterMedical offers competitive prices for medical insurance and MedEvac.

  Please also register with the US Embassy in country prior to your departure. This adds an additional level of awareness for your safety by officials in country.