Looking for a Few Good... Volunteers

Okay, I will see if I have better luck with recruiting people than raising dollars.

As my sidekick, Tony, is no longer able to journey to Mercy, I am looking for "several people" to replace him.   However, I will not be requiring people with a bad sense of humour, elitist English attitude or religious conservative beliefs; but I do want people with his dedication to the students' education and improvement and his enthusiasm for teaching and life in general.  I have had to tone down my expectations as Tony is truly irreplaceable.

I am looking for several people [or couples] who want to:

• experience a developing country and culture;
• encounter wonderful enthusiastic nursing students; and,
• have a meaningful, working [but not too hard] vacation.

Volunteers would help with tutoring one of the small Problem Based Learning groups.   The class times are Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays 11-12 and 1-3..   

Your responsibilities are to ask questions about the material that you don't understand... So the more you don't understand about neurology, ethics, psychology and sociology, the better the facilitator you will be!      

There are many other possibilities for involvement if you wish:

• On Tuesdays 10 – 12 I do other stuff [Values Clarification, Ethics Exercises and Field Trips]; Tony did exciting classes like the "12 Cranial Nerves Sweepstakes", "Motor Pathways you won't find on Google Maps" and "Just Plain Crazy is not a DSM-IV Billing Code".  So you could do whatever you’d want!  I can watch.
• If you want you can grade the daily exams too – I hate that.
• I am sure that I can arrange any In-Service you might want to do with staff at Mercy Hospital… 
• There are Nursing and Physiotherapy programmes at the University Guyana who might welcome your participation.
• There are a Boys' and Girls' Homes [John Bosco and St Ann's] that always welcome volunteers who can help with homework in the afternoons.

Your responsibilities include:

• Committing to at least a two week stay to assist.
• Paying air, land travel [$25 US in Guyana from airport] and insurances plus whatever shots;
• Spending money - restaurants, local travel, souvenirs, beer for John;
• If interested a plane trip to spectacular Kaieteur Falls in the Amazon Jungle [@ $250 US;];
• That is it!

Once you are at the hospital:

• You'll have a separate bedroom in my flat. [After the fire in 2010 lodging is always somewhat unpredictable.
• There is a fridge, stove, coffee maker and microwave; a private bathroom and shower - unless the toilet has fallen through the floor.
• You will receive meals from the kitchen and cafeteria 7 days a week [Some Sunday breakfasts excluded.]
• I keep stuff, like PandJ, in the fridge in case the meal is unidentifiable…
• I might even spring for a non-chicken and rice meal at the Brazilian Barbeque place.
• And you get me as a tour guide!   [A ten year record of never losing a volunteer though I did get mugged while a volunteer watched.]  Actually, if you really want to do something, I can usually make it happen.
• If you come as a couple, there are several weekend resorts Baganara Island Resort [http://www.baganara.net/] if you just want to take the whole class on a field trip! 

When can you come?
I will be there from the beginning of September till the 22^nd of November. 
  
These are my recommendations, so I may give you the best experience.  The first week I am getting organized, as almost everything I think will be there has been "uplifted"; and, the last week I realize that I am never getting everything done that I wanted...

I''d like it if you could come when another volunteer is not there; however, some overlap in being there might be good as you will get to meet another volunteer... and I won't have to do any orientation.

I think a one week trip would be too short for you to have any experience, and if it all you can come, then I'll  consider it...  

I am pretty easy, so make me a deal.  "ll try and keep the below schedule up-to-date as possible.

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
September	1	Not Good as my First Week					7
	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
	22	23	24	25	26	27	28
	29	30
October			1	2	3	4	5
	6	Nurse Trish from Winnipeg					12
	13	14	15	16			19
	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	27	28	29	30	31
November		Possible Volunteer				1	2
	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
	17	Not Good as my Last Week					23

The students say “Thank you”... and appreciate your skills and time.

If you'd like more information,please email me.