Our Package

Having our staff team in your chosen destination organise, in person, your hospital placement certainly offers you peace of mind – but the Work the World experience is about far more than just that. Talk to any of the students who have lived in one of our houses and you’ll quickly understand the benefits of the social atmosphere, the security and the friendly support network we offer. Our package is designed to help you get the most from your time overseas and includes the following:

Organisation of your placement overseas
We have full-time staff on the ground in every destination who know all of the hospitals, clinics, NGOs and our other local partners very well. They discuss each individual placement with the relevant doctors, nurses or other supervisors prior to your arrival to ensure that you have the best possible opportunities.

Accommodation in a Work the World house
One of the things that sets us apart from our competitors is the idea of a Work the World house. One thing that we read in almost every feedback questionnaire is how much people value the social atmosphere of the house, having like-minded people to talk to after work and meeting new friends to travel with. Although each house is unique, most accommodate around 16 people in spacious rooms shared between two or four.

We have a House Manager, who normally lives at the house, to keep it clean, safe and well-maintained - but you won’t find curfews or great lists of house rules. The house is there for you, and we want you to relax, enjoy it and come and go as you please. We take great care to locate our houses in safe areas, and depending on local conditions we sometimes employ security guards and/or security alarms for added peace of mind.

Good local food
At every Work the World house we employ our own Caterer, who prepares breakfast and dinner every weekday, and keeps the kitchen stocked for you to help yourself to lunch and snacks any time of day or night. Experiencing the local cuisine is an important part of learning about a new culture, and our Caterers work hard to prepare typical local dishes using good quality ingredients. We do always offer a vegetarian option, and will do our best to accommodate other dietary requirements on request. Safe, purified drinking water is always available at our houses.

Arrival & orientation
Arriving in an airport in the middle of Africa late at night can be daunting even for experienced travellers, so we make sure that one of our own staff is there waiting to meet you and provide a smooth transfer to your accommodation. If you have any problems such as lost baggage, our staff are there to help you sort everything out.

To get the most out of your limited time overseas it’s important to have a really good orientation to quickly familiarise you with the local area, transport systems, prices and how to avoid being seen as a naive tourist! One of our staff will spend most of your first day giving you a personal fast-track introduction to everything you need to know.

Support overseas
More than anything, it’s our dedicated overseas staff teams that make Work the World what it is. Headed by an experienced Programme Manager, the country team is there to arrange everything before your arrival, help you adjust and settle into the placement as quickly as possible and provide support throughout your time in country. We won’t nanny you, but we’ll be there any time you really need us.

And before you go…
Our UK team includes people who have lived and worked in all of our destinations and who know the programmes inside out. We’re always here in Brighton to talk to you on the phone or answer questions by email before and after your application. If you decide to join us, we will send you a comprehensive information pack with advice on preparations, what to expect overseas and health issues such as malaria prevention and immunisations.

Approximately four weeks before you travel, we will send details about your specific placement. We generally don’t send you this information earlier as things can change overseas and we want to ensure that you have the most accurate and up-to-date information as possible. If you need details sooner, just give us a call or email and we’ll be happy to help.

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