As a medical intern/volunteer, your responsibilities are entirely dependent on your previous level of training and experience. Because of this, interns/volunteers with higher qualifications will, therefore, receive more advanced work.

Pre-medical students will work in local clinics doing basic tasks such as:

• Administration tasks
• General health checks
• Taking patients’ history
• Raise awareness on important health topics like nutrition and personal hygiene

For doctors or nurses in training, depending on your level of experience and skills, you may be required to do various tasks such as:

• Assisting the medical doctor on duty
• Shadowing the doctors
• Assist with procedures like giving injections and suturing wounds
• Check-ups like checking blood pressure etc.
• Help in maintaining medical records

Our internship programs are based on the outskirts of Kingston. Intern placements are within 15 to 30 minutes from Volunteer Home. The programs are also within close proximity to village shops, schools, and churches.

Interns will arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport and our representative will meet you on arrival.

A Jamaica Volunteer Programs coordinator will conduct orientation on the morning of the day the project starts. During this first meeting, you will be introduced to local staff who will take care of you and go over the details of your project placement. Your orientation will include popular Jamaican customs & culture, safety, weekend and free time travel options, and guidelines and expectations.

During your orientation, you will also be briefed on information about all the Covid-19 protocols, options for local transportation, currency, and other support services you will require during your stay.

Our accommodations are dormitory-style volunteer houses. Rooms are equipped with fans, but there is an option to pay an additional charge for air conditioning. Dorms have bunk beds and volunteers will share rooms with others of the same sex.

All accommodations have electricity, running water, western-style bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi. You are required to bring your reusable water bottle to refill each day, which will help to reduce your cost for clean drinking water. You are also required to bring toiletries.

Solar panels heat up the water in our accommodation, so on days when it’s not sunny or raining, there may be a chill to your shower.

At JVP, breakfast and dinner from Monday – Friday is included in your package.

The breakfast menu includes toast, eggs, fruits, tea/coffee, and juice. Two days per week, you’ll have a full Jamaican breakfast. We have a communal kitchen at the volunteer house that consists of all the essentials, including an electric kettle, refrigerator, utensils, and microwave. There is also space in our cupboards to pack your snacks.

For breakfast and dinner on the weekends, you may use our communal kitchen at the volunteer accommodation with access to amenities like a gas stove, oven, kettles, microwave, and fridge. Alternatively, you can access nearby restaurants offering meals between $5-8.

We cater to all diets, including vegetarians and vegans. To request meals for your special diet, discuss with your project coordinator.

Your daily work schedule will depend on your location and the duties; however, all interns will work with a basic structure. Our projects run from Monday – Friday, and on the first day of your placement, you’ll be accompanied by a local staff who will introduce you and help you settle in. During this time, you will get to familiarize yourself with the facilities, the team, and the duties and activities you will be doing.

However, a typical weekday will look something like this: 

6:30 – 7:30: Breakfast

8:00: Depart for internship work

 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Start working at your project placement. You may be working as a tour guide at a popular destination or working closely with a hotel, villa, or guest house operator. Shadow your mentor and engage in your hospitality duties and responsibilities.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

At noon, there will be a break for lunch. This can be flexible and not necessarily taken at this time.

 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Return to work at your placement.

Click here to see program fee

For the best experience, our interns are required to be 18 and older, are encouraged to be flexible and open-minded. Creativity, initiative, and a sense of humor are also invaluable assets. Interns also need to submit important documentation such as travel health insurance, trip cancellation, a resume/CV, a copy of your passport front page, and a criminal background check not older than six months.

The Jamaican Government has come up with a short term licensing process for interns and volunteers. It requires that you submit a short volunteer form, certified copies of basic degree certificates and current license (if applicable), two medical references, a work permit exemption application form, and two photographs. Your documentation requirements will vary depending on your qualifications, but for a full list of what you will need to submit, go here: Requirements by Jamaican Government.

You can spend your afternoons and weekends however you’d like, whether it be hanging out with other volunteers, working online, or exploring Jamaica through adventure. At JVP, our representatives are always looking out for eye-opening cultural activities we know you’ll enjoy. Some afternoons you’ll even have the option to attend a local event. It’s your choice!

Here are some options:

• Kingston Highlights Tour
• Charles Town Maroon Tour
• Blue Mountain Highlights Tour