EMMAUS Health Centre
Location Details
Description
The Franciscan Capuchin Nuns of Tanzania are dedicated to a prayerful, simple life working as farmers, gardeners, teachers, doctors, nurses, and cooks. The Nuns are dedicated to serving the community and work to offer training and educational opportunities. The Nuns maintain four houses in Tanzania including the houses in Sanya Juu, Maua, Burka (Arusha) and Mivumoni (Tanga). They operate health facilities providing medical care to local people from the region including infant care and vaccinations. They also operate both a vocational and secondary school and a working farm growing maize and fruits and vegetables and rearing cows, chickens, pigs, and sheep to provide for their own basic needs. Students will spend eight (8) weeks in Sanya Juu assisting at the EMMAUS Health Centre and other social ministries.
Student Role
In Sanya Juu, students can expect to assist in medical related work at the health center such as OPD/IPD, Dental unity, eye department, RCH and laboratory. Students may shadow and assist the resident doctors assessing patients and helping with patient interviews for diagnoses. There is more than one doctor at a time at the health center. In the laboratory, under the direction and tutelage of a lab technologist, students run tests for malaria, parasites, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other common diseases. General health center assistance includes help at the registration desk (Kiswahili required), making envelopes for medicine, taking patients vitals and assisting with infant weekly weigh-ins. For students who are not interested in healthcare related duties, there are opportunities to work with health education, pregnant women, children, and infants. While in Sanya Juu, students will hopefully have the chance to visit the wildlife safari in the Ngorongoro Crater or any other National Parks by their own costs. In the evenings, students help in the kitchen and receive cooking lessons from one of the sisters. While the Sisters work hard and enjoy providing hospitality, students can also assist with chores such as setting the table, washing dishes, and cleaning the kitchen almost daily. Students should be persistent with their offers of assistance and be very willing to help wherever it is needed.
Work Schedule
Students will attend daily Morning Mass at 06:30am, followed by breakfast on 08:00am, then after they will have regular work duties in the morning and afternoon Monday through Friday. On the weekends they can have their own time on Saturday for washing their clothes (laundry), reading, compiling their reports if necessary and on Sundays, they will attend morning Sunday mass at 07:30am, then breakfast, from there they can have their own time. From previous volunteers they were using this day (Sunday) to visit the surrounding villages or playing soccer with the institution staff.
Orientation
Sr. Emmanuela, Philemon and other staff members, will assist with orientation to the local culture and life of the convent when they arrive.
Housing Information
Students will stay in the guesthouse at the Nuns’ convent in Sanya Juu. Students have their own house and it includes bedrooms and bathrooms. Rooms include a mosquito net, desk, chair, a closet, shower, sink and toilet. The house is closer to the EMMAUS Health Centre and it is in total security and safe for students. Students will leave there on their own and during meals they will come to the living dining room which is within the common house.
Spanish Language Proficiency
Not Applicable
Background Check
CPR Training, Local Background Check, Safe Environment Training
Drivers License
No
Student Preferences
This site works best for female students.