What is Médecins du Monde?
Médecins du Monde is an international humanitarian aid organisation that recruits medical and non-medical volunteers, who provide healthcare for vulnerable populations around the world. In addition to medical care, our volunteers “bear witness” to any obstacles to healthcare or human rights abuses that they see. This gives a voice to vulnerable people whose stories may not otherwise be heard.
Where do your projects take place?
Our projects take place in developed and developing countries, falling into three categories:
- Emergency: responding to humanitarian crises, natural disasters, conflicts and wars
- Post-emergency and rehabilitation: helping local people to restore their healthcare system in the aftermath of emergencies by reconstructing clinics and hospitals, providing medical supplies and training local healthcare worker. Post-emergency, or rehabilitation, projects also help with the physical and psychological recovery of people affected by disasters
- Long-term development: these projects aim to bring lasting solutions by tackling the long-term effects of poverty and exclusion on health, by supporting local health systems in prevention, health education and training of local professionals
What countries do you go to?
We operate in both ‘developed’ as well as ‘developing’ countries all over the world. We currently are running 90 projects in 50 countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
What type of volunteers do you recruit?
Medical: doctors, nurses, midwives, psychologists and surgeons.
Experience: two years post-qualification experience. A diploma in tropical medicine would be useful.
Minimum period for volunteering: three months.
Non-medical volunteers: logisticians, non-medical co-ordinators and administrators.
Experience: three to five years experience in your given field.
Minimum period for volunteering: six months.
For both: A working knowledge of French is useful although not crucial. Other languages, like Spanish and Portuguese, would also be useful.
Will my costs be covered?
Yes. We cover: transportation, food, housing and insurance (cover for healthcare expenses; life insurance; legal cover and repatriation on medical or security grounds). You’ll receive a local allowance of approx. £200 depending on local cost of living, and a monthly compensation of between £400-£600 into your bank account at home. It is not a salary, more like a stipend.
How are your projects funded?
The majority of funding comes from the general public (individual donations). We receive grants from governments, the EU, United Nations agencies and foundations for particular projects. DFID (the Department For International Development) supports some of our projects, as do foundations like the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Additionally, we stage fundraising events for the public to support.
Can I volunteer if I am a student, medical or not?
No. Much though we admire the enthusiasm of all the students we have met, we need to send volunteers to the field that can hit the ground running. We just don’t have the resources to supervise and support students overseas. But we do welcome students to volunteer with our Project: London.
If I want to volunteer, what do I do next?
Send your CV with a covering letter explaining why you'd like to work with Médecins du Monde, and specify whether you want to work in the UK or overseas. Either by post or by email to recruitment@medecinsdumonde.org.uk
