Country-Specific Resources
Understanding the country and region in which you will be working and living is vital. Students should allow themselves plenty of time to familiarize themselves with country-specific information, including current cultural customs, language, and history.
Students can review historical, political, geographic, and cultural information about the site with tools like:
- Online resources (e.g. CIA World Factbook; Everyculture; Frommer’s; Lonely Planet etc.) You may also take note of numerous discounts available for students while traveling abroad, depending on location, such as Hostel World, and Student Universe.
- Library (travel books, history books, sometimes even novels. Use librarians to help!)
- On-site contacts
- Students who have traveled to the site previously or students who are from this country
- Faculty and staff, especially at VIGH
- Subscribe to weekly news reports via popular media outlets in the target country or Google’s weekly news update.
Check country-specific requirements for passports and visas.
Country-specific information has been compiled for the following countries:
Argentina
Cordoba: “Cordoba Living Handbook” with student-generated content
- Buenos Aires: Orientation Packet Infant Foundation (2014)
- PAHO Argentina Health Profile
- PAHO Argentina Adolescent and Youth Health
- PAHO Argentina Mental Health
Ecuador
- Ecuador’s Health Systems and Adolescent Health (developed
for the OACS Immersion Trip, 2018)
- PAHO Ecuador Health Profile
- PAHO Ecuador Adolescent and Youth Health
- PAHO Ecuador Mental Health
Guatemala
- Literature on Guatemala (provided by Primeros Pasos clinic)
- Central American culture and history video modules
- PAHO Guatemala Health Profile
- PAHO Guatemala Adolescent and Youth Health
- PAHO Guatemala Mental Health
- Housing and Transportation Information – Guatemal
- Xela (Quetzaltenango): University Group Volunteering (Note: Not accepting volunteer during COVID-19 pandemic. Here are
alternatives ways of helping - Xela (Quetzaltenango): Volunteer Introduction Packet 2015
- Xela (Quetzaltenango): “Primeros Pasos Living Handbook” with student-generated content
Guyana
- PAHO Guyana Health Profile
- PAHO Guyana Adolescent and Youth Health
- PAHO Guyana Mental Health
- Guyana Travel Handbook (updated June 2011)
- U.S. Embassy Guyana website | U.S. Embassy Guyana on Facebook
Haiti
PAHO Haiti Health Profile
- PAHO Haiti Adolescent and Youth Health
- PAHO Haiti Mental Health
- Mirebalais: Soles4Souls Partnership – Soles4Souls visitor information packet
Honduras
- Central American culture and history video modules
- PAHO Honduras Health Profile
- PAHO Honduras Adolescent and Youth Health
- PAHO Honduras Mental Health
- OSAC Crime and Safety Report – Honduras (updated March 2020)
- Copan, Honduras Pre-Trip Guidewith student-generated content
Jordan
- Your Guide to Jordan ISC with student-generated content
- Amman, Jordan Pre-trip Guide with student-generated content
- Guide to Arab Culture – Health care delivery to the Arab American Community – pages 7-27 provide essential cultural and religious background information for caring for patients
- Country Fact Sheet Jordan from OCHA
- Jordan Population and Family Health Survey 2017-2018
Kenya
Kijabe, Kenya Travel Handbook (updated August 2011)
- Lwala, Kenya Resources
- Nurse In Residence Program Handbook (Central Province, Kenya) (updated May 2013)
- Central Kenya Travel Tips
- U.S. Embassy Kenya website | U.S. Embassy Kenya on Facebook
- OSAC Crime and Safety Report – Kenya (updated March 2020)
Nicaragua
- Nicaragua Handbook
- Central American culture and history video modules
- PAHO Nicaragua Health Profile
- PAHO Nicaragua Adolescent and Youth Health
- PAHO Nicaragua Mental Health
Zambia
Zambia Travel Handbook (updated November 2012)
- OSAC Crime and Safety Report – Zambia (updated March 2020)
- U.S. Embassy Lusaka website | U.S. Embassy Zambia Podcasts | U.S. Embassy Zambia on Facebook