International Medical Corps offers many exciting ways to get involved, whether working with our professional staff in the UK or with our field-based experts in offices around the world.
Our volunteers are involved in every aspect of our work, from highly specialised medical professionals participating in humanitarian emergency responses to young people with a passion for global health and addressing poverty, supporting our efforts in London. Volunteering offers a fantastic introduction into the realities of working in a humanitarian NGO as well as unique challenges for professionals wishing to use their skills to help those affected by disasters, conflict and poverty around the world.
Mirko Zappacosta first volunteered with International Medical Corps in June 2011 as part of our emergency response in Haiti. Mirko supported the team by assisting the Logistics department, helping with the coordination of International Medical Corps’ vehicles distributing cholera treatment and hygiene kits to communities across Haiti.
After he returned to the UK to continue his studies, Mirko continued to help out with the lifesaving work of International Medical Corps by volunteering in the London Office. His support for the programmes team was vital in securing further European Union funding for the cholera response programmes he had helped set up in Haiti, months earlier.
Mirko is now working with International Medical Corps in South Sudan as part of our Logistics Department, supporting all emergency response and development programmes across the country.
“Volunteering for International Medical Corps has been a life changing experience, despite the challenges that come with being a volunteer. Working with local people to help local communities rebuild services and livelihoods is a fantastic reward in itself. Many of my colleagues I have met at International Medical Corps are now life time friends and I am looking forward to working with them again in the future”
International Medical Corps is always looking for highly trained medical staff to add to our emergency response roster, which requires that volunteers be willing to deploy rapidly—usually within 72 hours—and for a duration of 2–8 weeks. If you are interested in volunteering during a humanitarian emergency, please visit our US website and search for International Jobs >> Emergency Response Team
International Medical Corps also works with the UK International Emergency Trauma Register, bringing together surgeons, anaesthetists, emergency physicians/nurses and other supporting medical, nursing and paramedical personnel who are interested in responding to large scale emergencies overseas. Please visit their site if you are interested in joining the register
We also deploy medical and non medical volunteers to our overseas offices for a minimum of 2 months at a time. If you are interested in volunteering in one of our international programmes, please visit our US website and search for Volunteer Field Opportunities
International Medical Corps regularly recruits people who are looking to get their first experience of working with an international humanitarian organisation as interns. These positions are generally specialised, requiring some previous work experience or relevant academic study. Internship opportunities are advertised on our careers page along with details of necessary experience and how to apply.
International Medical Corps is committed to paying above the national minimum wage for our internships.
Our UK based volunteers work part-time at International Medical Corps offices in London, assisting with a broad variety of programmatic, communication and fundraising tasks, depending on work experience and areas of interest.
Many of our UK based volunteers are students with a passion for the work that we carry out around the world. A great way to get involved with International Medical Corps as a route to becoming a volunteer is through our Humanitarian Ambassador Scheme
International Medical Corps provides lunch and travel expenses to our volunteers.
The European Humanitarian Volunteer Aid Corps scheme provides people from across the EU with opportunities to work in humanitarian organisations at HQ and field levels in order to build humanitarian talent and professionalisation of future humanitarian aid professionals.
As a partner in the scheme, International Medical Corps helps recruit the volunteers, provides a 4 month training programme in London and deploys the volunteers to our field offices for a 5 month period. Throughout their time with International Medical Corps we provide a comprehensive programme of training and mentoring to provide the volunteers with the skills they need to pursue a career in humanitarian aid.
Diana Tonea joined International Medical Corps in our Cameroon office as part of the European Humanitarian Volunteer Aid Corps scheme. Diana is supporting our work with refugee populations from the Central African Republic and local Cameroonian communities as International Medical Corps delivers primary healthcare, HIV/AIDS, GBV and nutrition services.
With the support and mentoring of International Medical Corps’ staff Diana has been holding workshops on emergency preparedness with local communities; participating in the planning, monitoring and evaluating of programmes and has even found time to secure new funding for the country programme. Diana’s efforts have secured funding for the “Holiday without violence and HIV/AIDS” project which will increase awareness on sexual gender based violence, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive health and cholera prevention and hygiene in local primary schools.
“This experience has given me an immense opportunity to work in the field, to challenge myself, and to succeed in difficult working conditions. After my year in Cameroon ends I will take some holiday and then continue developing my international development career in the fields of public health, nutrition or WASH.