About the Program

If you have a passion for working with animals, either in the field of veterinary medicine or in a more general animal care-oriented role, then this program is a perfect way for you to gain some knowledge and put your skills into practice. The veterinary volunteer/intern program is designed to provide a good learning experience for anyone who has an interest in animals and has a career goal in the veterinary profession.

Inexperienced vet volunteer/interns will participate in surgical pack sterilization while experienced vets will perform surgery, under the supervision and assistance of licensed host country veterinarians. Our veterinary program is available for undergraduates and recently graduated students taking a gap year or career break or for those professionals anxious to share their professional knowledge, experience, and expertise.

You would be involved in the day-to-day duties of the veterinarian center with the regular staff in animal health care issues and assisting with immunizations for parasite management, nutrition supplements, administration of medication, vaccinations to animals, assisting with animal examination, diagnostics, treatments of animal patient for and recovery from surgery.

Ghana has many veterinary problems peculiar to itself. This position has varying levels of animal contact, and can be informative for those considering a career in the field of veterinary medicine.

Our Veterinary Medicine internship is perfect for anyone interested in getting practical work experience with animals. This is especially useful if you want to become a vet in the future. It will add relevant work experience to your CV, and give you interesting points to talk about in interviews and applications.

You don’t need previous experience or training to do this internship. You’ll be supervised by a vet every step of the way, and they’ll teach you everything you need to know. They will be there to answer your questions as you learn about working with animals in a developing country. You can also reach out to OGVO staff for support and guidance at any time.

This project runs year round, so you can choose when you would like to join from a minimum of two weeks. We do, however, recommend that you stay for longer than two weeks to see and learn more.

As a Veterinary Medicine intern, you’ll either work with livestock on a farm or with domestic and farm animals at a local veterinary hospital. Here are some of the tasks you’ll be involved in:

• Observe and assist local veterinarians as they assess the animals during routine consults and treatments
• Assist with operations and observe post-mortems on farm or domestic animals
• Educate the public and farm owners on the correct animal care procedures

At your Veterinary Medicine placement in Ghana, your work will focus on the following areas:

Observe and assist during routine consults and treatments

You’ll work alongside vets during farm visits or at a veterinary hospital. You’ll shadow them during the day and watch how they conduct consultations, work with the animals, and assess them for treatment. Under the supervision of the vet, you can also assist. If permitted, you can help with tasks like:

• General care of the animals
• Administer vaccines and medication
• Dress wounds
• Disease testing
• Setting IVs

Lend a hand during operations and observe post-mortems

Depending on your level of experience, you may get to assist with more hands-on work. You can assist the vet by preparing surgical areas and equipment, and lending a hand during operations such as sterilizations. On the odd occasion, you’ll be able to observe post-mortem surgeries. Here, you’ll be able to find out if an animal died from injury, disease, or other complications.

Educate the public and farm owners on the correct animal care procedures

In Ghana, there is often a lack of knowledge about animal care. Many animal and farm owners do not take their livestock or pets to the vet as they are unable to afford the fees. They often don’t have the means to travel for veterinary care either.

Because of this, they either do not report cases of sick animals or leave it too late. If the animals do not recover by themselves, they can die from their conditions. By teaching the public about correct animal care, you’ll see lower mortality rates and help prevent the spread of disease.

Benefits as a Volunteer/Intern Abroad

• Such global working and living experiences help you build up your resume and stand out from the rest. Potential employers admire the tenacity it takes for someone to leave their comfort zone and challenge themselves.
• International volunteer experience indicates valuable personal qualities. It shows that you are a responsible global citizen with a helping heart.
• Knowledge of a second language or a foreign culture can dramatically increase exciting global employment opportunities. It is an excellent way of developing a competitive edge in the global employment market.

• Our programs provide you a good opportunity to cultivate long lasting friendships. These networks will contribute to both your personal life and your professional life.

• Open yourself to a transformative experience as you immerse yourself in a foreign culture first hand. Expand your world-view, and challenge your personal beliefs. Life’s too short to live in a bubble.

• International volunteer/intern programs provide valuable on-the-job learning opportunities.
• Many participants have taken our programs to earn university credits towards their degree, to take a co-op term, or to earn volunteer hours for medical school applications and graduate school application.
• It helps you to enhance your language skills. The most effective way to learn a new language is to speak it in day-to-day life. It is much more rewarding than just learning it in a classroom.

• International volunteer travel is the best way to see the world as it gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself right into the local culture. What is the point of seeing the world in hotels when you can actually be a part of the local society? You will be living and working with the local people and other international volunteers.
• Endless travel opportunities are excellent ways of exploring more places in the country. Whether you like to join a wildlife/scenery tour or a cultural tour, we can provide you flexible work schedule and free travel advice to facilitate travel arrangement.