Trip Details

Village Healthcare Volunteer in Palawan Philippines

Are you a medical professional looking for a break from the norm, whilst still getting in some great experience? Our Village Healthcare Volunteer programme in Palawan, Philippines, is a popular placement for healthcare professionals! Based in the most rural areas of Palawan, this project aims to ease the strain of understaffed healthcare centres and hospitals while enabling volunteers to learn about healthcare in a completely new (and did we mention, tropical:) environment.

Engage with a Community that needs your Healthcare Skills!

As people in rural areas don’t have good access to larger hospitals here, local healthcare provision is incredibly important. During your stay here (and depending on your experience), you will be shadowing, observing and assisting staff in clinics, schools and community hospitals. Your tasks may include feeding malnourished children, providing healthcare lessons, and visiting sick elders at home. Needless to say, this can be a difficult project, but incredibly rewarding too! So, in addition to your qualifications and CV, we ask that you also bring with you a positive attitude and some extra resilience to handle challenging moments!

Embark on your Tropical Medical Sabbatical here!

During your stay here in Palawan, you will find plenty of time to relax on golden beaches and explore the local – and wider area. Our comfortable beach-front accommodation is ideal to use as a base for adventures further afield. Take a cool walk through the rainforest, as you spot Macaque monkeys and other furry inhabitants, or simply enjoy taking in your surroundings, chatting with locals and browsing through village marketplaces as you go. This is a trip of a lifetime that will do you as much good, as it does, those you volunteer to help!

Why be a Village Healthcare Volunteer in Palawan, Philippines?

  • Help out in understaffed medical facilities to help the Palawan communities
  • Gain valuable skills and a unique insight into healthcare in the Philippines
  • Take time out to truly relax in an idyllic setting with super friendly people
  • Find snorkelling, swimming, kayaking and trekking on your tropical doorstep
  • Stay in beach-front accommodation with meals and beverages* included

*tea, coffee and drinking water

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

You will arrive on Sunday, and have plenty of time to relax and settle into your accommodation, ahead of your exciting week as a Village Healthcare Volunteer!

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to get accustomed to your surroundings as well as local culture. Thereafter, your Philippines Kindergarten Volunteer Programme will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Orientation Schedule

  • Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
  • Philippino Do’s and Don’ts, Philippino Culture Lessons and Philippino Language Lessons.
  • Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary.
  • Lunch
  • Workshop: Weaving Coconut leaves or broom making
  • Philippine Cooking Classes

Daily Schedule

After enjoying a delicious breakfast with fresh fruits, you’ll head to your placement. This could be a hospital, local health centre or a local school. Thereafter, you will carry out your allocated duties, which could involve any of the following:

Activities that you could join depending on the need during your stay:

  • Working in hospital/healthcare centre or in school
  • Shadowing, observing and assisting at village healthcare clinic.
  • Shadowing, observing and assisting in a local hospital
  • Feeding malnourished children
  • Providing health care lessons in local schools
  • Medical knowledge exchange with local doctors
  • Visiting the elderly and sick in local villages.

A lunch break will be taken on-site around midday and in the evening, you’ll return to the centre for dinner and have time to unwind.

Tuesday to Friday

  • Breakfast
  • Village Healthcare Volunteer project 2-3 hours
  • Lunch
  • Village Healthcare Volunteer project 2 hours
  • Dinner
  • Free Time

Evenings and Weekends

After a day of volunteering, you can choose to explore the area or head further afield on the weekends. Many of our volunteers enjoy mixing with their new volunteer friends during the week and plan their weekend adventures as they go!

Please note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Please be advised that even though a digital copy will be submitted, all volunteers should also bring a hard copy of their CV/Resume and Criminal Background Check with them, to be presented to their placement coordinator on arrival.

