Medical Internship for High School Students in Tanzania

Gain valuable medical experience learning from professional doctors and nurses in vibrant Tanzania

Destination

Age

15-18 y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

During school holidays

Accommodation

Homestay

Service Hours

15-30

Shadowing Hours

25-50

What’s included

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Excursions, Socials & Fun

Excursions to famous sights and cultural exploration throughout the programme.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Meals

All breakfast, lunch, and dinners, and always fresh drinking water.

Trip Overview

Joy I

As an aspiring surgeon, I was bound to be excited by a surgery workshop, so when we were each handed our own dead chicken and taught several different stitches to use on them, I loved it

Elena L

For years it has been my dream to go on to study Medicine at University, and, as most of you know, this is extremely competitive in the UK. So as soon as I turned 16 I started looking for work experience that would help me with my application.

What you need to know

Overview

This internship is ideal for you if youโ€™re a high school student interested in a medical career. Youโ€™ll gain practical experience that will give your CV an extra edge. In addition, the outreach work you do will also help demonstrate your commitment to helping others.

If youโ€™re not sure if a career in medicine is for you, this is the chance to see what itโ€™s like to be a doctor or nurse. You can get valuable insight into this career path before committing to years of studying. Youโ€™ll also gain skills that are valuable in every career, like teamwork, planning, and leadership.

You donโ€™t need any particular experience or qualifications to join. All of your work is supervised, and our staff are there to guide and help you every step of the way.

For this project, our staff have designed a set itinerary of work and cultural and leisure activities specifically for teenagers. Itโ€™s the perfect project for you if you want to get the most out of your time abroad without the added stress of organising your own activities.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to give you an introduction to a career in medicine. Youโ€™ll learn practical medical skills that will give you the confidence for university applications. Youโ€™ll also get to see what working in a hospital would be like, which can help you decide on your future career path.

We also aim to provide basic healthcare to remote and rural communities. These communities donโ€™t have the funds or transport to seek regular medical assistance. By helping at outreaches, youโ€™ll help doctors advise and treat patients in these communities. Youโ€™ll also raise awareness about disease prevention.

Join this internship for high school students, gain medical experience, and help us work towards providing basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups in Tanzania.

Activities

Youโ€™ll spend time working in hospitals and getting practical medical experience in a Maasai community. Here are some of the tasks youโ€™ll do:

  • Shadow qualified doctors and nurses in a large hospital in Arusha
  • Attend regular medical workshops and learn about medical conditions common in Tanzania
  • Provide Maasai people with basic healthcare during medical outreaches
  • Explore Tanzania with a group of volunteers your age

Shadow doctors and nurses

As part of this internship, youโ€™ll get to observe the work of doctors and nurses. Youโ€™ll be assigned a supervising doctor who will guide you through your different tasks.

Get the chance to see firsthand what working in a hospital in Tanzania is like. Youโ€™ll sit in on consultations and get to see how to use specialised medical equipment.

Because the hospital where you work is under-resourced, youโ€™ll also get to see the innovative ways doctors cope with running out of supplies. Itโ€™ll give you a broader understanding of how medicine is practised in another country.

Attend workshops run by healthcare professionals

Youโ€™ll spend part of this internship attending medical workshops. Youโ€™ll learn about common diseases in Tanzania, like malaria and HIV/AIDS. Doctors will also give you first aid training or teach you things like how to suture or give injections.

Youโ€™ll also learn practical skills like how to measure blood pressure and blood sugar. Youโ€™ll then use these skills at medical outreaches.

Help at medical outreaches

During your time in Tanzania, youโ€™ll participate in medical outreaches. These cover different topics, but youโ€™ll always have plenty of preparation during workshops beforehand. Some examples include visiting a kindergarten to share knowledge about the importance of oral hygiene or doing basic health checks in a Maasai community.

The communities where we hold outreaches are usually remote or rural, with no access to regular medical care. So the work you do during outreaches will help improve access to basic healthcare for these communities.

Explore this beautiful country

This programme has a set itinerary, and although youโ€™ll be doing lots of learning, there are also plenty of leisure activities in between. So, as part of this project, youโ€™ll get to explore Tanzania and learn more about local culture. Through all your adventures, youโ€™ll be with a group of volunteers your age. Our friendly staff will also be there to guide and supervise you.

Youโ€™ll have a cooking lesson to learn how to cook local dishes. During a visit to a Maasai community, youโ€™ll enjoy a traditional lunch and get to see handmade beaded jewellery. Youโ€™ll even have a weekend safari through a breathtaking wildlife reserve.

Map & Location
Vast savannahs teeming with wildlife, Mount Kilimanjaro piercing the sky, and the colourful culture of the Maasai tribe โ€” all things you’ll find in the incredible East African nation of Tanzania.

Tanzania is considered as one of the safest countries in Africa with a friendly and welcoming population, and is a popular tourist destination. With 30% of the country covered in national parks, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, it’s especially good for safaris.

Arusha

Arusha, in northern Tanzania, serves as a gateway to Africa’s most renowned safari destinations. The region is home to 2.4 million people, with 600,000 living in Arusha city at the foot of Mount Meru. It enjoys a pleasant highland climate with warm days and cool nights.

It has a mix of cultures and a growing tourism industry thanks to the fascinating handcrafted souvenirs of the Maasai markets, interesting cultural sites, and thrilling safari trips to nearby national parks.

Food & Accommodation

Discover the magic of Tanzania from your base in Arusha. You’ll have everything you need for a comfortable stay, including a cosy bed, three meals a day using the authentic tastes of Tanzania, and readily available drinking water.

You’ll be welcomed into a carefully selected host family in Arusha, instantly making you feel like a local and providing a taste of Tanzanian life. It will be clean, safe, and within a short distance of your placement. We’ll also handle your daily transport to and from your project, so you can focus on developing your skills, connections, and global perspective.

Shared rooms are arranged with other participants of the same gender and similar age, creating a great opportunity to connect and share your cultural exchange in this beautiful country.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on ourย Tanzania Arrival Procedures page.

Book your adventure

Call +353 (0)1 571 5080 to discuss special discounts or group bookings.

Still got questions? We’re happy to help!

Our trusted accreditations

British Youth Travel Awards Customer Service
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SDG Contribution finalist
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GoOverseas community choice award
Sustainable tour operator finalist
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Volunteer Forever award