Participating in a MedWish Medworks Medical Brigade is a wonderful way to give time, talent, and compassion to those in need.
Since our inception, we have conducted Brigades in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru, and Kenya.
About the Program
As a complement to our International Humanitarian Aid Program, MedWish Medworks organizes and executes medical mission trips in partnership with healthcare providers in countries in need. Through our Brigades Program, volunteers facilitate free clinics to provide quality medical treatment and improve access to care for local residents in impoverished communities.
Medical professionals and non-medical participants are welcome on MedWish Medworks Medical Brigades. Both will have the opportunity to serve in the different aspects of the project.
Honduras
About
Honduras is a coastal nation in Central America, slightly larger than the state of Tennessee. It is tropical, predominantly mountainous, and borders Nicaragua and El Salvador. Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras and is home to over 1 million people. The official language is Spanish and Amerindian dialects are also spoken within some populations. The average life expectancy is 70.73 years. The majority of the population works in the service sector, 52%, with 23%-24% working in industry, and 24% in the agricultural sector.
To learn more about Honduras, please CLICK HERE.
Our Partner Organization
Sociedad Amigos de Los Niños (SAN) was founded in 1966 by Sister Maria Rosa Leggol. Since that time, her work and legacy has served over 80,000 Honduran orphans. These children are provided a loving environment to call home as well as an education and skills training. Nuevo Paraiso is one of the locations of the organization’s operations.
The Santa Rosa de Lima Medical Clinic serves the local children and population, in addition to those living in the region around Nuevo Paraiso. Roughly 60,000 people rely on this clinic as their primary care facility as it is the only medical center in the area. The clinic was built in 2000 and it provides a wide range of services including emergency services, dental services, OB/GYN, and pharmaceutical distribution.
On this Brigade, participants will be conducting mobile clinics in the local community. These clinics will be set up roughly one hour (but potentially more) from Nuevo Paraiso so that populations without consistent access to care can be treated. Some medical professionals may have the opportunity to serve in the Santa Rosa clinic depending on specialties and where the need is most.
dominican republic
About
The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean and is about twice the size of New Jersey. It is located on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. Spanish is the official language. The country’s total population is just over 11.33 million, with 23.9% estimated to live below the poverty line. The average life expectancy is 74.17 years. The majority of the population works in the service sector, 72%, with 20.6% working in industry, and 7.71% in the agricultural sector.
To learn more about the Dominican Republic, please CLICK HERE.
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Our Partner Organization
LightHouse Projects DR is a faith-based organization that is based in Los Alcarrizos, Dominican Republic. LightHouse has been active in the community since 1992, engaging in projects such as water purification, education, vocational training, English as a Second Language classes, ministry projects, and more.
In the last four years, LightHouse started working in a neighboring community, Villa Altagracia. It is working to bring the same scope of holistic services to the community as it has in Los Alcarrizos. So far they have constructed a water purification plant, constructed a vocational school, baseball field, basketball court, and are finalizing the construction/launch of a first attention clinic as this community does not have nearby medical service. MedWish Medworks worked with LightHouse to ship a container of medical supplies to furnish the clinic which we will be able to see while there!
On this Brigade, participants will be conducting clinic days in Villa Altagracia at the new clinic and in the community.
Learn more & Register
Eligibility
Both medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are welcome. While we welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, we do reserve a number of places for professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, and ophthalmology. We recommend that Brigade participants are at least 12 years old or older at the time of the Brigade; however, if a family would like to bring a child younger than 12, please contact us to further discuss.
Any participant that is under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or authorized guardian.
Registration is open for our 2025 Brigades!
If you can't make it this year but are interested in participating in a future brigade, join our mailing list so you are among the first to know the plans for our future trips!
TRIP ORIENTATION
Once registered, participants will be provided with a participant information packet that may be returned via fax, email, or mail to MedWish Medworks.
There will be a team orientation meeting prior to trip departure. At these meetings, participants will have the opportunity to meet one another, learn more about the upcoming Brigade, and talk with the MedWish Medworks team about what to expect and how to best prepare. The date and location of these meetings will be announced in the spring.
supply pickup
MedWish Medworks will be providing the medical supplies needed for the mobile clinics run during the Brigade. Each participant is expected to transport one suitcase full of supplies with them. Participants will need to come to the MedWish Medworks warehouse prior to departure to pick up their bag of supplies. The specific pickup times will be announced at orientation.
Payment Details
The cost of the Honduras and Dominican Republic Brigades are $2,750 with a required $1,000 deposit to hold your spot.
Dominican Republic: Registration closes Sunday, March 16th.
Honduras: Registration closes Wednesday, April 9th.
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. A percentage of spots will be held for medical participants, so secure your spot TODAY!
The remaining amount of the total trip cost will be due in increments leading up to trip departure.
Health & Safety Information
IMMUNIZATIONS AND TRAVELERS HEALTH
You may need country-specific pharmaceuticals and/or immunizations when traveling. To learn more, please visit the CDC’s website. For health-related concerns, please speak with your primary care provider or a local travel clinic.
MedWish Medworks will not purchase traveler’s health insurance for Brigade participants. It is the responsibility of each participant to obtain traveler’s health insurance if desired.
PASSPORT & Travel advisory
A valid passport is typically required for entrance into countries outside of the U.S. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after our date of return.
questions? contact brigades@medwish.org or 216.692.1685.