At a glance
- This is a volunteer opportunity with Projects Abroad. Devxchange will assist you in choosing the right fit, raising funds with your own campaign page, issuing tax receipts to donors if project meets CRA criteria as a charitable activity. Devxchange will also assist you in onboarding with Projects Abroad.
- Join our Dentistry internship in Jamaica and gain invaluable work experience. You’ll learn from qualified local professionals in a dental clinic and observe a range of different procedures.
- You’ll see patients with a range of different conditions, which will give you an insight into the diagnosis and treatment of these issues.
- You’ll stay with a local host family which is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the local culture. In your free time you can explore all that Jamaica has to offer with other interns.
Details
- Observe local dental staff as they go about their daily work
- Assist with a range of basic tasks in the dental clinic
- Take part in dental outreaches or school visits which benefit the local community
Includes/Excludes
Food and accommodation
- Food (three meals a day)
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Full induction and orientation by an experienced staff member on arrival
- Transport to and from your work placement
- In-country support and 24-hour back-up from our team of full-time local staff
- Emergency assistance from our international emergency response team
- Project equipment and materials, including access to our database with thousands of resources
- Training and workshops from our experienced local staff
- Regular social events and community activities with other volunteers and interns
- Access to our local office with internet connection
- Certification of project completion
- Access to our alumni services and discounts
- Visa support and advice
- Fundraising support, including your own personalized fundraising website with DevXchange
- Tax Receipts for your donors if activity meets CRA criteria for charitable activity.
- Pre-departure preparation by your own specialist Volunteer Advisor
- Personalized MyProjectsAbroad website, with all the information you need about your project, accommodation and destination
- A free cultural awareness course
- Membership to our volunteer social media groups, to share information and to get in touch
- Support to help you complete registration or internship documents, if applicable
Not Included
- Flights
- Visa Costs (where applicable)
- 10% Admin fee for donations involving tax receipts.
Itinerary
Are you a current dentistry student or recent graduate? Looking to gain international work experience and build your CV? Then this is the ideal internship for you.
You’ll learn from skilled local professionals, and find out more about healthcare practice in a country different from your own. It’s also a great way to prepare for your future career as a dental practitioner.
This internship is open to those aged 18 and over who have completed at least one year of dentistry-related studies or training. The project is available year-round, from a minimum of two weeks. However, our start and end dates are completely flexible, so you can choose a time that suits you. We encourage you to stay longer, so you can see and learn more.
Upon arrival, you will receive a comprehensive induction that will guide you through everything you need to know about where you’ll be working and what you’ll be doing. During your time at the dental clinic, you’ll be supervised by various members of the dental team. There is also a Projects Abroad medical supervisor who will ensure you get the most out of your time abroad.
While interns are not allowed to take part in patient procedures, there are still many things to do and learn on this internship. At your dentistry placement in Jamaica, you will:
- Observe local dental staff as they go about their daily work
- Assist with a range of basic tasks in the dental clinic
- Take part in dental outreaches or school visits which benefit the local community
Wake up in the morning and enjoy a delicious breakfast with your host family. You’ll then travel to your placement by a shared taxi. If you live close enough, you’ll be able to walk instead. On your first day, Projects Abroad staff will accompany you to show you the way.
On this internship, you will work from 8.30am – 3pm, Monday to Friday, although you can stay longer if you wish to do so. You will observe and be supervised by the local dental team, which includes dentists, dental surgeons, and dental nurses.
You’ll spend your time shadowing staff in the dental clinic of a local health centre. You’ll have the chance to observe a range of procedures, from simple interventions to complex operations.
While you will not be allowed to participate directly in procedures, there is still plenty to keep you busy. During the day you may find yourself assisting with patient screening and registration, or preparing material for dental procedures.
Once you’re done for the day, it’s time to explore your new surroundings. Why not spend some time getting to know your host family over a delicious dinner? We also organise regular social activities for all Projects Abroad volunteers and interns. This is a great way to make new friends from around the world, and learn about the local culture.
Mandeville
You will gain dentistry work experience in Mandeville, Jamaica. You’ll work in the dental clinic of a local health centre.
While Mandeville is fairly quiet, it does have all the modern amenities that you might need. These include convenience stores, banks, and restaurants.
During your time off on the weekends, you can explore further afield. Visit beautiful beach resorts, soak in the local reggae music scene, or take advantage of the natural wonders with a hiking or scuba diving trip.
Food and accommodation
You’ll stay with a host family in Mandeville. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Jamaica and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Free Time and Leisure Activities
When you think of the tropical Caribbean, Jamaica is one of the first countries that comes to mind. With its white-sand beaches and vibrant culture, this island nation has a lot to offer. It’s an amazing location to volunteer in, and explore during your free time.
The local cuisine is definitely worth trying, with tasty dishes like Jamaican patties and jerk chicken. You can enjoy these at seaside restaurants and then head down to the sea for a cooling swim in the ocean.
With a rich culture and friendly locals, exploring markets and museums is a must-do. Visiting the famous Bob Marley Museum in Kingston makes for an enlightening weekend trip. While you’re there, you can also tour Fort Charles and the National Heroes Park.
There will be other volunteers working on different projects in Jamaica while you’re there. This means you can choose to explore independently or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.
