At a glance
- Shadow experienced doctors on their daily rounds, rotating through various hospital departments.
- Learn how the doctors work and how they diagnose and treat different diseases and conditions.
- You’ll also get plenty of practical experience doing health checks during medical outreaches.
Is a Medicine internship in Sri Lanka for teenagers right for me?
Are you a high school student hoping to start a career in medicine one day? Would you like to gain some practical experience to see if medicine is right for you? Do you dream of travelling and making new friends from all over the globe?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, this project is definitely for you! You’ll learn about medicine from experienced doctors, and help disadvantaged communities through outreach work. This will help add valuable medical experience to your CV, and demonstrate your commitment to helping others.
This medical internship in Sri Lanka is designed by our staff for teenagers your age. All activities will take place in groups, follow a set itinerary, and are supervised by Projects Abroad staff. This ensures that you can relax, learn, and have fun throughout your trip.
What will I do on a Medical internship in Sri Lanka for teenagers?
During your time as a medical intern in Sri Lanka, you will have many opportunities to learn, help, and explore. You will:
- Observe doctors and nurses as they work with patients who suffer from a range of conditions
- Help doctors and nurses perform basic health checks on medical outreaches
- Expand your horizons by exploring a new country and learning about its culture
Your work will mainly focus on the following:
Shadow doctors and nurses as they work
As a teenage intern in Sri Lanka, your role is strictly observational. This means that you’ll shadow doctors and nurses on their rounds and learn by watching what they do. You can expect to get involved with activities like this:
- Spend time in the different departments of a general hospital
- Visit a hospital specialising in traditional Ayurvedic medicine
- Attend a workshop on medical practices in Sri Lanka. You’ll also attend workshops that teach you basic medical skills, like measuring blood pressure levels
Help with medical outreach programmes
Hoping to do some hands-on work during your medical internship in Sri Lanka? During your time here, you’ll join doctors and nurses at a two-day medical outreach at a community centre. You’ll assist with basic health checks. This could involve measuring blood pressure and weighing.
All of your work during the outreach will be supervised.
Expand your horizons
Finally, as you live and work in Sri Lanka with other teenagers, you will enjoy a range of new experiences. This will include the medical work you’ll be involved in, as well as a range of cultural activities in the evenings.
Over one weekend, we will take you on a trip to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, which is an UNESCO World Heritage site.
You’ll live with a host family, which means you will be able to immerse yourself in the Sri Lankan way of life and eat local food.
Where will I be working in Sri Lanka?
Colombo
As a medical intern in Sri Lanka, you will be based in the capital city of Colombo.
It’s located on the west coast of the island and has become a popular tourist destination over the past few years. It’s home to palm-lined beaches and a number of fascinating cultural landmarks. Some of the most interesting include Viharamahadevi Park, the Dutch Hospital and the array of fresh produce markets.
There is a lot to see and do, and we will ensure that you make the most of your time in the city with group outings and excursions. Our staff will be right there with you to supervise throughout the day.
As far as your working environment is concerned, you will be based at a general hospital within the city. Our medical outreaches take place in surrounding communities.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The aim of this project is to offer you the opportunity to gain medical experience in a developing country.
You will spend time learning directly from doctors and nurses, and gain insight into the healthcare challenges people in Sri Lanka face. This will add valuable work experience to your CV, and give you interesting points to talk about in interviews and applications. The outreach work you do will also demonstrate your dedication to helping those in need.
While Sri Lanka does provide free healthcare services to all its citizens, these can sometimes be limited or inconsistent. You’ll work alongside medical staff to provide important basic medical services in disadvantaged, rural areas.
In 2017, interns participated in 14 medical camps in Sri Lanka. These outreaches were requested by government leaders and reached up to 2,050 beneficiaries.
Join us in Sri Lanka and gain clinical experience while giving back to those who need help most.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Every year, thousands of High School Special volunteers and interns actively make a difference around the world. During their time abroad, they contribute towards achieving long-term goals and make a long-lasting positive impact on the communities where they work.
We produce an annual High School Specials Impact Report, which documents some of these achievements. Find out more about the impact of these projects, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Sri Lanka. 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 Sri Lanka and have a truly unique experience. You may also stay at a guesthouse.
On our High School Specials, we will always try to have you share a room with at least one volunteer or intern of the same gender and approximate age. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects Abroad staff are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance. Our staff also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Sri Lanka
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