Transportation

From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):

  • El Nido (Palawan)

Places to Visit

Coron Bay

Fancy a dive? Found at the northwest of Palawan (between Busuanga and Culion islands) Coron Bay is known for being one of the best wreck diving locations in the world.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Located 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa and has recently been voted one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world. Don’t miss this beautiful park – public transport is available to take you there, and the journey itself is worth the visit!

Trip Accommodation

During your Village Healthcare Volunteer here in Palawan, you will stay in Tigman Village in the Aborlan District. It’s a small, laid back area just outside of Puerto Princesa City, and sits amongst the many fishing villages that Palawan is known for.

About the Accommodation

Our accommodation is built with many natural elements – and you will have a tropical beach at your feet! Here, you’ll have a single-gender dorm-style room with bunk beds, although private rooms are available, subject to availability.

You’ll have to do your own washing, however, there is a laundry service here, too, which you can use for a small fee, if prefered.  You will be living like a local with basic facilities including “bucket showers.” – not really a hardship in this good weather! Due to our tropical setting, WiFi service may not be what you are used to at home, but it is available. However, we recommend purchasing your own local SIM card if you want to stay connected throughout the day.

Importantly, please be advised that due to jellyfish in the water, it is unlikely that you will be able to swim at the beach close by the accommodation. There is an area near the river or on the other side of the village, which is about a 15 minute walk away, where you will be able to enjoy a cool dip more safely.

Food Arrangements

Filipino cuisine is utterly delish, and you’ll have the chance to try cooking some authentic food of your own whilst you’re here. The food will consist mainly of local cuisine (lots of vegetables, meat, egg and rice) and you will have three meals per day served to you through the week, with two meals at the weekends (brunch and dinner).

Facilities

There are many forms of local transportation such as jeepneys, buses and vans which depart every hour to the town of Aborlan or to the next town Narra.

Further, you’ll find ATM’s & Western Union transfers available in the town of Nara, which is about 30 minutes away by car. Here, you can also find all necessary amenities.

Transportation

From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):

  • El Nido (Palawan)

Activities & Events

Tuesday Night

Join us for a fun night under the stars, with a Bonfire and plenty of great banter!

Thursday Night

You don’t have to have a great singing voice to take part in a musical trip down memory lane. In fact, it’s the ones who can’t sing who make our evenings the most fun:)

 

Trip Country Info

Philippines

Capital: Manila
Language: Filipino
Currency: Peso (PHP)
Time zone: PST (UTC +8)

The Philippines is made up of a total of 7,107 islands, only 2000 of which are inhabited. The islands are broadly categorised under 3 main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It is the 7th most populated country in Asia and the 12th most in the world.

As a newly industrialised country, the Philippine economy which was once founded upon its agriculture is now moving towards an economy based on services and manufacturing.

It is unsurprising that the Philippines attracts tourists due to its incredibly rich biodiversity found across its islands. The mountains, rainforests and diving spots as well as its impressive cultural heritage all add to the reasons why the Philippines is such an incredible place to experience.

Climate
The Philippines experiences a tropical maritime climate meaning that it is normally hot and humid and there are 3 distinct seasons:

Hot, dry season from March to May
Rainy season from June to November
Cool, dry season from December to February
The southwest monsoon lasts from May to October and the dry monsoon in the northeast from November to April.

Temperatures in the Philippines normally range from 21°C to 32°C with the coolest month being January and the hottest, May. The yearly average is 26.6°C..

The Philippines sits on the typhoon belt and so most islands experience torrential rains and storms from July to October.

Culture
The Philippines is a secular state and stemming from its Spanish cultural influence and it is one of only two Roman Catholic countries in Asia. Its Christian population is at about 90%. The country displays a mixture of Eastern and Western culture. Whilst it undeniably preserves cultural aspects found elsewhere in Asia, its Hispanic influence is perhaps most noticeable especially in the architecture and names of streets, towns and provinces.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

Over 18
DBS, Police Background Check
Travel Insurance
Scrubs
Medical Education or Related Experience
CV

Additional Requirements

No requirements have been provided.

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Airport drop off
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa