International Service Learning
Health Care and Education

As a socially responsible international educational NGO, ISL enlists medical and educational volunteer teams for the provision of services to under-served populations in Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Africa.

It is the goal of ISL to partner student and professional teams from developed countries with service opportunities in developing countries. This is accomplished by offering educational opportunities on a contractual basis to both educational institutions and individual students.

Service Project(s)

Activities:

• Offering medical clinics in under-serviced communities:
  - Patient interviews/triage
  - Basic medical examinations
  - Dental cleanings/tooth extractions
  - Community health surveys
  - Vision testing
• Please Note: all activities are directed/supervised by trained physicians and/or dentists; translators assist participants in communicating with patients

Goals

• To simultaneously provide educational opportunities for students from developed countries while providing services for developing countries (including employment opportunities for health professionals, translators, cooks, etc.)
• To perform medical services in a "field clinic" setting as dictated by the needs of the communities with whom ISL works

Cost - $2,550 CAD

* Please note:
These prices are tentative. Current prices are based on flight quotes. If flight costs are lower than expected, prices for particular experiences may be lower.

Trip Cost covers:

• Flight
• Registration
• Insurance (health, cancellation, baggage)
• Transportation to/from Airport
• Transportation in Costa Rica
• ASB Conference Weekend Meals
• Accommodation
• Food
• Administrative Fee (t shirt, team leader contribution, journal)
• Note: ASB participants will be responsible for any luggage costs assigned by individual airlines, souvenirs, or snacks during the trip.

Medical Precautions

Students are required to be up-to-date on Tetanus, and Hepatitis A & B. Anti-malarial medication is required. The cost of medical precautions is not included in ASB fees, and is the responsibility of the participant.

Middlesex London Health Unit
London Travel Clinic, 520 Sarnia Rd. 519-432-5508

Sample Day

Accommodations

Participants will sleep in bunk beds in a house operated by ISL. Sheets/towels are provided, however students may bring their own and may choose to donate them at the end of the experience.

Meals

Meals are prepared in-house by ISL staff or at approved local restaurants, and reflect a variety of local foods (rice, beans, chicken, tortillas, plantains, etc.) Students with specific dietary restrictions may wish to bring supplementary snacks.

Other activities may include

• visiting a national park/beach
• eating lunch at a local restaurant
• walking tour of the city
• ziplining (additional costs apply)

The Country

Costa Rica is located in Central America, and borders both the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the North Pacific Ocean (to the west). With a $1.9-billion-a-year tourism industry, Costa Rica stands as the most visited nation in the Central American region. Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. While the country has only about 0.1% of the world's landmass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity. Around 25% of the country's land area is in protected national parks. Costa Rica has a population of just over four million, and the only official language is Spanish.

The Community

Poverty in Costa Rica has remained around 20 per cent for nearly 20 years, and the strong social safety net put into place by the government has eroded due to increased financial constraints on government expenditures. Immigration from Nicaragua has increasingly become a concern for the government. The estimated 300,000 - 500,000 Nicaraguans in Costa Rica, legally and illegally, have little to no access to healthcare, and other social services.

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