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Public Health Nutrition Volunteer in Philippines
Public Health Nutrition Volunteer in Philippines

Tacloban, Philippines

Public Health Nutrition Volunteer in Philippines

Trip Highlights

  • Opportunity to do volunteer work in Philippines with social welfare units to conduct awareness camps for health and nutrition
  • Provide assistance to professional doctors/nurses for the healthcare of locals, and develop an understanding of rural health of the country 
  • Responsibilities include assisting the local doctor with daily consultations, helping with local government based initiatives such as vaccinations or deworming, visiting local barangays during community clinic consultations, conducting workshops (depending on the experience) 
  • Take part in the Annual Medical Mission or Annual Medical Check-up for all children enrolled under various social development projects

Overview

Overview

Volunteering Solutions offers a special Nutrition and Public Health volunteering opportunities in the Philippines that aims to rectify and improve the malnourished condition of infants, especially, those born in low-income communities. This project is more on the lines of public awareness and includes a feeding program for malnourished children.

Under this project, VolSol volunteers have to organize seminars and workshops for the local and the rural communities and enlighten them about the benefits of a balanced diet and maintaining nutritional plans. Through these information-rich workshops, volunteers have to convince the parents to create a food habit that is rich in vital nutrients and nourishing for the kids. These learnings have to be imparted keeping in view that the locals do not compromise on their personal savings. The goals of the project are two-fold.

  • The first is to provide a stable supplementary feeding program for malnourished infants for pre-school children aged 3 to 6 years old. 
  • The second is to disseminate information to parents about the importance of healthy nutrition through a series of workshops and seminars.

Through this process, parents get to witness the improvement that good nutrition has on the health of their children whilst at the same time learning how to best utilize their available resources to provide a stable diet regardless of their personal income.


Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project and must be flexible and open-minded towards working in a new and challenging environment The project is suitable for students of public health and nutrition or anyone with a keen interest in the broader field of community health.


Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Philippines has a history of violent natural calamities. Much of the country’s economic situation is owed to the natural havoc it has to bear. In the current environment as the livelihood of many families have been completely destroyed by the recurring natural disasters like  typhoons, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and others; thereby increasing the risk of malnutrition among infants.  Whilst no specialist skills are required to participate on this project; those with backgrounds in Nutrition Public Health are strongly encouraged to apply for the volunteering in Public Health program. Below is a list of tasks to be done by volunteers under this project;

  • Preparing supplementary feeding
  • Recording and analysing the status of children on the project
  • Enlighten the people in the community about the benefits of a balanced diet and maintaining nutritional plans.
  • Organize seminars and workshops for the local and the rural communities.
  • Convince the parents to create a food habit that is rich in vital nutrients and nourishing for the kids.

The project is available all year round and is available for a minimum program duration of 2 weeks. Participants who have a basic knowledge of public health nutrition are preferred. Those participants who are studying Public health nutrition courses are also encouraged to apply.


Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteers joining public health and nutrition program in the Philippines will be accommodated with a host family in Tacloban city. The accommodation facility is in close distance vicinity to the program placement. A typical volunteer schedule under this program is as follows;

  • Saturday - Arrival
  • Sunday - Orientation. An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, another suggestion over things to do in the Philippines.
  • Monday to Friday - Volunteer Work
  • Breakfast - 6:00 am
  • Volunteer work - 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and 01:30 pm to 04:00 pm
  • Lunch - 12:00 pm to 01:00 pm (volunteers need to arrange lunch at own cost. They can choose to go home and cook for lunch or can buy a meal at any of the nearest food joints.)
  • Dinner - 06:00 pm onwards
  • Weekends - Free to explore the city

The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards 
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.


Living

Living

Volunteering Solutions helps you to focus on your volunteer work, while we take care of your airport transfer, accommodation, meals and weekend trips. So come with an open and relaxed mind and leave refreshed.

Airport Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from and dropped off at, Tacloban Airport by a local representative staff member. Volunteers need to arrive one day prior to the program start date. 

Accommodation

Volunteers will live with homestay families residing in the Tacloban area. The homestays have been thoroughly evaluated before they were accepted into our homestay program. are experienced in accommodating international volunteers. Prior to your arrival, you will receive a profile outlining the specifics of your homestay family.

Your homestay will welcome you into their home and treat you as a member of the family. By living with them, you will be able to experience Filipino culture and participate in their daily activities. You will eat the same food they are eating, though your homestay family knows what foreigners like to eat. If you have special dietary requirements, it is best to inform us beforehand so we can meet your needs. You will be served only two meals per day, breakfast and dinner. Your homestay will also provide you with filtered drinking water, as it is best not to drink tap water. All the homestays have electricity and running water. You will have a private room by yourself or shared with a fellow volunteer. You also are provided a mosquito net and electric fan. The bathroom or toilet, commonly called “comfort room or CR” will be shared will all the family members.

Bathroom accommodation is basic and the volunteer will take cold, bucket baths because hot running showers are uncommon in Filipino homes – don't worry too much about this as cold bucket baths are often refreshing after being in the tropical heat all day. Finally, volunteers will also have to get used to the sound of roosters crowing even before the break of dawn.

Orientation

All volunteers are provided with an orientation about the local Filipino culture, local dialect, safety guidelines, the project and volunteers role and responsibilities by the local staff. Volunteers are also given a local Tacloban city tour and of all the important tourist sights in the city.

Meals

During your time as a volunteer, you will be provided with two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) by your homestay. Aside from this, access to safe drinking water will also be provided by your homestay. All meals will be served with rice and typically include fish, chicken or pork. Homestays can cater for special dietary restrictions, however, we require that you include this in the application form.

During your Free Time 

The local coordinating team in the Philippines arranges for the volunteers to go on two excursions. On one of the trips, volunteers visit the local areas of interest such as San Juanico Bridge, the Santo Nino Shrine and the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park. Volunteers will get an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the tropical island of Leyte.  


Dates

Dates

2024

2025

January

06

13

20

27

February

03

10

17

24

March

02

09

16

23

30

April

06

13

20

27

May

04

11

18

25

June

01

08

15

22

29

July

06

13

20

27

August

03

10

17

24

31

September

07

14

21

28

October

05

12

19

26

November

02

09

16

23

30

December

07

14

21

28

January

05

12

19

26

February

02

09

16

23

March

02

09

16

23

30

April

06

13

20

27

May

04

11

18

25

June

01

08

15

22

29

July

06

13

20

27

August

03

10

17

24

31

September

07

14

21

28

October

05

12

19

26

November

02

09

16

23

30

December

07

14

21

28

Past Date

Available

Unavailable

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Costs

Costs

2 Weeks $860
3 Weeks $980
4 Weeks $1110
5 Weeks $1220
6 Weeks $1340
7 Weeks $1460
8 Weeks $1580
Extra Week $150

Please Note: -An application fee of $229 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)

What are you Paying for?

  • Airport Pickup and Drop Off
  • Welcome Orientation – Program Orientation
    City Tour & Placement Orientation
  • Accommodation in a Filipino Host Family
  • 2 Meals a Day
  • Detailed Pre Departure Info Pack
  • Project Placement
  • 24 hrs Assistance and support from in country staff
  • Travel and Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
    • Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

  • Visa
  • Vaccinations
  • Flights
  • Local Transportation
  • Personal Expenses

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Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

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