Chidamoyo Christian Hospital - Volunteer Graduate Internship

Kristen Guthrie Start Date: May 24, 2016 - End Date: Aug 31, 2016
  • Mhangura, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe
  • Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Karoi, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe

My Travel Story

by: Kristen Guthrie Start Date: May 24, 2016 - End Date: Aug 31, 2016
In the late 1980's, my grandparents traveled to Zimbabwe to deliver equipment and dig water wells, sponsored through the organization IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service). After an interesting turn of events, IDES sent my grandparents to the Chidamoyo Christian Hospital where my grandmother helped with mother/baby care and my grandfather continued to assist with physical labor needs. Fast-forwarding nearly 30 years, I now not only have the opportunity to fulfill a requirement for my Master's Degree in Global Health but I have the opportunity to go to the same location and do the same work that my grandparents did, with some of the same people. Currently, I am a second year graduate student at Liberty University and the final step I must take towards graduation will be the completion of 120 hours of hands-on, physical work that relates to my degree. At the Chidamoyo Christian Hospital I will have the opportunity to assist with a variety of needs ranging anywhere from mother/baby to ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) education. I will be gone approximately 4 weeks in the month of September flying from Florida to Harare, Zimbabwe which will take approximately 25 to 35 hours. Once I arrive in Harare, I will travel by vehicle for several hours until I reach the hospital. While Zimbabwe is a beautiful country, I have no plans to leave the grounds of hospital other than for the purpose of leaving to return to the U.S. This is a very unique opportunity for me, however; it does not present itself easily. While my tuition money is covered for the duration of this internship, I am responsible for everything else. Between a loss of work wages while I am gone, flight costs, travel fees, food, and cost of room and board while I am on the hospital grounds, I have estimated that my financial need will be approximately $4000 - $4500. Flights alone range anywhere from $1600 to $2000 depending on which one can get me there when I will have transportation available to the hospital. Understandably, this is a large sum of money, so even your prayers are appreciated if you are unable to provide a monetary gift. Thank you in advance for your support!
  • Mhangura, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe
  • Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Karoi, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe

Updates

1

  • Funding Amount Updated!

    Thanks to all of the funds I have received via mail/in-person, I have updated the total amount still needed before I leave on August 28th! Thanks again for your support!