from 0€

Excellent 4.8rating (53)

Veterinary Doctor

location
2 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 23 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Save hundreds of lives, taking care of puppies and kittens and of adult cats and dogs
  • Contribute to the improvement of the health of people and animals of the island through dogs and cats castration
  • Make the difference at our very busy clinic
  • Monitor operated animals during waking up (up to 35 per day)
  • Assist the miracle of recovery of rescued animals

Especially good for

Age 23+
Singles
Couples
50+

About the program

The veterinarian will treat sick animals and, preferably, will also do surgeries and castrations.

At Simabo's vet clinic we really need help from veterinary doctors!

Simabo was the first free veterinarian clinic in Cabo Verde. We offer help to the local people who want their dogs and cats to be spayed/neutered, dewormed and treated.

Skills require

  • To have a university degree of veterinary medicine
  • To

About the program

At Simabo's vet clinic we really need help from veterinary doctors!

Simabo was the first free veterinarian clinic in Cabo Verde. We offer help to the local people who want their dogs and cats to be spayed/neutered, dewormed and treated.

Skills require

  • To have a university degree of veterinary medicine
  • To be independet and responsible
  • To have organizational and time-management skills
  • To have the ability to relate to other people working on the project in view of the objective
  • To be patient
  • To have a strong work ethic, reliability, punctuality
  • A little sense of humor does not hurt
  • Ability to quickly assimilate and follow instructions
  • Ability to recognize problems and to communicate to the leaders
  • Ability to give your utmost attention to the task in hand
  • To be tolerant, diplomatic, and possess a cooperative spirit
  • To have a willingness to understand a different culture other than their own.
  • Speaking portuguese is helpful (to communicate with the local people) but not essencial

What to expect?

  • A lot of work to do!
  • You will see a lot of ill and wounded animals, some of them will also die
  • Complete immersion in the local community...

Tasks

  • To consult dogs and cats at our clinic
  • To consult our animals in our dog and cat shelters
  • To spay/castrate
  • To do other surgeries that are not castrations


Typical day

Information given in the Time Commitment session of this program are only orientative and they are not binding: the free day can be on any day of the week (may be on the weekend, maybe not) and the working time is usually per shift.

The clinic is open to the public from 9AM to 1PM and then again from ...

Typical day

Information given in the Time Commitment session of this program are only orientative and they are not binding: the free day can be on any day of the week (may be on the weekend, maybe not) and the working time is usually per shift.

The clinic is open to the public from 9AM to 1PM and then again from 3PM to 6PM, but surgeries are held only during the morning. So your working time will depend on the tasks that are agreed:

  • If you operate, you shold work in the morning. Please be aware that sometimes surgeries are numerous and need to be completed during the lunch time
  • If you don't operate, you will work during the time when the clinic is open, up to the limit of 6 hours a day.
  • You can also be asked to provide consultations in our dog shelter. In these cases you will work in one of the shifts: from 7 am to 12:30 pm or from 12:30 pm to 7 pm.

In our experience, veterinary doctors are always very motivated and work long hours by their own choice. It is true that they really make a difference to the animals that arrive at the clinic and this is very rewarding.


NOTES:
Changes in shifts must be communicated with a week notice and be authorized- changes in shifts can't leave shifts uncovered  


Free-time activities

The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed! 

On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school. 
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hi

Free-time activities

The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed! 

On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school. 
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hiking paths are very simple to follow. Every volunteer who likes hiking can't miss visiting the neighboring island, Santo Antao, with its beautiful mountains and trekking paths. 
If you are not so keen on hiking, you can rent a bicycle, an electrical bicycle or a scooter at local shops.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 23 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 23 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

Veterinary Medicine at University degree level

Required Documents

passport

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Work experience as a veterinarian is desirable

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 08:30 - 19:00

What's Included

What's Included

Airport Pickup at Cesaria Evora International Airport

Our driver will wait for you in the airport arrival hall with a sign with your name! Driving time to town is about 10 min. 

Accommodation

Accommodation for volunteers is available in single rooms with shared bathroom in our volunteer house or in double or triple rooms with shared bathroom in the hostel. Both are located just a couple of meters away from our clinic, the beach, and the main square of Mindelo. Extra fee is charged for a single room in the hostel.
Volunteers can prepare their own food in the hostel kitchen, where paying guests are hosted to raise funds for the project.
At the hostel volunteers can meet any kind of travellers and together they can plan trips, excursions, parties, dinners, anything that makes fun and makes your volunteering time unforgettable. 

Food & Beverages

Surgeons that can make at least 10 castrations/day get a pocket money for food and access to the communal kitchen.

Pocket money for food is not included for veterinarian doctors who come to help but can't castrate at least 10 animals/day.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Cesaria Evora International Airport (VXE) in Sao Vicente. We assist you to find cheap flights to Cape Verde. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Cape Verde provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Cape Verde you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Cape Verde. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

We accept veterinary doctor all year around according to availability. Usually we accept one veterinary at a time. 

The best months to come are from April or mid-July and from the beginning of October to mid-December, because of the temperature and also because of the cost of the flights, that can be expensive in the high season (Christmas, August).
Carnaval is a highlight of Mindelo's life, volunteers are always welcome at that time of the year. 

Be prepared to stay in a row for paying the "airport fee" that costs 32 euros. You can avoid this applying via Internet and paying in advance by credit card. All info to accomplish this will be provided in due time. EU citizens are not required to have/pay a visa, only non-EU citizens will have to buy one at the airport for 25 euros. 

