Why use Elective Africa to organize your placement abroad?
As far as organizing one’s elective or medical volunteer project is concerned, the question most students struggle with is whether to organize their own elective or go through privately organized programs like Elective Africa.
If you are going to do your elective in the hospital next door to your home, you certainly can organize it better than Elective Africa. You or your family probably knows an administrator at the hospital to facilitate your placement, you probably know a doctor to mentor you, and you certainly can find out the government policies relating to hospital interning. You understand the security in your neighborhood, can find things easily, and know how to respond to any emergencies. You don’t need Elective Africa for that.
However, if you are going to have your elective abroad, especially in a developing country, that is an entirely different story. Even for locals, navigating a developing country is a constant challenge. For placements abroad, Elective Africa takes on the role of organizing everything required for you to have a successful, productive, safe and secure elective experience.
Our participants have found us invaluable for several reasons:
- Safety and security is paramount for everyone going abroad. It is highly important that your safety and security is taken care of. We know all the neighborhoods where our participants stay and we have staff in the neighborhoods. All our houses have 24 / 7 security and we are always around incase you have any questions, concerns or any emergencies that may arise
- We provide structured elective experience which leads to a more meaningful learning experience. Hospitals and doctors are busy tending to their patients, as they should. While they welcome the presence of and help from foreign students, they don’t have the time or incentive to structure electives for visiting students. Elective Africa bridges that gap. We have worked with doctors and hospitals to develop some structure hence you get to have an idea of what you will do when and where, rather than just walking the corridors of a hospital in a foreign country
- We know the hospitals we are going to place into very well and have cultivated strong and productive relationships with he administrators. In terms of specialties, we know the strengths and weaknesses of all the hospitals we place students in. Depending on your interests, we can quickly match you with the right hospital for you to get the experience and exposure you need
- Our program has also cultivated strong relationships with doctors and other medical professionals and they have a genuine interest in mentoring aspiring doctors. When you show up, you are not just another elective placement, you are an Elective Africa placement and they go the extra mile to make sure your experience is a learning and worthwhile experience
- Finally, our accommodation set up provides you with the ability to spend time with like minded students with similar pursuits from all over the world. You meet students from other parts of the world in the same program and you also get to meet local medical students, an interaction which only enriches your experience
- We design many activities around your formal program to facilitate as much cultural exchange and appreciation as you want
Swimming lesson.
Students unwinding at the beach
Visiting a childrens home.