The Weekly Question – which experiences would you recommend to Work the World students going on placement this year?

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Here we go with another Weekly Question blog including feedback from students on placement in Africa, Asia and South America right now!

Your overseas placement with Work the World will be an invaluable learning experience which develops your skills, confidence and knowledge in your chosen discipline, but it can’t be all work and no play! Doing your elective placement abroad should also be an amazing travel adventure you’ll never forget.

This week we asked students in each of our houses “which experiences would you suggest to Work the World students going on placement this year?”

wine tour mendoza1 150x150 The Weekly Question which experiences would you recommend to Work the World students going on placement this year?

Enjoying some Malbec!

In Argentina one of the top suggestions was hiring a two person bike and doing a wine tour. Ewa, James and Aurore who’ve all been on placement in Mendoza for a few weeks now said they would recommend that anyone going to Mendoza hires a two person bike and cycles their way around the vineyards of the region. We couldn’t work out whether it was for the beautiful scenery or the yummy Malbec!

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Nepal – what’s on during your elective?

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Nepal has a hugely varied landscape considering it’s relatively small size. You have the highest mountains in the world leading down into the best river rapids and finally into the steamy heat of the plains. It is a mecca for adrenaline activities and canyoning, trekking and mountain biking are available all year, but also one for spiritualism; there are amazing temples and world heritage sites with some fantastic architecture and history. Weather often dictates a trip to Nepal, but we don’t think you should restrict yourself…..

DSC03533 150x150 Nepal – what’s on during your elective?

The peaceful lake - good for kayaking / boating

Abby 2011 27 150x150 Nepal – what’s on during your elective?

World peace pagoda - Pokhara's best walk

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The Weekly Question – how do you feel about safety and security on placement?

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Very often students and their parents (OK, more often the parents!) contact us with concerns about safety and security in the countries we work in. We know that venturing to lands unknown can be daunting and often you just don’t know what to expect. That’s why we’re here to give you all the info, advice and guidance you need before you set off and while you’re away!

Ghandruk trek Nepal 150x150 The Weekly Question – how do you feel about safety and security on placement?

A stunning view on the Ghandruk trek, Nepal

Safety and security is of course a key priority for us too, which is why all of our destinations are in countries considered to be politically and economically stable by the Foreign Commonwealth Office.

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Dengue fever – 7 top tips

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Our partners, Interhealth, have just published a great article with tips on how to avoid dengue fever.
  1. photo 4924 20090302 150x150 Dengue fever 7 top tips

    Mosquito - image by Christian Meyn / freedigitalphoto.net

    What is dengue fever? It is is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted by the Aedesmosquito that has been reported in over 100 countries.

  2. How do I avoid getting it? At present the most effective way of preventing dengue is by avoiding mosquito bites, especially during daylight hours i.e. around dawn and dusk when these mosquitoes are most active.
  3. Where can I get more information? Download InterHealth’s information and guidance sheet about Dengue Fever
  4. What if I need personal advice about dengue? Use MyHealth Advice Hub: Wherever you are, ‘Ask a Doctor’ for advice about any illness or medical issue.
  5. What would you recommend to prevent mosquito bites? Cover up and use a DEET-based insect repellant – wear clothes that cover your arms and legs and wear a DEET-based insect repellent whenever possible, especially after dawn and before sunset. Spray permethrin or DEET-based insect repellents on  clothing. If possible spray permethrin or DEET based repellents on your clothing after every wash as mosquitoes may be able to bite through thin clothing.
  6. Can you identify an Aedes mosquito? You can easily spot them – they have a distinctive black and white striped body. They are often found around stagnant water.
  7. Know if you’ve got it: Dengue usually starts with a fever lasting 1-5 days. Other symptoms are headache, muscle ache, pain and a rash. Most infections clear up on their own within one to two weeks. Although rare in travellers, the more severe dengue haemorrhagic fever can cause high fever, enlarged liver, symptoms of heart failure and flu-like symptoms.  If you think you may be infected, visit a doctor as soon as possible.

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Work the World info session at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Look out, Aberdeen!

Work The World is coming to visit!

Robert gordon uni logo1 Work the World info session at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

The info session will take place on 26 April 2012.

