Maldives Dentistry Placement

The Maldives is in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s flattest and lowest country, with the average height above sea level being only 1.5 metres. Despite this the Maldives is also one of the most mountainous countries in the world courtesy of its volcanic origins. This may not be obvious unless you take the plunge beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean as most of the volcanic mountains are submarine creating an incredibly diverse and thriving marine ecosystem.

The waters around the Maldives are abundant in rare marine species of biological and commercial value, with the tuna fishing industry being one of the main sources of income for the country. The Maldives has an amazing array of sea life, with stunning corals and over 2,000 species of fish, ranging from Reef Sharks, Moray Eels, and a wide variety of rays; Manta Ray, Stingray and Eagle Ray. 

The Maldives consists of approximately 1,190 stunning coral islands and atolls stretching in a north-south direction. The pristine white sand and crystal clear turquoise waters make the country a popular tourist destination but the many islands have not all seen development at the same pace. Local islands still have inadequate infrastructure and poverty is widespread. In the past infrastructure development was focused on the capital island Male, forcing islanders to travel to the capital for health care and other important services such as schools, banks and shops. On this project you can use your dentistry skills to provide local islands with easy access to healthcare and help make smaller islands self sufficient and preserve there way of life for future generations.

  

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover this island paradise
• Work in a local dentist practice
• Make lifelong friends and forge incredible memories

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Qualification in or currently studying dentistry
• Minimum age of 18 years
• All placements are dependent upon the submission of an up-to-date CV
• Applications must be received no less than 2 months prior to intended departure date
• A valid up-to-date Criminal background check
• Copy of University Degree Certificate or proof of current university enrolment

FAST FACTS

Location	Maldives
Activities	Local island dentistry clinic Dental check ups Community health promotion Dental work
Transport	Airport pick-up at an extra cost
Accommodation	Volunteer house / volunteer guest house

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go	Pre-departure support &documentation Travel & medical advice Advice on equipment and visas Discounted medical kit Free Frontier t-shirt
In-country	3 meals a day Accommodation Airport pick-up at an extra cost Project orientation and training In-country emergency support 24-hour international HQ backup

QUALIFICATIONS

A variety of qualifications are available on many of our projects. For example, BTEC certificates and diplomas on our Group conservation projects and TEFL certificates and BTECs on most of our teaching projects. You may also be able to gain a CoPE to support your university application. For more information on these qualifications, please see the qualifications section of our website or ask your volunteer advisor.

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

Volunteer dentists are in high demand on many islands where equipment is in place but no funding is available to employ dental specialists. On this project you can use your dentistry skills to provide local islands with easy access to healthcare and help make smaller islands self sufficient and preserve their way of life for future generations.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

Gain valuable experience at the island hospital whilst enjoying laid back island life. Your work will be dependant on your own skills and experience as well as the needs of the hospital at the time of your visit. But you may have the opportunity to get involved in a range of community health promotion initiatives.

Dental volunteers are usually required to work six days a week normally having Fridays free.  

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

You need to arrive at Male International Airport on the Friday, where you will stay for one night before catching the ferry in the morning. Our local partners will organise for someone to meet you at the airport, a hotel for the night and a transfer to the jetty in the morning (approximately USD$100).

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

Depending on the time of your visit and volunteer numbers, you will either be staying in a shared volunteer house or at a friendly local guest house. All bedrooms are based on 2-3 volunteers sharing (same sex) and are ensuite with ceiling fans. The volunteer house also has a small sitting room and kitchen with clothes washing facilities available.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

Volunteers have breakfast together with a local family, an ideal opportunity to get to know more about local island life. Lunch and dinner are provided at a local café where volunteers choose from a wide menu, meals also include a variety of soft drinks. Typical dishes on the menu include rice or noodle dishes, sandwiches, traditional foods, chicken and chips, a variety of curries and more.

Traditional Maldivian food can be spicy but milder than the food found in some neighbouring countries. Sweet, sour, hot and spicy savoury dishes are popular including dishes made of smoked fish, grated coconut, lime juice, onion and chilli. Seafood is a major part of the Maldivian diet with local specialities including kulhi boakibaa, a type of fishcake, keemia, fish rolls and masroshi, small pancakes stuffed with fish. Maldivian’s have a sweet tooth and there is no shortage of cakes available throughout the islands such as huni hakuru folhi, a cake made of grated coconut, sugar and flour. A cup of kalhu sai, black tea is the usual choice to wash down these snacks. Should you want to eat something from a little closer to home there are many international restaurants available in the tourist resorts on the main islands.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Friday and Saturday is the weekend here and normally free time, although this may entirely depend on your particular programme. But don't worry you will still have ample time to visit snorkel hot spots and deserted islands or simply relax and soak up island life with your fellow volunteers or try out the Maldivian tradition of night fishing and see how satisfying it is to catch your own dinner! Please be aware that you will have to bring your own snorkelling gear as there may not be enough available equipment on-site.    

It may not always be possible to have every weekend off and you may have to rotate which days you are off duty with the other centre staff.

Please be aware that all of our Maldives development projects operate from a local island and are very community focussed.  During your free time you will have the opportunity to explore the islands and their surroundings but volunteers should be aware that the community islands do not reflect the tourist resort islands and poverty is widespread.   

Despite large parts of the Maldives portraying the image of an upmarket holiday destination, many local islands still have inadequate infrastructure. In recent times development has been unfairly focused on the capital island Male, forcing islanders to travel to the capital for health care and other important necessities such as schools, banks and shops. 

COSTS

Dates and Costs

PLEASE CHECK AVAILABILITY BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS POPULAR PROJECT!

The project start day is Saturday, but you will need to arrive the day before. The ferry leaves for the island at 8am Saturday morning. Your project will finish on a Saturday and you should schedule your flight for the Saturday afternoon, or Sunday.

You will need to submit your CV with this application.

This project is not available during following dates:

1 January-  New Year

1 May-  Labour Day

27 May- First of Ramadan

25-26-27 June-  Eid-ul Fithr

26 July-   Indipendence day

27 July-  on the Occasion of Independence Day

1 September- Eid-ul Al'haa; 2-3-4 September-  Hajju Day

21st- Islamic New Year

3 November- Victory Day

11 November- Republic Day

30 November- National Day 

11 December-  Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

20 December- The Day Maldives Embraced Islam

Duration

3 weeks +

This project is available throughout the Christmas period

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go

• Your project payment is financially protected under the UK Package Travel Regs 1992
• Pre-departure support from dedicated Volunteer Coordinator
• Travel & medical advice 
• Access to travel experts and flight partners
• Equipment advice
• Discounted medical kit
• Free Frontier t-shirt

In-country

• Food
• Accommodation
• Airport pick-up can be arranged at an extra cost
• Transfers
• Local orientation
• Project training
• In-country emergency support
• 24-hour international HQ back-up

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Visas
• Insurance

For detailed information on flights, visas and insurance, click here.

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LEGAL STATEMENT

Please read our legal statement regarding the running of NGO projects.

To apply for this placement, click on "Apply Now" below. Fill in the short application form and one of our advisers will then call you back to answer any questions and make sure this is the perfect placement for you. Applying doesn't cost a penny and you won't pay anything until you're completely happy and you're ready to reserve your place.