No vaccinations are required nor recommended. Rabies doesn't exist in Cape Verde. 

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 0€
8 weeks (max. stay) 0€
Average fees 0€/week

Program fees

0€ per week 2 - 8 weeks Age 23 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 8 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Simabo during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Simabo

Excellent 4.8 rating (53 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2008

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Silvia

Spoken languages: Italian, Portuguese, German, English

About the project

SIMABO protects, rescues, assists, and spays/neuters dogs and cats in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde

Meet your organization


SI MA BO in Creole means “like you”. 

We are an association for the protection of animals and the environment based in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde, West Africa. Cape Verde has been a Portuguese colony until 1975 and has still a very "European vibe". No vaccinations are required or recommended.The local population is peaceful and more interested in parties and music than in politics or world finance. Mindelo is famous for its music and dancing nights and for being the birth place of Cesaria Evora, the most famous Capeverdean singer. 

SIMABO is a registered charity both in Cape Verde and in Italy. Article 3 of our Bylaws states out mission as following: "The purpose of the Association is to improve the living conditions of the population of the islands of Cape Verde.  In particular, by reducing the risk of transmission of parasitic diseases by cutting down the number of stray animals through spaying/neutering campaigns, also by involving the population in  activities of prophylactic antiparasitic care and by treating animals carrying diseases. The Association also aims at raising funds to be used for carrying out its activities in the Cape Verde islands."

Our work with animals - including running a shelter with 110 dogs, a cattery with 18 cats, a 7/12 clinic, and ambulant castration campaigns - is partially financed by the Simabo's Backpackers' Hostel, a hostel for responsible tourists, which in the meantime has become the most famous tourist facility on the island. 
We have treated and microchipped more than 12,000 animals so far and we are planning to expand the spaying/neutering campaigns to neighboring islands as well. 

SIMABO Cape Verde is managed by a board of 11 directors (1 Italian, 1 Brazilian, 1 Russian and 8 Cape-Verdeans) and employs 12 local workers: 1 veterinarian, 1 nurse, 1 receptionist, 1 driver, 4 dog carers, 3 cleaning staff, 1 night watch + 1 administrator from abroad (Portugal), and relies on the help of 2 full-time volunteers + an average of part-time 10 volunteers on the field and abroad.

The help we need varies depending on your skills. We expect someone who is a self-starter and can work independently with a very high degree of motivation. The focus must be to help the project, with the necessary amount of rest and freetime, to recover from the hard work and to visit the island of Sao Vicente and the neighboring island of Santo Antao, which can be done easily in the free time provided but the working schedule.

Volunteering with SIMABO offers the opportunity to make a great experience abroad in a protected environment, where volunteers can meet other volunteers or hostel guests from all over the world. The relationship with the animals can be extremely rewarding form the emotional point of view, being Capeverdean dogs very tame and social. Volunteers are completely immersed in the local environment, working with local staff and being required to shop and cook their own food. For volunteers that don't want to cook by themselves a wide choice of different options is available to eat at local restaurants and bars for a little price.  

Confirmed volunteers will receive a link to our portal with all the information required for their travel, their stay and the work with us in the different areas: Dog shelter, Cat shelter, Clinic, Hostel, Communication and Fundraising, Education, Maintenance. Feel free to choose the area the best suites you to make the difference for the animals on this beautiful island! 

53 reviews · rating4.8

Christine Salomon ép. Gavet rating5

2024 at Veterinary Doctor

i always wanted to do veterinary volunteering and I was finally able to carry out this project ay Simabo where I spent 5 weeks. I felt really useful by sterilizing and caring for street animals or those belonging to people in need. the local staff are committed and helpful, the volunteers come ...
Jane Campbell rating4.8

2024 at Veterinary Doctor

I spent 3 exciting weeks at Simabo in Cape Verde as a vet with 4 years small animal experience. There were certainly hectic days but the team there are nothing short of excellent. Adaptation is the ethos. If you seek a challenging yet rewarding experience, and you’re not shy of testing your ...
R Long rating5

2023 at Veterinary Doctor

Wonderful, challenging and rewarding work as a veterinary surgeon. Plenty of opportunity provided to explore the area around Sao Vincent Island and neighboring Sant Antao ...
Elena Berbece rating5

2023 at Veterinary Doctor

If you are a vet at the beggining of your career, it's the right place to learn. If you're a vet with years of experience it's the best place to feel useful and to feed your soul. There is no bad time to volunteer at Simabo. Still... it s not for anyone. If you cant leave the comfort zone, maybe ...
Julia Ottiger rating5

2024 at Animal Supporter

I had a really good time at Simabo. I went to the shelter almost every day and walked the dogs. The dogs are super friendly and are really happy when they see you and know that it's time for a walk, cuddle or play. The cats at the hostel are also lovely and love it when you play with them or give ...
Alice Albergucci rating5

2024 at Animal Supporter

Ho fatto una settimana di volontariato al rifugio di Simabo e’ stata un’esperienza veramente bella ,ho conosciuto persone che porterò nel mio cuore e sto parlando sia delle persone che gestiscono l’associazione ma anche delle altre volontarie e che dire dei tutti quei cagnolini ❤️ ...

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Contact Silvia
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Italian, Portuguese, German, English

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