Robert Gordon University will be hosting an informational session for students interested in expanding their horizons with an overseas placement.

We will be gathering at the School of Health Sciences (at the Garthdee Campus) in Room H405 from 5-7 pm on 26 April, 2012 for a pizza, wine, and information session. We will be giving presentations about overseas placement opportunities and providing some refreshments so come and say hello!  There will be plenty of time for asking questions and hopefully we will have some past Work the World students attending to give you a real insight into working in a developing country.

Pop by our FaceBook Event Page to let us know if you’re coming and ask any burning questions you have before the session.

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Mothers day realities – when becoming a mum can kill you.

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Mothering Sunday is a day I have always associated with flowers, chocolates and homemade cards… it marks the day I became a mum and is a time for celebration. For many women though, having a baby is not a celebration at all – it’s a death sentence.

Abby 2009 4 150x150 Mothers day realities – when becoming a mum can kill you.

Maternity practices are very different

MSF reported today that Mothering Sunday would have seen 1000 women die of maternal complications, most of which were preventable. They have released a report, Maternal Death: The Avoidable Crisis, which shows that women are continuing to die needlessly because they do not have access to the care that they need. 1000 every single day.

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Kids and bad teeth….. what can we do?

Monday, March 19th, 2012

We are gearing up for our summer Dental Outreach Projects in Nepal, where we treat thousands of school children that have no access to dental care. In a bid to get in the mood, I switched on to watch ITV’s Tonight documentary “Our Kids Rotten Teeth” last week. It made for gripping, and shocking television!

Children as young as 3 or 4 were having surgery to remove 10, 11, 12 or more of their milk teeth because of  too much sugar and bad oral hygiene and never visiting a dentist. And that is in this country –  where we get reminders to go to the dentist, can easily buy dental aids like toothbrushes, have “flouride varnishing” sessions at school, have flouride added to our water and are regularly told that sweet things are bad for our teeth. It made me think about the realities of young children like those in Nepal, who don’t have the same level of education, have no access to care and no assistance in protecting their milk teeth.

Faye 2010 90 150x150 Kids and bad teeth….. what can we do?

Work the World run yearly Dental Outreach Projects

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Woolongong Winners!

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Work the World sponsored the elective photo competition at Woolongong University at the end of 2011. Check out some of the amazing photos that were sent in…

5 year old waiting intrathecal injection of methrotrexate in Kathmandu 150x150 Woolongong Winners!

Intrathecal injection of methrotrexate, Nepal

Fiesta de La Virgen Natividato Cusco 150x150 Woolongong Winners!

Fiesta de La Virgen Natividato, Cusco

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Elective fundraising tips – how to write a press release for newspaper and radio

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

One great way to raise funds for your placement is to increase awareness of your elective in the community in which you live or study. It can lead to huge public interest and in some cases, sponsorship from locals or businesses. The most interesting one we’ve heard so far is a student who managed to get the local amateur dramatic group to donate two nights worth of takings towards his placement!

The best way to get your story to lots of people quickly is to send it to radio stations and newspapers, that way all the publicity is done for you. The problem is that you are one of hundreds of elective students appealing for sponsorship in a pile of millions of potentially newsworthy stories. Why would they pick yours to publish? Well they won’t if you don’t put in a bit of effort and follow the correct procedures! The good news is that we’re here to guide you through the process of dealing with the media and give you the best possible chance of reaching the eyes and ears of your local community.

Who should I approach?

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SCOR winners are announced!

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

The Society of Radiographers has announced the winners of their 2011 competition.

Natasha Kirby and Natasha Jevdet, both diagnostic imaging students, will each receive an international elective placement of up to four weeks to be taken in 2012.

Both winners had to submit an 800-word personal statement, including what they hoped to achieve from the elective placement, what they would give to the host country and the personal qualities that would enable them to deliver this.

Natasha Kirby, currently studying at London South Bank University, wrote of her desire to experience diagnostic radiography in Ghana. She is particularly interested in understanding how poverty, poor sanitation and educational problems are overcome to deliver an effective and safe hospital environment.

As well as looking at how the patient journey from incident to diagnosis and then treatment may vary from a cultural perspective, Natasha would also be interested to explore the use of traditional healing alongside medical approaches.

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