Useful Links

Welcome to VIDA, a new and exciting non-profit volunteer program that offers hands–on, eye–opening, and mind-enriching international volunteer experiences to students and professionals of medical, dental, veterinary, engineering, and other fields. We unite globally–minded volunteers from the United States, Canada, Europe and other parts of the world to participate in sustainable volunteer projects. We provide unique and unparalleled volunteer experiences for those who want to learn about tropical medicine, discover new cultures, and share with those less fortunate while providing free health and construction services to improve quality of life for impoverished people in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.

We offer volunteer service trips, commonly referred to as medical brigades, medical missions, dental brigades, dental mission trips, or service learning trips that provide free basic medical and dental care to needy communities which includes an emphasis on public health education. We also offer veterinary medicine brigades in which we provide free spay and neuter clinics, as well as consultations, vaccination of livestock and educational information for farmers. Furthermore, we provide construction and maintenance services to communities and families with limited resources in developing nations.

We recommend that if you are interested in a VIDA adventure that you learn as much as you can about the country you will be visiting prior to departure. Here you will also find links to various governmental and non-profit organizations that provide valuable information about travel to Central America.

The following links are recommended websites to visit and explore prior to your service trip to Central America:

Government travel health websites:

United States of America CDC

Australia 

Canada

United Kingdom

Informational Websites:

The CIA World Fact book

US State Department 

U.S. Postal Service Website 

WHO — The World Health Organization’s informational site for travelers

INTUR — Institute of Nicaraguan Tourism

The Real Nicaragua — Nicaraguan forum

ViaNica.com — Information about Nicaragua

Nicanet — Nicaraguan website 

Manfut — Lots of good historical information as well as photos of Nicaragua

A.M.Costa Rica — Costa Rica English language news

We love Costa Rica Forum 

Sector — Mexico travel information

INGUAT — Guatemala Tourism website

Gringo’s guide — Guatemala guide

National Parks of Central America

Central America  

Honduras.com

Let’s go Honduras

Asociacion Alianza Verde

Lonely Planet

Frommers

Fodors

Moon Travel  

Other Interesting Websites:

The Big Dummy’s Guide to Service Learning

Currency Calculator

Goodsearch 

Aspiring Docs — website for future medical professionals

Mayo Clinic — Great resource for common illness 

Unicef 

UN Millenium Goals

Tolerance.org

U.S. Peace Corps

Viva Nicaragua Internships — working to meet many needs including women’s health and development organizations, public and non-profit clinics, youth organizations, housing projects, disabled youth centers, technical training programs and others

The Student Doctor Network

Hardin MD Medical Picture Gallery & Info

Join the VIDA Facebook Group


Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him.
~Albert Schweitzer

 

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