What was your motivation to take a gap break? I've wanted to do charity work for may years but couldn't find a project for only one month. As a GP I wanted to use my skills abroad and most medical projects for a Doctor are at least 6mths in duration
How did you feel before you joined the programme? Excited
How did Gap Year For Grown Ups assist you?
Real Gap sent me updates on the project and answered any questions that I had quickly via email
What was the accommodation like?
The accommodation was great, an old colonial house. The food was provided with the project cook (Ivy) who catered as much as she could to dietary needs. The portions were huge!
What did you think of the programme? The full programme was full and varied but as a qualified GP I concentrated on working in the clinic each morning (seeing up to 116 patients in one clinic) and in the afternoons I did building work. Others worked in the community or did educational work teaching. The projects covered all tastes for medical and educational skills
What was the most memorable moment of your trip?
The weekends were a time for relaxation and doing the tourist things, ranging from elephant safaris to my favourite walking with lions
Did your programme and destination meet your expectations? Any anecdotes? Yes, I became known as the Musungu Doctor (White Doctor), which I found amusing - especially when you went through the community and all kids would shout ‘musungu' to any white volunteer
What did you accomplished during your programme? I felt that I helped a lot of people as the population of 800,000 has less than 10 Doctors, so I was able to treat things that the local clinical officers could not, but also they taught me some tropical medicine.
I also really enjoyed the building, and while there we managed to nearly complete new toilets for a local community school.
How have you benefited from your experience? How have you changed? I have fulfilled my dream of doing some charity work and as a result of fund raising we managed to give over £6000 to local projects. I also plan to go back again when I save up.
What advice could you offer to someone considering this programme? Just Do it!!!
Before you go contact the local organisers so that any donations you take are applicable to the current needs. This ensures every penny spent on donations can be used.
After redundancy, Sally decided to see the world. She enjoyed our South Africa Wildlife Course so much that within 48 hours of arriving back in the UK she booked onto the Malaysia Orangutan Experience and the Thai Adventure! Read more..
