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Where should I do medical volunteering in Africa?

I've been accepted to go volunteering in Africa but worried about my personal safety. Advice?

  • I really want to go but just read that a British woman got shot and died on her honeymoon in South Africa, during a car hijacking. Does it really happen that often? Is it really that unsafe? I've asked about it to the organisation I'm going with and they gave this answer: For sure we can put your mind at ease about Africa: 1. We travel in convoy wherever we go, with multiple vans/safari vehicles in line 2. St. Lucia (where we work/live) is a UNESCO world heritage site 3. St. Lucia has its own private security which patrols the town 24/7 4. We have our own house in Africa (on the property of the hostel) and there are lockers for all participants. Only our participants have use of the house, no other backpackers are allowed inside whilst we are on program. 5. We have orientation once in country regarding Zulu culture and what to do if you were to get a bit to up close and personal with the wildlife.... 6. All staff are senior first aid certified, and there is a clinic in town. What do you guys think? Should I go?

  • Answer:

    Hey, I have volunteered a total of 6 times in Zambia, and have never had any trouble. Volunteer organisations take the volunteers safety very seriously, so if there were any concerns, then their would be a total overview on the placements within that country/area (in fact, I was due to go to Kenya, but that was cancelled due to the political situation). The points that your volunteering company have put are very good. One thing that I have noticed in Zambia, is that every single hostel/hotel etc. they employ their own security guards, more often than not, from a private firm, and the fact that, by the sounds of it, you will be travelling entirely by vehicle, suggests that it is highly unlikely that you will get any trouble at all (you can even get mugged etc. from outside your front door) As long as you also take a common sense approach to your own safety- i.e. only carry a minimum amount of cash with you, keep all valuables locked away when not needed and don't flash around vast amounts of jewellery. I would definitely go, otherwise you could spend the rest of your life regretting the decision, wondering "what if I had gone.." Volunteering has definitely changed my life for the better. Hope you have a great trip. Matt.

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She was shot in a township hence the 'township', where poor people live and drugs riotj if you want to bestupid enough to go in TAXI to a township and youre white(which means youre rich) you are going to be trouble. I am a SA and i would not go in there without a convoy just use your head before making assumptions

Weermag Germany

the story about the 28 years woman being killed is very sad, but for god sake what were they doing near a township at this time of the night?? one shouldn't play with their lives like this.

rachel b

I was born in South Africa, and in fact, i used to live there. I go for a three-six week visit every year, and i have never been concerned about my safety. There are more car jackings and robberies etc, there than in Canada, but the chances that you will be a victim are very rare. It also depends on where you are going, certain areas are modern and civilized and not very dangerous, and other placed are slums and are very dangerous. If you are travelling with a convoy, you should be fine. Good luck.

Iluvshnoodles

You are right to be worried, go and volunteer in your own country.

Evening all.

You're right to be worried.

Homeboy

Wow. sounds like a total lockdown to me. Let's just say more south africans report rape etc. because they aren't as embarrassed about it as others are. Seccondly I'm a white and I've lived here for my 18 years I've lived and have not been shot at nor has anyone of the thousands of people in our town. I walk around without ever having problems. 1 woman getting shot doesn't mean the end of the world for south africans. I'm sure 1/1000000 visitors being shot isn't such a bad average. I heard there was a serial killer in britain named jack the ripper. Are there really that many serial killers there? Edit: Actually you're right. we do have on of the highest crime rates in the world. But america is still worse than us. England is still worse than us http://expertdabbler.com/__oneclick_uploads/2008/08/crime-rate.jpg Or reported crime in total http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-with-highest-reported-crime-rates.html So yea. I don't exactly see the americans or british living in bunkers. Ps. Chinese are considered blacks in our country.

polants

i just spent 6 months in st lucia. safe. beautiful lots of tourists... you will be fine. be more scared of the hippos!! as for the british woman...very sad, but this happens everywhere in the world, they were near a very dodgey area, none around st lucia ENJOY YOUR TIME SOUTH AFRICA IS BEAUTIFUL

If you are that worried then volunteer in another country. No-one is 100% safe wherever they go. These companies know what they're doing and probably have a very good safety record. It seems like they have done as much as they can to keep their volunteers safe. If its what you really want to do then go for it. If you can try talking to people who have already done it.

hiddenmyname

as you said "its a fact that south africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world" now its up to you to decide. All the best

Damian

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