Worldwide Health Internship

This unique 4-week Internship program is designed for high school volunteers aspiring to be doctors and healthcare practitioners. Interns will work alongside experienced local health care professionals to mentor them in identifying public health challenges in the community and to build the systemic thinking capacity to better succeed in pre-health degrees. Very tangibly, Interns will focus on a specific health challenge to research in depth and provide a final presentation in the form of recommendation of how OGVO engages future volunteers and local staff to help resolve these challenges. The Internship also features site visits to local medical facilities, professional guest speakers, and college essay guidance before, during and after the program.

Internship Overview:

• For graduating high school sophomores and juniors
• By teacher/counselor recommendation only
• 4-week sessions
• Incorporates 2-3 days per week working alongside a local health care professional
• 2-3 days per week volunteering at a youth organization with OGVO High School ‘Health’ Volunteers
• Medical Professional site-visits and Guest Speakers
• Home Stay- accommodations, cultural activities, and weekend excursions with other High School volunteers

4-week Sample Itinerary

Overview: During the four weeks the Interns will meet with their local mentor 2-3 days a week to participate in specialized programming, while joining other OGVO high school volunteers in health educational and small construction projects in local schools in addition to fun weekend excursion activities.

Week 1-Introduction to Health Challenges: Interns will spend the first week investigating a variety of public health care challenges in their assigned community. They will meet with the mentor for shadowing sessions, visits local medical facilities, and have meetings with local health care professionals in the community.

Week 2-Investigation of a Health Challenge: Interns will be presented with a more specific public health challenge in the community from their volunteer and shadowing experience and begin the process of researching possible "solutions" with the guidance of their mentor. The role of the mentor would be to meet with these students to discuss the challenge and proposed solutions; rebutting with any societal and economic challenges and encouraging deeper thinking surrounding complexities. Students research and gain a greater understanding of the systemic health issue they identify by combining various public health factors (economic, educational, familial, nutrition, medical resources, environmental, etc).

Week 3- Health Challenge Proposal Development: Interns continue with mentor shadowing, medical visits, and guest speakers, and develop a draft of their proposal for the identified health issue. Health challenge solutions will include specific project proposals that OGVO volunteers might realize in the future thus contributing real world problem solving. Mentors will continue to provide guidance and challenge them with greater complexities in community.

Week 4- Health Challenge Proposal Presentation: Prepare and present solution to issue through presentation involving all group members. Presentation will be given to Country Director, relevant group speakers, and mentors. Presentation is 20-30 minutes in total, and is accompanied by a written summary by the group.

7 AM – Breakfast
8 AM – 12 PM — Work
12 PM – 1 PM — Lunch and rest
1 PM – 4 PM — Work
4 PM – 6 PM — Help prepare dinner, play soccer, participate in drum/dance workshops
6 PM – Dinner
8 PM – Group meeting and/or group activity

Weekends are a time to explore. Hike to a nearby waterfall, explore a local forest preserve, or visit a community market.

On weekends and for excursions, we will take volunteers to a breathtaking beach or to the Cape Coast Kakum Rainforest Reserve. Relax on the beach or hike through the jungle and the canopy walkway. You will also be able to visit the famous slave fort in Cape Coast.