A big part of what you get when you travel with Work the World is the on-the-ground support our in-country teams provide.
Your team is there for you from the moment you land to the moment you leave. They offer as much support as you feel you need.
The first 48 hours
Travelling to a country you’ve never been to before can be daunting, even if you’re going with a group of friends.
Before you travel, you’ll build up a picture of what things might be like. And, especially in the days leading up to your trip, you’ll begin to imagine things in more detail. You’ll notice that landing at your destination airport will start featuring more prominently in your thoughts
And understandably so — once you step out of passport control and into arrivals, there’s no turning back. It marks the true beginning of your adventure.
A moment like that warrants a little nervous excitement.
But to help you focus more on the excitement and less on the nerves, you’ll find a member of the Work the World team waiting at the airport for you when you arrive.
Travelling to your accommodation
Together, you’ll travel to your accommodation — the Work the World house. When you arrive, you’ll meet the rest of the team and the other healthcare students and graduates you’ll be living with.
You’ll have the chance to settle into your new home after a quick welcome briefing. Then, in the evening, the house chefs will prepare a welcome meal. This is your opportunity to get to know your new housemates a little better before the week begins.
"During my four weeks in Ghana, the support I received from the in-country Work the World team was incredible. The team was really friendly and helpful, making me feel at home from the beginning. They were there to help with any questions or concerns I had about my placement". Danielle Allan, Ghana
Click here to find out what you can expect from our accommodation
Your city orientation
The following morning, you’ll head out with the Work the World team for your city orientation.
The team will show you everything you need to know to make the most of your time in whichever destination you’ve chosen.
On your city orientation you will learn:
- Where to find the best eateries and bars
- How to get a local SIM card and phone number
- Where to find the most reputable currency exchanges
- How to use local public transport
- Where to find tourist hotspots and hidden gems known only to locals
The orientation is comprehensive. And as you’ll have a member of the Work the World team with you, you can ask questions as you go.
Introducing you to your placement hospital
After enjoying a meal at a restaurant serving local dishes, it’s time for your first visit to your placement hospital.
But you’ll benefit from getting a feel for your new clinical setting before diving in.
You will first take a tour of the hospital, led by a member of the Work the World team.
During your hospital orientation, you will:
- Learn the layout of the hospital
- Visit your chosen departments
- Get an introduction to the department staff
- Get an introduction to your supervisors
This is a busy day, and the time will fly by. Then it’s back to the house for your evening meal and to prep for the following day — day one of your clinical placement.
"After I arrived, the Work the World team delivered a welcome briefing and took us out on our city orientation. Both were extremely useful in allowing me to get my bearings, not to mention a lot of fun". Caitlin Dunsford, Arequipa
So, who exactly are the Work the World team?
Every Work the World house has its own team. Your team oversees everything in country, from the day-to-day running of the house to making sure you’re getting the most from your clinical placement.
We make a point of locally hiring team members. The benefits are twofold — one, this is good for the community in that it provides local employment. Two, it makes for a richer experience for you as your Work the World team knows everything there is to know about the local area.
They fluently speak both English and the local language too. If you want to fully immerse and integrate yourself, they’re invaluable to you.
How is the Work the World team structured?
Each team has:
- A management team
- A chef
- A housekeeper
- A language teacher
- 24/7 security team
Your management team
Your two-person management team is responsible for making sure your experience overseas meets your expectations. They are based out of their office in the Work the World house and are always available should you need them.
"The true backbone of the experience was the management team. I don’t think you’ll find people willing to go as above and beyond anywhere else. The duo was there for us every step of the way but let us fly solo whenever we wanted." Progga Saha, Nepal
Your management team are the people who liaise with your placement hospital to organise your experience based on the clinical consultation you’ll have with our Head Office team.
This all happens before you arrive and you can read more about how that works, here.
A key part of the management team’s role is to keep up to date with your clinical experience. They’ll come and visit you on placement and speak with you and your supervisors to make sure you’re getting the experience you need.
The management team will also help you make the most of your time off. They’re local to the area, so can give you tips as to what to do in the evenings, over the weekends, and even after your placement has finished if you’re planning on going travelling.
Your catering team
Every Work the World team has a chef. Some have cooked in luxury hotels, some have created dishes for famous local restaurants, others have even won national baking championships.
Your catering team will cook local specialities and more familiar Western dishes when you need some home comfort. And if you’re vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant, or you’re just not that into spicy food, your chef will cater to all dietary requirements.
"We had a full-time chef churning out the most amazing Sri Lankan curries, roti, street food and barbecues"! Edward Spraggon, Sri Lanka
You’ll also get the chance to spend time with your catering team learning how to cook local dishes. This is a hands-on, step-by-step lesson once a week. Work the World’s catering teams are protective over their recipes, so if you take it home with you, to keep it secret.
Your HousekeepeR
The housekeeper is there to make sure your living spaces are kept clean and tidy. They’re responsible for cleaning all areas including the dining areas, bathrooms, bedrooms and other common areas.
Your Language Teacher
Your language teacher delivers lessons in the house twice per-week. These help you with everyday words and phrases, and clinical terminology specific to the departments you’ll be spending time in.
This helps you get the most from both the clinical and cultural aspects of your experience.
Aside from the above, the Work the World team will quickly feel like family. They’re warm, welcoming, and fully invested in you having the time of your life.
"I would definitely recommend Work the World to other healthcare students. I have found that no other organisation offers the same smooth experience, as well as plenty of help and advice before and during your trip". Helen Lennon, Ghana
The team is there for you and ready to offer as much (or as little) support as you need.
There’s nothing they haven’t seen before and no issue they can’t resolve. With their amazing hospital relationships, in-depth knowledge of the country and years of experience, they’ve got your back.
Get total peace of mind when booking your placement
You can feel completely confident knowing that you now get even more flexibility when booking your Work the World placement. We've also introduced additional procedures in our accommodation to give you total peace of mind while you're overseas
