How to Work With Doctors Without Borders
To work with Doctors Without Borders is an honor and a privilege. There is an in-depth intake process that involves screening and an interview. Experience is needed living in underdeveloped countries if you want to work out in the field. The work is hard, long and stressful. There is volunteer work on the home front. The joy of helping others has to come from a well that is within you. Follow your inner drive.
- Determine if you want to commit to nine months with the Doctors Without Borders Program. This is the minimum amount of commitment that the organization feels is necessary to provide quality stable care.
- Ascertain whether you meet the criteria. Both healthcare workers and other volunteers are needed. You must be willing to work long hours under grueling conditions.
- Ask yourself if you get along well with others. The right candidate will be able to live in close quarters with many sorts of personalities.
- Decide if fieldwork is the right place for you. People who do this job must be able to handle very stressful situations. To work in the field the organization requires that one have experience with living in an underdeveloped nation like Africa.
- Prepare to be called out on very little notice. There is a stringent screening process and interview. Prospective workers are placed into a pool and called in when there is a healthcare crisis.
- Inquire of yourself if you are dedicated to really want to help others with little reward. The joy of giving to others has to come from a wellspring inside of you.
- Let the organization know if you are bilingual. Preference is given to workers who are.
- Choose to volunteer in the background doing very necessary organization, fundraising and secretarial work.
- Decide if you can be away from home for long periods of time. Tours are at least nine months.
- Allow yourself to follow your dream if you have a burning desire to help others less fortunate than most.